I really, really apologize for the lateness of the chapter but I had looks of stuff thrown at me like life usually does. I hope you enjoy this chapter had a little writers block with it but, meh, it happens.
Disclaimer: I do not own AVP that delight belongs to Fox
Five Years Later
Galvanuk held a training stick in both his hands and the metal strained and groaned in his grip as it began to bow. His hands were gripped tightly round it and his body shook but not from the effort of bending the shiny metal stick but anger as a dreadful low growl escaped his young throat. His burning hot gaze rested on the fidgeting Yautja before him, which were at least half his size and looked at him then each other fearfully.
"What do you mean you lost her!" he growled again his mandibles clicking furiously.
Jerical looked up and shrugged nervously, "she just… ran off really fast like."
"Yeah," his twin spoke supporting his brother, "You know how fast she can run Galva. And anyway it was his fault."
Jerical stared at his twin hard, "What do you mean MY fault! You were watching her!" He poked his brother hard in the chest.
"Yeah but if you hadn't distracted me she wouldn't of run off!" Kelra'va replied angrily poking back.
Before Galvanuk could blink the twins began to claw and punch each other fervently. With a roll of his eyes Galvanuk grabbed a hand full of dreadlocks and knocked their heads together and as soon as he let go they crumpled to the floor moaning, clutching their foreheads.
"Do you realise what you've done," Galvanuk scolded, "There is another clan on board who are guests and they would not understand she is one of us, UNDERSTAND!"
With little whimpers they nodded. "Sorry Galva," they chorused and the older Yautja sighed.
"Alright lets split up and look for her," he ordered putting the training stick aside, "lets split up she shouldn't of gone far."
His brothers clambered to their feet and with out a word walked off in different directions. Galvanuk looked around the training room and his mandibles clicked thoughtfully. He looked to see which way the twins went then took off in another direction his irritation etched into each step.
He loved his younger sister but sometimes she could be more of a handful then the twins and there was just one of her. He sighed as he walked through a door and turned left. He was more than worried, he was anxious as he had promised his father he would protect her when she was in trouble and today she more than likely could end up dead with that other clan on board. They did not know his father had an Ooman for a daughter so they might entertain themselves with her. He shuddered and the thought spurred him on with renewed determination. He had to find her before something happened and if something did he would never forgive himself.
Sholeh clutched the little Yautja doll to her self and shivered. Why did the ship have to be so cold? She thought. She got to a corner and peered round it looking out for any familiar persons that might want to catch her. She grinned when she saw no one and skipped lightly along the corridor humming pleasantly to her self. She had played hide and seek many times but this was the longest she had gone without any one catching her. She felt quite proud of that little fact.
She looped a stray strand of golden hair around her ear. Her hair had been styled in the way every Yautja had theirs except hers did not fuse together giving the appearance of thick wires but instead had to be redone every day as the silky hair fell out of the ringlets used to hold it together.
"Hey Meti," she said talking to her doll, "they haven't found us yet and it has been ages."
In truth she had been lost for the better part of an hour. Well lost in the sense that she knew where she was but every one else did not. She had done this so many times now she knew almost every inch of the ship, even the places she was not allowed to go. At the moment she was heading to the mess hall where all the hunters ate. She was feeling hungry and wondered if any of the hunters would give her their food.
Before she got to another junction in the corridor a door hissed open in front of her and out stepped another male Yautja child at least a foot taller than her. She gasped and dropped her doll. The boy turned and looked at her in surprise blinking slightly. She took a step back fear clutching her chest. She had never seen him before, who was he? She turned and fled whimpering as she went. She kept running and running till she was out of breath and the corridor unexpectedly ended. She touched the cold sheet metal and quivered.
"Who was that?" she asked aloud and looked down and blinked.
"Meti!" she squeaked looking down at her empty arms in shock. She looked round to see if her doll was nearby but it was nowhere to be seen. She braved to walk down the corridor a little further looking around desperately for her favourite doll.
"Lost something?" an unfamiliar voice asked. She slowly turned and the Yautja from before stood towering over her, her doll dangling from his clasped claw. She gasped staring at her doll then the young male Yautja.
"Give it back!" she demanded trying to put on a brave face, angry he had her doll.
He dangled the doll in front of her face in a taunting manner and his mandibles clicked with amusement but it just made her angrier.
"Make me."
She made a growling noise and he laughed.
"Aww, how cute."
She then let out a scream and lashed out with a balled fist, which connected with a resounding thud on his head. Although he was that much taller than her he made the mistake of bending forward with in range. He dropped the doll in surprise and his hands went protectively to his head. With a sweeping motion Sholeh picked up the doll and held it close, nuzzling it gently.
"How dare you hit me!" the boy roared shaking his fists at her threateningly. She cowered slightly holding the doll closer. "Don't you know who I am?!"
"Humph Don't you know who I am?" she replied planting her fist into her hip and shifting her weight so her hip stuck out at an angle like she had seen some of the older girls do when talking to males. He blinked back in evident confusion and she rolled her eyes. With the hand she held the doll with she showed him the crest that told everyone she was the clan leader's daughter. Shocked, he took a step backward and shook his head in disbelief. In response he angrily thrust his own crest in her face. She looked at it and realised he too was the son of a clan leader. Another clan on her ship, when did that happen?
"I don't believe you're the daughter of the great Kelron'nak," he said poking her in the shoulder. Set slightly off balance she stepped back and glared her amber eyes burning.
"Oh and why is it so unbelievabubble," she growled back poking him just as hard in the chest, "What is it, is it because I'm not like everyone else."
She screamed and punched him in the shoulder. The young Yautja stepped back looking a little frightened as she advanced on him.
"I can do stuff evewyone else can," she quailed at the top of her voice, "Just because I'm smaller and, and look diffewent I can still beat you!"
With another scream she kicked him in the groin and with a satisfied smirk she watched him collapse to the floor groaning and cradling him self. She made to stamp on his face but he rolled out of the way just in time and got back to his feet swaying unsteadily.
She held the doll close to her again nuzzling it lovingly, "Its okay Meti I won't let the mean boy hurt you." She turned and glared at him again her eyes a fire with burning anger.
She again advanced on the poor boy and with out any other alternative he held up his hands defensively, awaiting the feel of her strike on his flesh but to his surprise none came.
He looked past his hands and sighed with relief at the familiar figure of Galvanuk who was holding the little girl by her wrists. She squirmed relentlessly whimpering and squeaking as she tried again and again to break free. The boy gasped staring at the girl suddenly as if he had never seen her before. Along her skin solid black lines had appeared curving along her skin making an intricate pattern; they definitely were not there before. Her eyes seemed to glow orangey as she screamed and hissed at him. He looked up at the older Yautja questioningly but the boy glared at him, hard.
"I suggest you leave Leyk," Galvanuk growled.
"But what are those marking?" he asked in a small voice.
The boy hesitated but a quick bark from Galvanuk sent him scampering away towards his quarters.
Finally alone Galvanuk quickly spun his little sister around and knelt besides her staring hard into her eyes. She stared back the angry glow ebbing away leaving them as they were before and the black lines disappeared as if they had never been there. She smiled warmly as if she had never been angry at all.
"Hi Galva, looking for me?"
"You have to be more careful Sholeh," he scolded her giving the little girl a gentle shake to stress his words. "What if another of his clan had come by and seen you."
She looked down ashamedly at the floor and little tears swelled into her bright eyes.
"I'm sorwy Galva," she sniffed rubbing her nose. "He surpwised me and took Meti, see he torned her." She held up the doll for him to see and he rolled his eyes. He drew the small girl into a hug and lifted her effortlessly from the floor.
"Lets take you back and Mineor can fix Meti Ok."
She gave her older brother a huge smile and hugged his head making him chuckle. He walked off down the corridor with her held firmly in his arms so she could not escape. She chatted idly away into his ear but he was half listening as the sound of footfalls carried themselves to him and he glanced quickly around the corner. He swore quietly to himself as he saw his Father with the other clan leader. Thinking quickly he left his little sister in a crevice in the wall and looked up just as they passed then stopped. His Father looked at him and clicked his Mandibles behind his mask in a pleased fashion.
"This Uke'brana is my eldest son, Galvanuk," at the sound of his name Galvanuk bowed respectively to his superiors.
"Ah I see he is not yet blooded," the other clan leader said airily.
Kelron'nak laughed heartily, "he is not yet old enough but I am hoping it will be soon."
The Yautja nodded with agreement, "I, myself have a son but it will be a while before he is ready. Have you any other children?"
"Yes I do, Twin boys and a daughter," Kelron'nak suddenly went rigid as he realised what he said but was quick to recover him self.
Galvanuk's breath quickened at the mention of his sister and tentatively looked over his shoulder to see if she was still there and choked with shock, she was gone. He whipped round trying not to make it too obvious that he was looking for something, his stomach filled with dread.
"A daughter?" Uke'brana asked with interest and Kelron'nak nodded.
"Yes but she is very ill at the moment and is too weak to venture the ship the poor little thing," he quickly lied.
"No I'm not Daddy," a little voice said and he looked down to see the visage that was more than recognisable.
"I'm just fine," Sholeh said with a small smile and she looked up at the shocked Yautja leader then to the unfamiliar Yautja beside him who was looking at her with quiet interest. She smiled at him and walked up beaming at him her bright eyes huge and appealing.
Kelron'nak nearly choked and looked accusingly to his son who stood there quivering with fright trying his best to convey that it was an accident.
"Well now, who is this?" Uke'brana asked kneeling down so he was eye level with the child.
"My names Sholeh, what's yours?"
"Uke'brana."
She thought about this for a moment before giving the unfamiliar name a try, "Uke'bwana."
The Yautja chuckled, "You're an Ooman?"
The little girl blinked and thought about it for a moment.
"I guess," she said twirling the hem of her dress around her finger, "but I can't tell because I have never sawed one before."
She leaned forward and whispered "Jerical tells me they smell funny."
The Yautja chuckled again looking up at Kelron'nak, his expression unreadable behind his mask. He looked back to Sholeh who stared at him with great interest, as she had never seen another Yautja except those of her own clan. She suddenly grinned showing her pearly white teeth.
"Will you play with me?" she asked and the Yautja shook his head sadly.
"I'm afraid I can't child, I am quite busy at the moment but perhaps another time."
Sholeh pouted sadly but nodded turning and grasping Galvanuk's hand that stared down at her in disbelief.
"It was very charitable to take on an Ooman as your own," Uke'brana said straitening, "But I can see why you did she is quite adorable."
Kelron'nak sighed with relief and the other Yautja laughed.
"It's alright and besides its becoming more common than you may think," Uke'brana said matter of factually. "Some young and others older. The Oomans are proving to be quite the capable race."
"They certainly are," Kelron'nak agreed patting his daughter's head beaming at her proudly.
"You must tell me how you found her," the clan leader said curiously as Kelron'nak led on.
"Maybe later," he turned to Galvanuk and quickly told him to get Sholeh back to their quarters and walked off with the leader of the other clan.
"She has unusual eyes for a human," Galvanuk heard the leader say as they left. He turned and half dragged his little sister back to their quarters where he left her. As he was about to leave he bumped into the twins and they were quick to ask what had happened. He told them everything from the confrontation with the other clan leader's son and to meeting Uke'brana himself. The twins looked to each other nervously, what the hell is their father going to say about this.
"Right you boneheads stay here and look after her and don't let her out of your sight again, please," Galvanuk nearly begged and they nodded. He then left them to resume his disturbed training. He just had to get this new move right before Father could continue teaching him.
The twins stared at each other and sat either side of their sister who looked rather smug about something. Wordlessly they each reached into their pouches and simultaneously gave her something wrapped, which she gladly took. She unwrapped one and popped it in her mouth chewing happily whilst stowing the other in a hole in the back of her doll. She silently slid off the bed and pointed to a spot on the floor. Reluctantly one of the twins slid off the bed and assumed the spot she had pointed and she pointed at another spot, which the other twin took. She turned her back and counted aloud each time the twins would take a step and then she stopped, and turned. The twins froze a still as statues.
"Ha, ha, Jerical you moved," she giggled and the said twin went back to where he started.
Charlie slipped a thick wad of paperwork sliding from his grasp and it scattered across the corridor. In a frenzied panic he gathered them up not bothering to put them in order, there was time for that later but for now he could not let her see his accident. He straightened cautiously and looked down either way of the corridor, breathing a sigh of relief he walked off towards the nearest end and walked through the door.
The lab was quiet and the only figure that could be seen amongst the machinery was the thin form of Dr Turner as she busied her self with one of her experiments. Charlie placed the wad of paper on a desk and began to wade through it trying to put it back into order. A sudden scream of fury made him jump with surprise and threw the sheaves of paper in his hands up into the air. Quickly he gathered them up just as Dr Turner turned and threw something across the room. The metal implement hit the wall with clang and clattered to the floor.
"Why won't it WORK!!!" she screamed grabbing fists full of hair and tugged manically at it.
"Erm wh-what went wr-wrong this t-time Doctor," he asked meekly adjusting his glasses as he spoke.
The thin women turned staring at him coldly. Her face etched with the frustration she felt. She growled again and whacked a glass jar which sailed through the air and smashed as it hit the wall. She turned her back and grabbed the edge of the table to calm her self.
"The genes… so many I just… just can't get a hold of them," she hissed through clenched teeth. She let out another scream and punched the table.
"Er, the, the answer will c-come to you d-doctor, I'm s-sure," Charlie told her trying to give the women some hope.
She turned and fixed him with a deathly glare, snorting with amusement.
"You trying to cheer me up Bennett?" she asked coarsely a sneer playing on her lips.
The young man jumped at the sound of his name and mumbled something incoherent. She slowly turned and advanced on the tall, gangly assistant who quaked fearfully. Her cheek began to twitch, repressed malice showing plainly on her once pretty face. The bags under her eyes clearly visible even in the gloom of the lab.
"Do you realise that I am trying to do the work of SEVEN different people?" she asked her teeth still clenched.
He nodded his breath quickening with fear and he backed away only to find his way blocked by a cabinet.
"After those cowardly bastards left I had to continue my work alone with only you here for company," she said in a harsh voice, "An incompetent idiot that does not know his left from his RIGHT!"
Charlie jumped as she shouted in his face spittle flying from her lips dotting his glasses. She turned away with snort of disgust and returned to the bench she had been working at.
"Get out of my sight Bennett," she barked without looking back at him, "Go feed the freaks or something."
With out another sound he silently left her to her work and walked into the corridor where the previous experiments lived in their cells. That's what he felt the observation rooms were more like, cells. The poor children kept in solitary rooms not aloud to leave even to explore the ship they lived on. He pitied them having to remain in their cells like that. He would let them free but after five years with that so called women he had been reduced to a quivering lump of reeking cowardice. He hated himself for that and wondered why he had not taken the opportunity to leave when the others did, but then where would he go. Like these others he was an orphan trapped here with her.
As all ways as he passed the children looked at him their eyes wide, looking to him for help but each time he refused. Looking away as he passed he reached the empty cell which had the newest specimen of the last batch. She had been the sole survivor of thirty embryos with the latest enhancements. All these other, although perfect on the outside, had flaws within their cells and genetic coding. One he had passed needed to be constantly feed oxygen because his lungs could not work the way they should and lacked the muscle strength to physically pump in the usual inhale, exhale motion.
From all the trials and errors that had occurred had gone to make her but they did not really have the chance to have a good look at her to see if she had flaws. However the Doctor had said that she was flawed but Charlie did not know what was meant by this, because any tests that had been performed said she was perfect. The only thing he could think of was mental instability but that was highly unlikely.
He shook his head heading for the canteen for food. He just hoped that wherever she was she was treated better than her brothers and sisters here. Even if she was a pet to those Hunters he was sure she would be treated better.
Kelron'nak returned slowly to his quarters after seeing Uke'brana to the guest quarters assigned to him. He entered the room and found the twins wrestling in the corner whilst Mineor sat on the bed with Sholeh stitching her doll. Sholeh looked up and charged grappling the adult around the legs. She looked up beaming at her adopted father.
"Hello Daddy."
"Hello Little One," he greeted and he looked up at the twins with a sigh.
He then looked to the nanny who sat ignoring the fight her attention fixed on the doll in her hand. He untied Sholeh and gave her a little push towards the bed before turning to the twins. With two great strides he reached them and grabbed a hold of the backs of their leather jerkins then lifted them off their feet.
"Aw father what you do that for!" Jerical complained. His twins second it but their complaint went on deaf ears.
"Now the bath with the pair of ya," and he dropped them unceremoniously at the door of the bathing rooms. The twins rose to their feet and glared simultaneously at their father.
"Why we had one yesterday," Kelra'va said and Jerical nodded.
"Yea, what's the point in another one we'll just get dirty again."
Kelron'nak glared down at them and they meekly backed into the bathing chamber closing the door quietly. Kelron'nak chuckled and sat beside his daughter who intently watched the older female stitch her doll. The little girl suddenly looked at her father with curiousness on her face.
"Daddy, where did the other clan come from?" she asked him snuggling closer.
"They came from another ship," he explained to her and she looked at her doll again.
"But why they on our ship daddy?"
Kelron'nak paused and smiled to himself, "Grown up business I'm afraid little one."
Sholeh pouted gently and took the doll from Mineor as she passed it to her. With a bow Mineor left the room leaving him with his children. He looked around curiously noticing that someone was missing.
"Where's Galvanuk?" he asked and Sholeh shrugged.
"In the big room with all the mats and sticks and thingys," she said settling on the floor to play with her dolly. Kelron'nak sniffed nodding approvingly. He was proud of that boy and if he kept this he would be the best damn hunter in the clan. All of a sudden a loud smash alerted him and he sat bolt upright his head instinctively turned to the bathing room door. He sighed once more and got up thinking children were both a blessing and a curse.
The next day Sholeh sat in the training room watching her brother Galvanuk train in the clan gym. Her and her doll Meti watched him with scrutinising eyes watching him listlessly as if unconsciously committing every move to memory. The door slid open but Sholeh never took her eyes off the roaming form of her brother till he stopped to greet the new comer. Her eyes darted to the young Yautja from the previous day, Leyk.
"May I spar with you Galvanuk?" the boy asked his voice ringing with challenge and the older nodded passing his training stick over to Leyk who inclined his head graciously. Sholeh watched with interest as they took up positions either side of mat then began to circle each other like large cats, sizing each other up.
Sholeh rolled her eyes.
"This will be over quick," she whispered to her doll, "Galva always wins." She nodded smiling with pride for her brother as she watched him successfully deflect all Leyk's attacks. Frustrated the younger Yautja charged with a roar only to end up flat on his face. Sholeh giggled her amber eyes flashing with suppressed mirth. Leyk looked up and growled angrily. How dare she laugh at me the stupid Ooman, he thought furiously. He sprung to his feet with renewed vigour and attacked his opponent viciously. With a final flick Galvanuk sent the younger Yautja flying and he landed with a heavy thump on his back. Sholeh giggled again and Leyk sprung to his feet glaring at her before storming off muttering darkly.
Galvanuk clicked disapprovingly and Sholeh looked to her brother with surprised yet curious expression. She shrugged turning back to her doll. Galvanuk shook his head, his main of dreadlocks swaying from side to side.
"You better go after him and apologise."
Sholeh's little head jerked up and she pouted angrily. "Why!?"
Galvanuk looked down at her with a Because-I-Said-So look and she sighed loudly with exasperation, mimicking her brother's intonation almost perfectly.
"But..."
"No buts just go and say you're sorry."
"Fine," she turned on her heel and trotted out the door leaving Galvanuk finally alone.
"Damn being big brother is harder than it looks," he grumbled as he reviewed his moves.
Sholeh trudged down the corridor following the scent of the other Yautja. She really did not want to say sorry. She did not even see what she did to him. It was not her fault he was a lousy fighter.
She turned the corner and the scent grew stronger, which told her he was close and as she rounded another corner she found him sitting on the floor hugging his knees with his face buried in his arms.
Sholeh then felt a little guilty and approached then stopped. She did not even know how to say sorry to him. She drew a little closer and he looked up glaring at her furiously.
"Go away!"
"Don't tell me to go away, it's my ship," she declared and he snorted burying his face again. She pursed her lips and opened her mouth to say something more when the ship lurched violently. She stumbled and landed heavily on her knees grazing them slightly, she hissed.
"What was that!" Leyk squeaked looking around him as an explosion rattled through the corridors. Sholeh screamed covering her ears. Instinctively she grabbed the boy's hand and tugged.
"We have to go where it's safe!" she screamed over the noise of the alarm that echoed stringently through the corridors.
Leyk stared at her dumbly and she tugged him more violently jerking the boy to his feet. Leyk blinked in surprise as he was dragged off down the corridor. They raced through corridor after corridor and he soon lost himself in the labyrinthine levels as they went down a storey.
"You sure you know where you are going!" he shouted over the noise and she looked back at him with a scowl then nodded jerkily. An explosion in front of them knocking them off their feet and debris covered them as a cloud dust swirled around them.
Heavy footsteps permeated the noise of the alarm and Sholeh looked up her body rigid, refusing to move. Through the gloom tall shadowy figures approached and soon formed into something hauntingly familiar.
"By god, Oomans!" Leyk hissed in her ear and she quivered with fright. This was the first time she had seen Oomans and so far she was afraid of them. Several Oomans stood there wearing clothes that were smudges of various green colours and held menacing looking weapons in their firm grasps. One with orange hair looked down and laughed.
"Ere, look what I found Sarge," he said, "it's a little blighter"
A larger man with dark skin and a baldhead pushed through and stared down at Leyk with dark, evil eyes.
"Well, well boys, we can't have these monster breeding in our galaxy now can we!"
The small group crowed and as the dust settled the Ooman called Sarge's eyes widened.
"Well as I live and breath it's a human girl with it."
All the soldiers gathered round staring curiously and Sholeh quivered fearfully under their scrutinizing gazes. She could feel Leyk wrap a hand protectively round her arm and the soldiers laughed. The Sarge knelt down and held out a hand to her trying to look friendly but Sholeh thought he looked even more frightening.
"Don't worry little girl," he said in a rough voice, "I won't hurt you."
Sholeh did not understand a word they were saying and backed away, scrambling hastily to her feet. Leyk bravely put himself between her and the Oomans who watched curiously.
"I er, think its protecting her Sarge," a young dark haired man said watching them curiously.
"I can see that thankyou Hemmingway!"
"Sorry sarge."
The Sarge shook his head and aimed his gun. "Lets kill it then take the girl back with us. She belongs with her own kind."
The others around him murmured approvingly and aimed their own weapons at Leyk and beads of sweat appeared on his forehead, his mandibles clicking gently with fear. Sholeh's body quivered and a strange feeling came over her. For some reason her mind was trying to tell her that she was in grave danger. Deciding now was not the time to ignore with it she screamed and ran forward kicking the Sarge in the shins. As quick as she could she grabbed Leyk's hand and ran for it as fast as her little legs could go.
They had past several corridors when Leyk began to beg Sholeh to stop. She was going to fast for him but she knew if they stopped the mean Oomans would get them and kill Leyk. A tear trickled down her cheek at the thought and ran on even though her own lungs screamed for rest and oxygen.
The small platoon chased the two young children and the Sarge marvelled at how fast they were even the little human girl seemed faster than he was. They screeched to halt when they lost sight of them.
Hemmingway fixed his superior with an icey, blue stare. "What now Sarge?"
The Sarge paused thoughtfully and looked around. They had officially lost them but it did not matter, that was not their objective anyway. He was about to speak when a door swished closed behind him and he whirled round aiming his weapon instinctively at it.
A sign with the Predator language on it was bolted to the wall beside the door and one of his men was looking at it curiously.
"What do ya think it says Sarge?"
The Sarge gave the Lieutenant a scathing look, "I don't give a fuck Broxbourne, do I look like I wonna read that shit!?"
The soldier looked apprehensive and quickly apologised. With a quick flick of his hand the Sarge motioned to the door and they all took up positions either side of it. Silently they entered the room, which was not so much of a room as it was a cavern. The Sarge stood on what looked to be a platform and peered over the edge the place seemingly bottomless. Across from him was a bridge and in the middle of it was the little freak monster glaring at him with those cold amber eyes. God that was on ugly muther fucka, the Sarge thought to himself as he approached it. The young Predator hardly moved as the Sarge and most of his platoon began to cross the narrow bridge. With a pathetic roar that sounded more like a defiant screech it turned and fled across the remaining amount of bridge. The Sarge and several of his officers followed with sadistic grins.
Hemmingway remained, however on the platform staring at the console in front of him. He had never really taken much notice of these computers but something about it caught his eye. His mind was trying to tell him something but no matter how hard he thought it still eluded him. He looked up and on the other side of the bridge was another platform with a similar console and beside it was the girl with the monster beside her. The way that she looked at the on coming platoon made a cold shiver run up his spine. Was that hatred? In the eyes of a little girl? It was then he realised that she was standing on tiptoes with her finger hovering over a button. As they drew nearer to her Hemmingway then had an epiphany. This bridge was retractable! He turned to scream but it was to late. The girl pressed the button and the bridge disappeared. The two watched as the soldiers plummeted to their deaths and Hemmingway stared wide eyed, and quivering. Anger and fear erupted in his stomach like molten fire. Aiming his gun he screamed in fury but they had already disappeared through the door on the other side. He punched the console randomly; his frustration growing as he thumped it, then finally the bridge reappeared. He ran across it screaming curses, his blood curdling scream echoing revenge.
Sholeh ran as fast as her tired legs could carry her. The echoes of the Ooman screams following her and she stared resolutely ahead of her. She knew, even for a child, she should be sad right now but she felt nothing. She killed six Oomans but she did not feel proud, again, she felt nothing.
They turned a corner and ran into a dead end. Leyk quivered next to her reeking of fear. She knew she should be afraid right now but was not.
The Ooman approached his face red with fury as he panted heavily. Leyk immediately put himself between Sholeh and the human again but the human knocked him aside. Leyk hit the wall hard and crumbled to the floor unconscious. Sholeh's eyes widened looking at the Ooman before her then Leyk. Her small body trembled and an animal like snarl rose from her throat. The human charged her with a thunderous roar and she screamed, everything suddenly going red.
Kelron'nak charged the humans and they fell where they stood. His anger fuelled him as he tore, with out hesitation, through his enemies. The only sane thought in his current state of mind was that of his daughter. He had searched the endless corridors and hallways but could find no sign.
Before he knew it there was not a single human left alive and he felt a little disappointed. The sudden attack was quickly suppressed thanks to the aid of the Uke'brana's clan. With the other clan leader at his side he went in search of his daughter wading through the bloody corpses of Ooman's that had dared to set foot on his ship. His instincts lead him and eventually he found her cowering in a corner. Near her was Uke'brana's son, unconscious and the old Yautja knelt by his son calling his name. Kelron'nak looked about his feet and stared in a mixture of shock and horror at the devastation. Blood covered the floor and walls Ooman entrails littered the floor in lumps. He barely recognised it all if it were not for the bone protruding from a limb.
"What happened here?" Uke'brana asked in a chocked voice cradling his son.
Kelron'nak shrugged staring at his daughter who was covered in blood and stared in to nothing, her eyes wide as no thought gleamed there. Kelron'nak approached his daughter and put a hand on her head. She felt freezing cold to the touch and she hardly flinched as he stroked her. She was rigid as stone.
"Sholeh?" the girl did not stir. "Sholeh what happened?"
"Daddy," the girl whispered, her lips hardly moving.
"Yes my little one I'm here… what happened?"
Her hand moved with unexpected swiftness and clutched his arm with a powerful grip and he winced beneath his mask. With a sweeping motion he carried her in his arms and took her to the infirmary.
Later that day Kelron'nak stood, hovering over his little girls sleeping form. The images of her face haunted him deeply. It was as if there was no feeling, no thought in her mind. He just hoped that this unlikely event had not traumatised her. The thought of never seeing her smile again troubled and hurt him more than he thought was possible. He leant forward and pressed his fore head to hers, tears threatening to break through and stain his face.
A familiar presence of three others appeared beside him and the twins were sniffling, their arms wrapped round each other for comfort. Galvanuk stood rigid by the sick bed staring down at his sister.
The he spoke, "Its my fault I should have been with…"
Kelron'nak cut him off as he straightened, "No, it is no ones but the Ooman's that attacked us, understand."
His eldest son was silent for a while and he nodded his head drooping sorrowfully. Kelron'nak sat in the nearby chair and his twins sons sat either side of his leg and lay they're heads on his thighs. Galvanuk look a little left out and Kelron'nak pulled closer another and patted it. His son sat down and laid his head on his father's shoulder with a sigh. A moment or too later they had all fallen asleep.
The door quietly swished open and a head appeared staring at the sleeping family and blinked it's amber eyes. Leyk approached the bed trying not to make a sound and climbed on it so he knelt beside the sleeping Sholeh. The girl stirred and she looked at him almost accusingly. She rubbed her eye and sat up.
"Why you go and wake me for?" she whined and Leyk hushed her making her pout.
He handed her, her doll or what was her doll. It was missing an eye and looked like it was sewn together very badly. Some its dreads were missing and the arm was higher than the other. Leyk bowed his head bashfully as he laid it on her lap and she stared at the doll, blinking slightly.
"I, er, I fixed her as best I could," he mumbled shifting nervously.
Sholeh looked up and smiled gratefully.
"Thank you," she whispered hugging the doll, "it was vewy nice of you."
The boy shrugged and made to slide off the table but a hand caught his arm. He looked up questioningly and Sholeh blushed a little.
"Please, stay and talk, I don't know you but I want to be your fwiend," she said in a small voice and the boy's eye's brightened.
He remained where he sat and in small voices they chatted idily of nothing and everything. Kelron'nak peered at them through a single open eye and smiled to himself. Then with a sigh he went back to sleep.
Ok the next chapter is in progress and should hopefully be up sooner than this one… sigh R&R people I always like to hear your comments