Notes: Thanks to Alien Species Wiki website for background on the Yautja. I've used a bit of artistic license with their society and visualised it as a Viking/Samurai feudal society. I hope you agree. The Federation get tough and the Doctor is reunited with Rose (well almost).
Chapter Four
Yautja Prime, the home-world of the feared predatory alien species was hidden from prying eyes within a gaseous nebula. The ringed planet orbited a trinary star system and possessed two main biomes; a hot, dry volcanic desert and a humid, lush jungle.
The tough environment evolved tough life forms, including the Yautja themselves. This led to a feudal society which was a cross between the Vikings and the Japanese Shogunate. Honour and obedience were expected and demanded of all citizens.
All inhabitants belonged to a particular clan, which were controlled by a clan leader. All the clans were kept in order by the Council of Ancients, a planetary government of Adjudicators who had risen through the ranks by acts of great courage and skill.
Various clans would occasionally have disputes or rivalry which would lead to feuds. If they got out of hand, the Adjudicators would step in and end it quickly and some times ruthlessly.
The Chief Adjudicator was the king, or more accurately the chieftain of all Yautja. His word was law, and his law ruled according to ancient, unchanging traditions.
As in any society however, there were always heretics. The Killers were a Bad Blood clan of outcast Yautja who were considered heretics by the mainstream Hunter Yautja. This was because the Killers did not engage in standard hunting practices but instead sought only to kill rather than hunt, which many Hunters found no honor in.
Lately, there had been whisperings and murmurings of other heretics. Not killers or hunters, but thinkers and philosophers, Yautja who were questioning the ancient ways.
Rumours of an underground movement were starting to reach the Council of Ancients and they were concerned. How would they maintain control over the off-world clans without obedience to the ancient customs?
Palak-Satak, the current Chief Adjudicator had instructed the Adjudicators in the council to ruthlessly seek out these dissenters and eliminate them in public executions that should be slow and painful.
Yautja were hunters by birthright, by tradition and by the blessing of the ancient spirits, and Palak-Satak would defend that to the death.
The USS Enterprise had arrived at Starbase 221 for a rendezvous with the fleet. A variety of vessels were continually arriving.
The Doctor sat at the long conference table next to Deanna and Will. There were other senior officers of the Enterprise that he knew, and other Starfleet personnel he hadn't seen before.
Through the large windows of the conference room he could see the mushroom-shaped Starbase they were docked to, and other starships waiting in formation.
Captain Picard entered the conference room and took his seat at the head of the table.
He cleared his throat before addressing the assembled crew. "Before we start this briefing," he turned to the Doctor. "I would like to extend my heartfelt sorrow toward the Doctor,.. and Rose for the situation that they find themselves in at the moment."
The Doctor nodded his thanks towards the captain.
"Councilor Riker has briefed us on the events that occurred after you left us, and we are deeply saddened that we will never see Rose again," he finished.
Deanna, who was seated next to the Doctor, held his hand and gave it a squeeze. He looked at her with thanks shining in his eyes.
"As we know, the Yautja have become a serious problem to the colonies and outposts of the Federation and we have been given the task of finding a solution," Picard stated.
The captain directed each of his officers to give their reports to the group. Worf went first with a report on which colonies, research outposts and mining facilities had been attacked, with details of casualties. It appeared that the Yautja did not attack unarmed people directly, however any man, woman or child could become a host to the xenomorph parasite that they hunted.
The next report was given by Data on the search for the Yautja's home world. The world was well hidden and the Yautja were experts a covering their tracks.
Millions of false warp trail signatures criss-crossed the Alpha Quadrant like a spider's web. Data theorized that remote probes traveled on random flight paths, leaving trails that Yautja ships could follow like highways, masking their own ships exhaust and concealing their journeys.
It would take hundreds of years for all the ships in Starfleet to follow each known trail, and new ones were appearing all the time.
A renowned Exo-sociologist, Dr. Chandra gave his opinion on the Yautja based on the information available, some of which came from rescued victims of the Borg, and some from Deanna Riker and her 'sensing' of Takal-Atak, a Yautja who was captured by the Doctor.
The assembled group read his report as he explained the details as he understood them.
Federation Database:
Heading: The Yautja.
Sub Heading: Society
The Yautja seem to be paranoid xenophobes with a feudal society made up of different classifications, including blooded and un-blooded. Their caste includes:
Un-blooded - About 25 percent of male Yautja are un-blooded. This means that the Yautja have no distinguishable kills among their race, such as killing a Xenomorph. Once a Yautja kills a Xenomorph and collects its head as trophy, they become blooded. All unblooded are children too young to safely hunt for Xenomorphs, or they simply have not had the chance to battle a Xenomorph yet.
Blooded - About 45 percent of male Yautja are blooded. These are warriors who have gained the clan symbol on their forehead after their first successful Xenomorph hunt.
Retirees - About 10 percent of male Yautja are retirees, Yautja who have fought their time and now are too old and honoured to hunt. Females commonly come under this section due to their roles as mothers.
Elite Predator - Elite Predators are often leaders in their clan, and are only elevated to the caste of Elite Predator once they have acquired a Queen Xenomorph skull. However some more skilled clans who are made completely out of elites can compete in battle against Xenomorphs to earn the title. Also the Yautja must also be born into that clan to do so. About 15 percent of blooded Yautja are Elite Predators. Once an Elite Predator they specialize in certain weapons making that weapon their strong suit. A Brawler specializes in Wristblades, Spearmaster specializes with the Combistick. Elite Predators often become retirees after a few decades.
Champion - These are predators who have received great honour and respect among others including clan leaders. To achieve this status a predator must cleanse a hive with a population of over 300 Xenomorphs and kill a predalien all on his own.
Clan Leader - Clan Leaders are only made by the Adjudicator's decision. The only way to become a Clan Leader is to clean out an entire Xenomorph hive which is larger than 300 members in population with a maximum of two others (a Triad). When this has been proven, the three (or fewer) Yautja all become Clan Leaders. They become the forefathers of that clan and will repopulate with females of their choosing. In order to be eligible for the trials of a hive cleansing, each member of the triad must have at least 3 Queen skull trophies. After this point, any hive cleansings that the forefathers complete will give the clan greater honor and standing in the caste system. Clan leaders comprise 5 percent of the Yautja society.
Adjudicators - The adjudicators are the administrators and law enforcers of the Yautja. They are world leaders and the ruling fist in the overall scheme of the Yautja culture. Less than 1 percent of Yautja are adjudicators, due to their massive worldly role. At this point, they simply no longer have time to hunt anymore off planet, but often foray into the underground contained hunting grounds, where younger hunters train in order to lend experience to the young ones. Adjudicators are always the leaders of a clan and no adjudicators have ever risen to that position without first having completed at least five hive cleansings.
Bad Bloods - These are the criminal Yautja who have been sentenced to death and escaped. Their justice system shows that crime is very low. About 2 percent of Yautja are bad bloods.
Male Yautja hunt and because of it some say they are Predators. When a male Yautja is ready for his first hunt, he is an un-blooded Predator.
When an un-blooded Predator completes a hunt and kills their first Xenomorph, they use its acidic blood to form a mark on their helmet and on the head. He is marked and is now a young Predator, also called a Young blood.
A Predator has better hunting gear the higher rank he is. When the Predator proves himself worthy enough, the elder will present the Predator the Combi Stick, which is rare in their culture. Other rare items include stronger Plasmacasters, the laser-guided Smart Disc and Razor Whip.
If a Predator is to fall in battle during a hunt, a more experienced Predator is sent to activate the now deceased Yautja's wrist bracer to overload, causing it to explode in a manner that erases all trace of it ever being there.
End.
There were other reports on their ships and weapons technology, shields and cloaking devices.
Finally, Will Riker gave a summary of the Triad they had met on the Borg ship.
"They were un-blooded Yautja on their first off-world hunt," he started. "It all went wrong for them when that met the Borg. We know that the one that was assimilated was called 'Takal-Atak', and was profoundly affected by the 'hive mind' of the Borg collective."
"We hoped that the holo-ships we supplied would allow them to continue the hunting traditions while leaving the citizens of the Federation alone," he continued. "From what we can tell however, they are using the holo-ships to train their un-blooded, and develop strategies to fight Federation and non-Federation species."
The Doctor hung his head in sorrow. "I'm sorry, I'm so sorry. It's my fault. I should have seen that it was the Borg assimilation that affected Takal-Atak, not the fight on the holodeck," he said.
Captain Picard responded quickly. "Doctor, none of this is your fault," he told him. "Even without the holo-ships, the Yautja would still be hunting in the outposts and colonies. It is our task to try to find a way of stopping them."
The Doctor suddenly looked worried as he glanced at Picard and then out of the windows. "Well, whether that's a task force or an invasion force, I'd better go and have a talk with the Yautja," he said solemnly.
The Captain tried to reassure the Doctor. "Trust me Doctor. When we find the Yautja home world, it will be a diplomatic mission. However I have a duty to protect the Federation."
The Doctor did trust Captain Picard and softened his voice. "I understand Captain, and I have a duty as the last Time Lord to give them a chance to change. The TARDIS knows where they are. I'll go and have a little chat before you find them." With that, he stood and walked out of the room.
Deanna stood and followed him out of the room.
"Doctor, may I speak with you before you go?" she asked him.
The Doctor turned and smiled. "Of course Deanna, what is it?"
She started hesitantly. "Well, as a councilor, I have concerns about your mental state at the moment. After bereavement, and you have had a bereavement, feelings of sorrow and guilt can lead to self-destructive behaviour."
The Doctor gave a small laugh. "Don't worry about me. I'm alright. I'm always alright, me. I'm not going to 'top' myself. Although a few weeks ago…." He left the sentence unfinished.
"Anyway," Deanna said. "We have a gift for you, and I would like to take you to see it," she said all mysterious and smiling.
Deanna walked along the corridor with the Doctor, her arm linked through his.
"Where are we going?" he asked her.
She looked at him and smiled. "I told you it's a secret, a gift," she replied. "Geordie and Data have given up all their free time to work on it, as well as Beverley and myself," she finished as they arrived at the orange doors of the holodeck.
Deanna spoke to the panel in the archway. "Computer, initiate program TARDIS interior."
An electronic female voice replied. "Program initiated, enter when ready."
The doors swished open and they stepped in to the room. The Doctor grinned. It was an exact copy of the TARDIS.
"This is the most detailed hologram ever produced in here," Deanna explained. "Data's positronic brain recorded every detail of the TARDIS when he was in there and downloaded it in to the computer."
"Hah!" the Doctor laughed. "It's brilliant," he told her.
"You haven't seen the best yet," Deanna said mysteriously. "Geordie and Beverley used the bioscan records in sickbay and I did the psychological profile, that's my specialty," she said with a grin.
The Doctors eyebrows furrowed in a puzzled expression. "What are you talking about?" he asked her.
"Computer, initiate Rose avatar," she said in answer to his question. She nodded to a position behind him.
He turned around and his breath caught in his chest. There, sitting curled up on the jump seat was Rose. She was beaming that unbelievable smile at him. Her hand came up in front of her shoulder and gave a little wave. "Hello," she said.
The Doctor looked back to Deanna, his mouth open. She moved closer and hugged his arm.
"Rose told me that she loved to sit there and just watch you work on the TARDIS," she told him smiling. "Right down to the molecular level, that is your Rose."
The Doctor turned back to look at the avatar. She uncoiled herself and stood uncertainly, waiting for him to say or do something.
"Go to her," Deanna urged. "She needs a hug. And you need to tell each other all the things that were left unsaid. This is a secure and private simulation," she assured him. "Whatever is said in here, stays in here." Deanna gave him a hug, turned and left the holodeck.
"How've ya been?" she asked nervously.
The Doctor cleared his throat and ran his hand through his hair. "Oh, y'know. The same old thing. Saving the Earth, a lot of running," he said with a smile. He felt decidedly awkward talking to a hologram. "You do realize you're a set of programmed responses embedded in a heuristic algorithm, don't you?" he asked.
The avatar giggled. No, Rose giggled. Oh how he had missed that laugh. "I love it when you talk dirty," she said.
"Oh, and a bride appeared inside the TARDIS," he told her, his smile turning to a grin.
She ran over and hugged him the way she always did. He returned the hug and tears welled in his eyes. He kissed her hair and breathed her in. He could smell her unmistakable scent! The essence that identified her as 'his' Rose.
They just held each other, crying, releasing their grief in that simple embrace. The Doctor lost track of how long they hugged each other, it wasn't long enough. It would never be long enough.
He relaxed his grip and looked down into her teary eyes. Her hand slid down and slipped in to his. It fit perfectly as it always had. His hearts soared at that touch.
She hesitantly moved to kiss him and he momentarily flinched. Would kissing this avatar betray the love he had for Rose? He saw the hurt look in her eyes, those gorgeous eyes. He leant forward and gently brushed her lips.
Any thought of this not being Rose was gone with that first touch of their lips. Her mouth sought his hungrily and they shared the most wonderful, passionate, longing kiss he could ever remember.
"Let's go and have a cup of tea," she said breathlessly. "We've got a lot to talk about." She tugged his hand and they skipped towards the kitchen.
Captain Picard was off-duty in his quarters away from the bridge. He was getting some rest before the task force began its mission to find the Yautja.
They really didn't know where to start looking. The Doctor had said that the TARDIS knew where they were, but he hadn't asked him for the information. He knew the Doctor would have told him if he had wanted to.
The door chime chirruped gently and he absently said. "Come."
The Doctor stepped into the room, his long brown coat flapping behind him. "Sorry to disturb you Captain, but I need to give you this." He held out an e-pad toward the Captain.
Picard took it and looked at it. It appeared to be switched off.
"Keep it with you at all times," the Doctor told him. "It's time-locked and will give vital information at the correct time. Follow the instructions to the letter and DO NOT tell me anything about the information that is on it, it could cause a time paradox."
Picard looked at him, confused. "I don't understand," he said.
The Doctor grinned. "Oh you will… When the time is right, you will."
Without another word, the Doctor turned and left the Captain standing there, turning the e-pad over in his hands, dumbfounded.
It was later in the evening when the Doctor found Will and Deanna in ten-forward having a drink. He walked up to their table and addressed Will formally. "Excuse me commander, may I borrow your wife and excellent councilor for a moment?"
Will looked at Deanna with raised eyebrows and turned back to the Doctor with a grin on his face. "Yes, of course."
The Doctor held out his hand for Deanna and she took it as she stood. He held her around the waist, leaned her back and kissed her… and continued to kiss her.
The crew started to whoop and whistle, and still he kissed her.
Will's grin grew even wider. And still he kissed her.
When she started to go limp in his arms, he stood her up. Applause and cheers erupted in the room as Deanna wobbled a little, feeling dizzy. Will couldn't remember having seen Deanna blush before, but she sure as hell was now.
Still holding her hand the Doctor said, "That is the nicest, most thoughtful present anyone has ever given to me. I know Rose has her family to support her and help her through this difficult time. And you have given me Rose to help me. Thank you." He turned around, winked at Will and left the room.