A/N: So good to have my muse back! She went on strike during my illness and start of a new job, which is going well btw. What a horrible feeling to sit at the laptop with fingers on the keyboard and – nothing! Thanks to those who take the time to read and review. I enjoy reading your reaction to each chapter.

Chapter 12: Fettered

Mr. Montgomery hung up the phone with an audible sigh. "Is anything wrong?" asked Mel hovering in the kitchen over the leftovers she was heating up via the microwave.

"Oh, I got tired of waiting to hear something and I called my doctor's office. Spoke with Nurse Chapel. The results of my test came back and, as feared, my sperm count is very low. I'm so sorry, Mel! I know you and Theron have been counting on me."

She left her heated dish and came over to hug him, "Its okay, Mr. Montgomery. We both appreciate what you tried to do for us. You know, there are lots of kids out there who need a parent. So the next step is to apply for adoption. There's more than one way to get a kid, ya know!"

The man looked at her face carefully, searching for signs of forced bravery but finding none. He accepted her graceful transition from trying for a pregnancy to trying to adopt, unaware that Mel had been considering this for some time. She knew from her pregnancy with Signý that she was fertile. And only the Lord knew how many times she had placed her kind landlord's fresh donation inside herself in yet another futile attempt at insemination. The idea of becoming pregnant from a stranger was repulsive to her – and she'd been unable to ascertain why. But it was, as she had given considerable thought to this option and every time she had the same reaction – NO. She had begun researching adoption several months ago when yet another menses had informed her that pregnancy still eluded her. Mel had decided to adopt as a single parent, unable to imagine the chaos that claiming a Yautja as the adoptive father would cause. Of course, Theron would not like the idea of knowing nothing about either of the birth parents. The deficit of information regarding their social standing and honor would cause him great distress, she was certain. He would just have to adjust – he was the alien in this society and she wanted a child! In the meantime, she had begun filling out all the paperwork as the process could take a very long time.

Her lover, the Hunter Theron, visited as often as he could, which meant that in Earth time he appeared several times a year. During initial visit during the fall, months after the trip to Hawaii, he had informed her of her daughter's pregnancy.

"Oh my God! I'm going to be a grandmother!" Melanie's face shone with excitement. "When will she come to see me?"

"She may come after the pup is born and is old enough to travel." he churred back to her. "I will be pleased to bring them to visit you!"

"I don't know how I'll ever wait! Does she know if it's a boy or a girl?"

"It will be a female," he stated confidently.

"And who is the father? I mean the Sire?"

"Honorable Myn'dill."

"Myn'dill? The Healer?"

"Yes, it is he. A Hunter and Healer of great lineage and honor. You have every reason to be proud of Signý's choice."

"Wow. Myn'dill is the father," echoed Mel, shunning the pictures of the large Yautja entwined with her daughter that sprang from her sub-conscious. "I would like to have some gifts ready to give to my daughter and her pup when they come. Would you help me to decide on some? I don't really know what to get."

"I would be most honored to assist you." he replied in his low rolling rumble of a voice. Nearly ten years would pass by before Mel's daughter and grand-pup would come to Earth. During that span of Earth time many changes took place.

The main event was that Melanie adopted a son. He was two years old at the time of adoption and had been taken by the state from a home where he had been abused. Inadequate food, love and care had left the child with a smaller than normal stature for his age, as well as extreme shyness. The agency told Mel about his background along with the histories of several other possible children for her. Something about this boy's history touched her deeply and she requested to see him. Viewing him through the one-way mirror as he was playing with some of the other children, all of them now protected by the state, her heart went out to the overly serious young fellow. Later, when she met him in person, she looked deeply into his face and knew that he was the child for her. There was an immediate connection between them. Mel felt it and so did the boy as the evaluators from the state observed when he unexpectedly agreed to sit upon her lap. He was sweet and serious, but came with many difficulties. It took Mel and Mr. Montgomery a great deal of patience and coaxing to work with the little blond man that soon became the center of their world.

His name was Jack, and his huge pale brown eyes viewed the world through an inborn sadness that the new mother and her landlord were determined to erase. The first day after his homecoming, he sat on a booster chair eating Cheerios and drinking orange juice. Mel reached to wipe some runaway juice from his chin and he automatically flinched and cowered at her hand. Tears welled in her eyes as she fought the urge to run to the bathroom and be sick. This beautiful child had just reacted with an obvious fear that she would hit him. To Jack, the incoming hand was not yet the hand of love, but still the accustomed hand that dealt pain and fear. Mel learned to speak first and softly inform him what she was about to do, and then reach slowly so as not to surprise him. In time the little boy healed significantly and came to trust her. Ever so slowly, his trust began to extend to others.

As predicted, Theron was awash with dismay when he learned of the imminent adoption. His mind quickly changed when she told him what she knew of the boy's upbringing. "You do well to rescue this pup from his Bearer," he told her, and then attempted to learn the location of the mother and the Sire so that he could bring them before the Arbitrators for harming their pup. Mel convinced him that the Earth Arbitrators had taken care of the situation and that is why the boy was available for adoption.

"It is a fitting punishment that the pup was taken," he decided, "The Sire and Bearer must never be allowed to produce a pup again!" Melanie had no comment on his statement, not wishing to begin a verbal spar about the inadequacy of Blue Planet laws. Together, Theron and Mel talked about Jack. They decided not to inform the child of Theron's existence and their relationship – at least not until he was much older. The Hunter continued to visit frequently and arrangements were made to sequester Jack from them so that he grew older without any knowledge of the alien.

As the years passed, Jack grew from toddler to boy and, along the way, kindly Mr. Montgomery became feeble with age. Eventually after a long hospitalization, he died. His passing caused Melanie great grief as she mourned the man that had been like a father to her. Jack also mourned in his own quiet way. The elderly man had been a heaven-sent model of patience and kindness to him. The boy would miss the attention, gentle ways, and wise advice. In his best style, Mr. Montgomery had left them his house and modest investments so that Mel and Jack could continue to live in the comfortably familiar house. Mel promptly decided the investments would be saved for Jack's collage education.

Jack was nine years old when Theron brought Signý and her pup to visit. Melanie decided, with agreement from Theron, that her son was finally old enough to meet his half-sister, her child and the Hunter too. Mel thought that the Theorn could be a good male influence on her fully human son. No man had replaced the companionship and example Mr. Montgomery had held in Jack's life. The growing boy, whose pale strands were darkening as he matured, was busy drawing at the kitchen table when Mel approached him with the subject of the Yautja.

"Jack, you've studied about the aliens in school, haven't you?"

"Yea, Mom," his voice seriously replied as he continued sketching with colored pencils. It was a drawing of a car parked on a street against a green grassy background and a round yellow sun overhead.

"That's a nice picture, Jack," she commented, then asked, "What have you learned about them?"

"Thanks, Mom. Ummmmmm, we learned that they come here in spaceships from another planet…called…Yat, I think."

"Yaut," she corrected him. "Did you learn anything else?"

"Well, they are very big and strong, and only the man ones come here to trade and stuff with us. Did ya know they used to hunt us, Mom? And they made trophies outta bones and skulls and stuff! I wish I could see one. They only showed us pictures and videos at school. Do you think I could meet one someday?" He looked up at her and gave his most sincere look.

"That's exactly what I wanted to talk with you about, Jack. I happen to have a friend who is one of those aliens – a Yautja. He is going to pay us a visit soon and I want you to meet him."

"Really, Mom?" he said incredulously. She nodded her head, "Yes, really, really."

"Geez! That's so awesome! Wait 'til I tell the guys!"

Mel's face became stern and serious, "Jack, I need to make a very important request of you. I need you to not tell anyone about my alien friend. Can you do that?"

He regarded her features and grew somber for a moment, "Not tell anyone? Well, I guess I can do that – but why?"

"Theron, that's my alien friend's name, comes here often to visit me and I don't want anyone to know about it. Theron and I are very close friends, Jack. I don't want his time here with us to be upset by strangers trying to look at him, or news reporters. Can you understand that?"

"I guess so. But the guys would be soooo jealous if I told them an alien was my mom's friend!"

"I'm sure they would, Jack. But their parents might have other feelings and thoughts about it."

"Like what, Mom?"

"Remember when we talked about how men and women meet each other and get to know each other and fall in love?"

"Yea." Jack carefully selected a light blue pencil and continued to work on his picture.

"Remember I told you that men and women who feel that way about each other often have sex because it is a special way to be close that feels very good?"

"Oh sure, I remember all of that." He then tried to imitate his mother's voice, "And sometimes men and women who have sex decide to have a baby."

"Yes, Jack! You have a good memory. Well, my alien friend, Theron, and I love each other in that way."

"Oh, okay," he said nonchalantly as he outlined some clouds near the sun. "Are you going to have a baby?"

"No. I already had a baby back before you were born."

His face screwed up in thought, "You did? Well, where has it been hiding?"

Mel smiled at his deduction. "She isn't hidden. She lives on the alien home planet – Yaut. And she is coming here to visit us too!"

"Awesome! Two aliens are coming to our house!" His face beamed and smiled from ear to ear.

"Her name is Signý, and she is bringing her own child that she had not long ago. So you see Jack, you have both a sister and a niece!"

"Wow! Awesome! Uh, Mom, what's a niece? And, how can an alien be my sister?"

"Signý is your sister because I'm her mother just like I'm your mother. She is half-alien and half-human because her father was an alien. You'll see that she looks very alien, instead of human. As far as understanding what a niece is - the daughter of your sister is called your niece, and you are her uncle."

"Wow! I'm an uncle? Outstanding!" His face grew thoughtful, "So, my sister was born and not adopted like me?"

"Well you were born too, Jack. But we just don't know who your birth mother and father are. I am your adoptive mother. I am Signý's birth mother. And I love you both! Always remember that I gave birth to Signý, but I CHOSE you. I could have had any one of maybe a hundred little girls or boys – but I picked you, Jack. It was love at first sight."

Mel held her breath waiting for the rest of the inevitable questions, but they didn't come. She knew that in time they would. "And Signý's daughter is your relative too. The daughter of your sister is called your niece."

"Okay, I think I got all that. Did you love your daughter at first sight too?"

"Absolutely! I loved both of you at first sight and have loved you both ever since. Remember Jack, I will always love you, no matter what."

"I'll always love you too, Mom! What's my niece's name?"

"I don't know yet, Jack! Signý will have to tell us when she visits. I'm very excited about her visit and that she'll get to meet you! But it's very, very important that you don't tell anyone about any of our alien friends – okay? It's our secret – just you and me."

"Okay. It'll be hard, but I won't tell anyone."

"Thanks, Jack. You're the best!"

"You're always telling me that!" he laughed. "Hey, can I have a snack?"

"Sure! How about some apple slices and peanut butter?"

"Sounds good!"

She joined him in the treat and they sat at the white kitchen table dipping apple slices into peanut butter, then munching them down. In between bites, Jack asked questions and Mel answered as best she could regarding their other-worldly visitors. He learned that Theron was a very skilled Hunter and grew excited with the thought of meeting an alien who had possibly once killed a man. He wondered if he would get to see the spaceship or any of the Hunter's weapons. The boy was then uncharacteristically quiet during supper and on into the evening as he continued to think about the aliens and about his mother's friendship with the Hunter. The idea that he had a half-alien sister took some digesting too.

"Mom?" he queried, just before bedtime, "so aliens and people can have sex?"

"Yes, they can. There are many things about their bodies and ours that are very similar."

"So, they have babies then?"

"Yes, they can, Jack. But in this case, I had the baby. That is why Signý is my daughter and your sister."

"So, Theron is her Dad?"

"No, Jack, he isn't. Signý's father is another Yautja named Sig-dan."

"Oh. So you had sex with him too?"

"Yes, I did. That was a long time ago."

"Did you guys break up?"

"Uh, yes, we did. And later, I met Theron."

"Okay." His curiosity satisfied for the moment, he went off to bed but Mel knew that there would be more questions later. She would answer all of them as best she could and try not to pile too much information on him at any one time. Eventually, he would learn the truth of why the Hunters visited Earth and of how his half-sister came to be.

"Back to school with you tomorrow, young man. Go get ready for bed now, please."

"Already?" He looked anxiously at the checkerboard-faced clock on the wall.

"Yup, already. Don't forget to brush your teeth, Jack. I'll be up soon." The boy obediently gathered his drawing and went to the refrigerator which was already festooned with his work. Selecting a picture to take down, he replaced it with the car drawing and secured it to the white metal with four small red magnets. Then he headed up the stairs. Mel heard the upstairs bathroom water running as he brushed his teeth and then the sound of his growing feet clumping around his room as he changed into his pajamas. Then all was silent after he climbed into bed. So, she went upstairs to tell him a final good-night and plant a peck on his cheek, wondering how much longer he would allow her this good-night ritual. Soon, she was certain, he would feel it a childish thing and completely beneath his new status as an adolescent. Then it would be on to the teen years. God give me strength to raise him to be a good man, she prayed, coming back down the stairs to her own room which had once belonged to Mr. Montgomery.

She had painted it a the palest shade of aqua-blue she could find and adorned the old wooden double-hung windows with pale beige, woven curtains embellished with antique bird prints. She'd made the curtains herself on a yard-sale sewing machine after falling in love with the fabric at a local store. Several Mel-made matching pillows topped her bedspread. It was a serenely homey bedroom that helped her feel wrapped in security and comfort in the friendly old house. The small bathroom nearby served as both her private sanctuary and the only toilet on the main floor. She went into it to wash her face and run a brush through her hair. The mane of dark brown twirled tresses was still kept long, although at times she pulled it away from her face with a band. A few grays had made an appearance in the front, but were not that noticeable – at least she hoped. After applying the lotion that promised her continued beauty, she made for the bed. With the lights out, she lay in the darkness thinking of Theron's approaching visit. What would Jack think of him, and of Signý and her pup? How would Jack feel about her relationship with Theron? Her body trembled at the thought of reunion with the Hunter. How were they going to manage this visit with an older and suddenly more inquisitive Jack around? I guess we'll cross that bridge when we come to it.

Upstairs, Jack was having a difficult time going to sleep. His active mind imagined meeting the aliens for the first time. Would they like him? Would he be afraid? Even with his Mother there? Visions of huge dark Yautja, holding white human skulls and dancing around his Mother, whirled about the room and somehow lulled the curious boy to sleep.


The large Yautja female held the fussing pup up to her face and softly embraced the little body with her side-jaws. "Are you already hungry?" she clicked, unfastening the fabric of her blousy nursing vest – large enough to cover her now prodigious food-producing mammary glands and yet easy to open. As the squalling pup scented the breast, its jaws opened to grasp the meal giver and help coax the fluid out to the waiting mouth. Signý relaxed, feeling the milk begin to come down the channel where her daughter could suckle from the large and erect nipple that was now stuffed down the infant's throat. The same muscles that moved the inner lips to form words, now pursed them around the fleshy bud and suckled nourishment. Feeding was a pleasant time for both Signý and her pup. The feeling of holding and providing nourishment for her offspring made her feel so completely like a Bearer. After a few moments, the greedy pup was ready to be transferred to the other breast, which it also downed easily. Signý replaced her vest cloth and rewrapped the now content pup. It did not need changing yet, so she held to her body for warmth until it fell sound asleep. Just as they both got settled, she heard the doorway com and looked up from admiring her pup to call out, "Please enter."

The doorway slid open and the familiar figure of the gray Hunter, Theron, entered her shipboard quarters. "We will be approaching Blue Planet orbit soon. Please secure yourself and your pup."

Signý nodded her understanding, scenting his admiration for her pup. He left and she placed the still sleeping youngling in its box and fastened the cushioned lid over the top. Deftly the female put on her mask and armor and then took the seat next to the box and held it. There was no need for her to steady the pup in its bed or protect it from the forces of landing, but maternal instincts commanded her to hold fast just in case anything happened.

It didn't. The orbit and landing went so smoothly that Signý could not tell just when the ship stopped. Theron had made this trip so often now that all the settings and procedures had become part of his unconscious thought process. It took great discipline to focus on what he was doing and remain in the present moment. Completing any procedure in space on auto-pilot was just begging for an accident to happen. Theron was far too honorable to let anything so stupid and preventable happen.

When the craft was landed and cloaked, he appeared again at her door to inform her that he was ready to disembark. Excitedly, she handed Theron her bag and picked up her pup, after once again rewrapping it securely in a fit of motherly fussiness. She cradled it in one arm while her other hand reached for the large bag of pup supplies. Following Theron, she exited the ship, both of them becoming cloaked. It was mid-day in early September. The sun shone brightly and the temperature was still reasonable for the Yautja. The pup was well covered with warm clothing and held within the cloaking field of its Bearer for protection. Unseen, they went down the street to the old white house, walked up the porch stairs and knocked on the door. It opened and the indistinct blurs went inside.

Melanie couldn't stop grinning. Signý had grown at least a foot since her last visit and was now slightly taller than Theron! She towered as a giantess over her Mother and returned Mel's wide smile with her own significant jaw spread. "Are you fully grown yet, my daughter?"

"Not quite," was the reply, and then she handed her Bearer the small bundle she carried, "She is called, Mel'nee, to honor you, my Bearer."

Melanie opened her arms to the not-yet-awake pup and held her close. She examined the little face searching for familiarity. Finally, she pronounced, "I believe she has your forehead, Signý. And her jawline is more like her Sire's."

"Sei!" came Signý's chortle, "You have it exactly, Ka!" Calling her Bearer by the name she used as a pup brought immediate warmth to Mel's heart.

"I am so glad to see you again, Signý. And my first granddaughter, too. And I'm not forgetting you, Theron!" The gray one broadened his mandibles at her. "In fact, I'm quite overwhelmed by it all – and you haven't even met Jack yet!"

"Jack?" Signý questioned. "Who is Jack?"

"Jack is my wonderful son!"

"I have been so occupied with my own offspring. I am ashamed to admit that I did not know of your pregnancy, my Bearer. Please forgive my oversight." Signý bowed her great head to her mother and hid her surprise. Myn'dill had not told her that his reproduction experiments had been successful.

"Oh dear! No, I wasn't pregnant. Jack is adopted. I forget that fact most of the time as I love him and that is all that is important. He IS my son. So now you have a brother, my daughter!"

"What is adopted?"

Mel explained to her daughter about the adoption process and Signý was very impressed that her Bearer would be so kind and generous as to take in a pup that had an unknown history. "When can we meet Jack?"

"He gets home from school in an hour or so. He's very excited about meeting both of you – and his niece too!"

So once again, Signý and her mother spent time catching up with each other on all the changes life had brought to them. As they spoke, little Mel'nee awakened in her grandmother's arms surprising Mel. As the pup scented the tension inherent in the foreign odor of the one holding her she let out a wail of fear. Quickly retaking the child, Signý explained to her mother, "She will need time to get used to you. When she realizes that I do not fear you, she will read your scent and realize that you are family."

"That's wonderful! I can't wait to play with her!"

"Mom…I tuck her in her box every night and touch her face with my outer jaws. Sort of like what you and the Matriarch did for us girls when we were pups."

"How sweet! I tuck Jack in every night, but I suspect that before long he'll be too grown up to let me kiss him!"

Just then, the Jack of the night-time tuck-in appeared at the front door. He had heard voices within, two of them very deep and growling, and had surmised that the alien visitors were here. He opened the door eagerly and then just stopped. His head turned upward, he took in the full height of the standing Theron, who looked down upon the small boy. Jack's jaw fell open and he stared, and stared, and stared.

A Yautja who was not accustomed to humans would have been offended, but Theron knew what was going on. He stood and stared back at the child with his warm gray eyes. Then slowly, he extended a hand. "Hello. I am called Theron. I am a Hunter of the Yautja race and your mother's friend."

Jack slowly raised his hand to take the proffered paw of the giant. "I-I-I'm J-J-Jack," he stammered. "I'm the little b-b-boy of your ffffriend."

"You are indeed, Jack. I am honored to be the first Hunter you have met."

Among the Yautja, Theron was not particularly large. Like most of the Dor'an, he tended to be slighter and sinewy, but this was Jack's first encounter with a Hunter. He was beside himself in amazement. The alien was so huge - much larger than the pictures had portrayed. He looked up and down, taking in the epic mass. "Don't stare, Jack, it's not polite," Mel reminded him.

He looked over at his mother, who by now had stood up and was walking over to him. She was so small! She was maybe half the size of the alien. Unknown to Jack, his wonderment had begun to speak aloud. "God! How do they do it?"

"Do what?" asked Theron.

"Fuck," Jack answered numbly, using the word all his friends used, and the word that his mother had threatened to wash his mouth out with soap if he ever spoke it again.

"JACK!" Mel raised her voice to her son, breaking his reverie. "Is that any way to talk in front of guests?" Her voice had risen to that particular pitch of upsetness that let him know he was in quite a bit of trouble.

"Sorry," he mumbled.

Theron did not understand the exchange that had taken place between Bearer and offspring. To his mind, the male pup had asked a reasonable question as he had obviously compared the vast difference in size of the two races. The Hunter was fully prepared to answer the question as he would for any curious pup.

"It is true that I am much larger than your Mother, Jack. But the parts of our bodies used in the act of mating do fit together. And I am careful and gentle with your Mother so that she is not harmed."

Melanie was in full blush by now. She had never hidden sex from Jack and had always answered his questions to the level that he seemed ready to understand. Compared to Melanie's culture, the Yautja were extremely relaxed about their sexuality and Theron had answered her son's question forthrightly. Still, she was not ready to address the multitude of questions about her sex life that might follow from her inquisitive son – especially not in public. Jumping in was the only option to steer the conversation, "That's right, Jack. Now, come here and meet your sister and your niece."

Jack came over to where Signý sat holding her playful pup and extended his hand in a most mature fashion, "Hi. I'm Jack, your brother."

The Huntress took his miniscule hand in her huge grasp and shook it gently. "I am your sister, Signý. It is good to meet you, Jack. This is Mel'nee." She held up the squirming infant for Jack to see. He was surprised as the baby Yautja actively opened its little maw and took in-breaths at him.

"She is trying to smell you," explained his mother. "The Yautja have a very keen sense of smell. Their nose is in the roof of their mouth."

Jack stood stock-still, fascinated by the baby. Her blunt mandibles were held wide and her mouth was open as she loudly took in breaths of air. Suddenly, Jack began fanning the air over his head towards the infant. To his mother's quizzical look he stated, "I'm helping her smell me!" He was surprised when the tiny arms reached out to him.

"Would you like to hold her?" asked Signý.

"Yes, please." The little pup was placed in his arms that Signý rearranged, teaching him how to hold the baby securely. Mel'nee quieted in his embrace and stared up at his face. Jack returned her gaze and talked to her, "I'm Jack, your uncle. I've never had a niece before – you're the first."

The evening passed beautifully with Jack and the Yautja exchanging answers and questions. Theron told Jack that the next evening he would take him to the ship and show him everything there. "Do you have skulls?" the excited boy asked.

"Not on this ship. The next time I visit I will bring some to show you."

"Awesome!" was the reply, "Do you have any human ones?"

Theron nearly jumped in surprise at the boy's nonchalance, "Well…yes, I do have ooman skulls. I took them long ago. I do not hunt oomans now."

"Cool!" said Jack, "Please bring some, it would be so awesome to see them."

Theron looked to Mel for permission, but she was engaged with Signý. "Jack, I will discuss that with your mother and give you an answer later."

"Okay. But I'd sure like to see them and hear about how you hunted them!"

It was past his bedtime when Jack finally turned in. Theron escorted Signý and her pup back to the ship and afterwards, returned to Mel. Upstairs in her room, they talked far into the night and then crept up into the attic. Mel had fashioned a nest for them up there and, as they had on many occasions, they made love there and the Hunter stifled his roar the best he could. The distance and insulation helped shield Jack's ears from the sounds, and years ago, Mel had purchased him a white noise machine to help mask any nighttime racket.

The following day Jack reluctantly went to school. He did not learn much that day. During math he drew pictures of great Hunters in the margins of his book. Time dragged slowly through English and History lessons until it was time for lunch. He retrieved his plate of non-descript school food in the cafeteria and joined his buddies at their customary table. His friends did their usual talking and clowning, but Jack was oddly silent and withdrawn. "Are you sick?" One of the guys asked.

"No, just have things on my mind," he answered.

"You sound like my Dad!" another teased. To which Jack responded with a snort and a firm shove.

The day could not have dragged more slowly. Jack missed several words on the spelling test, and got hit by the ball several times during gym. All in all it was an oddly unrewarding day for Jack who never noticed that things were not going his way. At last, the ending bell sounded and he was released from the dull prison to return home to the Yautja and really interesting things. One of his friends invited him over to play, but was turned down in a mumble as Jack sped off on his bike for home.

True to his word, Theron took Jack for a tour of the ship. It had been so strange to seemingly walk down the street by himself, the great Hunter a protective blur beside him. He was amazed to see where the ship was hidden – right were anyone could find it! But it was cloaked, so no one could see. The hatch opened and Jack entered a small part of the amazing world of the Yautja. The mist rolled in front of him as he accompanied Theron through the barely lit, richly decorated halls. The Hunter explained some of the ornate wall carvings to him. Jack likened them to some of the tapestries from the middle ages he'd seen in a book. He admired the great stylized Hunters fighting what looked like dragons and demons, or maybe creatures from legends or the pit of Hell. Theron finally took him away from the wall décor and showed him the command room and the console. He then toured the common dining area as well as some of the quarters. Finally, the Hunter took him to the kehrite.

"This is the most sacred of rooms," Theron explained, "This is where we train, practice and perfect our skills." He took the boy to one of the observing benches and bid him to sit down. "Watch," he commanded. The Hunter took the center of the room, after stripping himself of mask and armor, and began the slow warming movements that led into disciplined positions of balance and then the exercise of the unseen enemy.

Jack was hypnotized by the Hunter's slow, deliberate gracefulness that soon led into speed and agility. Theron bounded and whirled, ran and spun, hit and kicked the invisible foes around him. Then he went to the weapons wall and selected his favorites. Jack was now to witness the fighting fury of the Dor'an warrior as he cut down, speared or decapitated his enemy. Entranced, the boy witnessed the transformation of the Hunter into a writhing killing machine, striking out with lethal force in every direction with blinding speed.

When the battle was won, Theron stood sweating and heaving. He looked to the small boy on the bench whose mouth formed a silent 'wow'. At a loss for words, young Jack did the only thing he could think of to do. He stood at attention and then gave his best stiff bow of appreciation for what he had witnessed. It left the action shows and anime he routinely watched in the dust.

The Hunter returned the show of respect with a nod, asking, "Would you like to learn some of this? It is difficult and the training is hard and long."

Still in awe, Jack could only nod up and down.

Theron trilled, finally scenting the lad's astonishment through his own hefty work-out musk. "Good! Let us begin then. Come!" He beckoned the boy and then pointed to the arena floor right in front of him. Jack jumped off the bench and hustled to stand in front of the colossus. "First you must learn what is behind all that you have seen!" boomed Theron's low voice. "Listen carefully and learn!"

Jack's education began with a long lecture on the value and meaning of honor. He stood alertly the entire time, soaking in every word the impressive alien said. The words bored deeply into the child's heart and mind where later he would often retrieve them and ponder their meaning.

"That is the first training," Theron said kindly. "The next training will be more active. Do you have less restrictive clothing?"

Jack thought and then raised his hand.

"I am unfamiliar with this gesture," the Hunter returned. "What is the meaning of it?"

"It is how I tell my teacher at school that I have the answer or a question. We raise our hands and then she calls on one of us."

"Interesting method. Jack, how many students do you see here?"

"Only me."

"Then it is inefficient for you to raise your arm to tell me you have a question or the answer to my question. Simply state what you wish to say. When I question you – you have my permission to speak."

"Okay. What is 'less restrictive clothing'?"

"It is clothing that allows you to move easily – as you have seen me move here."

"I have shorts that I could move better in than this." Jack looked down at his jeans.

"Good. Then the next time I train you, you will wear them. For now, I will return you to your house and then come back to my ship to bathe. We will train again tomorrow after you return home from your school."

The next day at school was much like the last for overly excited Jack. It was difficult to pay attention to lessons when images of the alien's lethally flashing weapons and feats of graceful strength kept playing in his head. His friends noticed his distance and ignored him. He nearly shouted when the final bell rang and began the race to get home. Jack had never pedaled so fast as he did today down the smooth street. Normally, Jack rode on the rougher sidewalk, as directed by his mother, but today he had foresworn the uneven sidewalk for the speed obtainable only on the street.

The Hunter had informed Mel that he was training Jack earlier that day. He detected the scent of concern from her just as he had expected, but assured her that he would teach him carefully at a reduced human level and no harm would come to the boy. Mel smiled when Theron described the child's amazement during the demonstration of movement and weaponry.

"I admit, I'm very pleased that you are spending time with him," she affirmed. "He needs a male to look up to, to model good behavior for him. I can think of no better model than you!"

The Hunter basked in her praise and replied, "The first Training is learning about honor. Your son was most attentive!"

Suddenly an alarm went off in Mel's head. What time was it? She glanced at the clock which read four fifteen. "Jack should have been home by now," she muttered, reaching for the phone to call the school. The secretary informed her that her son had not been held over for detention and had been dismissed on time with all the others. Then Mel dialed the homes of Jack's best friends where, each time, the answer was the same – no, Jack was not there. He had not accompanied any of his friends to their homes and all of his friends were accounted for.

Mel's growing alarm transmitted to Theron. "What is wrong?" he asked.

"Jack is…missing! He's not at school or at any of his friends. Something is wrong! I'm going to drive his route to school and see if maybe his bike has broken down or something."

"I will cloak and follow you. Do not drive slowly on my account, as I will track your vehicle."

Melanie drove the way Jack went to and from school, anxiously looking at both sides of the street for her son. She did not hurry for fear of missing him. A jogging blur kept her company and also scanned everywhere that could be scanned, at various frequencies, looking for the boy. By the time they arrived at school and had seen no sign of Jack, Mel was truly panicked. She asked the Hunter for his help, trusting the tracking skills of a Yautja far more than informing the police.

"Please find him Theron! In my heart I know something horrible has happened!"

"I will find him, Mel. On my honor, I will not return to you until I have found him!"

As Mel broke down in tears and prayed, Theron sent a message out to see if there were any Arbitrators within a reasonable distance. He found none. So he messaged Sig'dan. If anyone could get Arbitrators assigned to this mission, it would be the offspring of Honorable Elite Elder Arbitrator Aldúlfr. After the message went out, Theron traced the route to the school once more. This time he walked the paved paths on each side of the street, looking into the bushes of yards and down side streets. He continually scanned for any warmth, any sign of a small ooman, or his metallic bike. It was in the side yard of a large two-story house, behind an overgrowth of lilac bushes, that he found the bike. It was still in working order and appeared to have no unusual marks or damage. But obviously, someone had deliberately hidden it there. Theron came to only one conclusion. Someone had taken the boy and sought to hide his discarded bike. He scanned the walk and street with great scrutiny. It must have happened nearby and the bike quickly hidden in the nearby plant growth. Theron replaced the bike where he had found it. If the Badblood dwelled nearby, no sense in giving away that he was on his trail. Finding no evidence of anything other then normal traffic in any direction he searched, he next began huffing to try and pick up Jack's scent. Compared to a human, Theron was a bloodhound!

There were a few molecules of Jack drifting in the air. The cloaked Hunter went a few feet in every direction, tasting and scenting the air. The scent became slightly denser in one direction, so he followed it on the edge of the roadway until it suddenly thinned out, just a few houses down from where the bike was hidden. He turned up the sidewalk to each of the houses, finding no repetition of the scent of Jack. Stumped, he went back to the house where the bike lay. Huffing like a steam engine, he walked all around the house, even stopping at every door and window to see if any small stream of Jack leaked out. Then, he caught it – a strong trail of scent that led from the back porch door over to the garage. The odor told him that not only Jack, but two humans had been there. Peering in and huffing at the garage windows, Theron saw an empty vehicle inside. The Badblood had either seized or coaxed Jack into the transport on the street and then driven to this garage. From there, another human had joined the first and the boy had been taken into the house. The Hunter rechecked all the house's doors and windows, even climbing the house and checking the second story. The only scent trail was the short one from the garage to the back door.

Theron returned to the back door and tried it. It was locked of course. He could easily force it, but wanted to give no alert to those within. Carefully, he sought another, quieter entrance. Finding all the doors and windows secure, and the chimney much too narrow for access, he returned to the back door. With a single blow it splintered in two and he pushed his way inside. Another door faced him within the porch, much sturdier than the first. A good kick destroyed it and Theron jumped inside, on the alert. He heard two pair of short-strided footsteps below him. It would take time to find an entrance, so the Hunter raised a foot and gave a few hearty stomps to the floor. It was strong, but he was stronger. As he raised his leg to give another blow, he heard human footsteps climbing a stairway and immediately halted his floor stomping to rush towards the sound. Rounding a corner he saw an open doorway and then heard the sound of a street vehicle starting in the garage. As much as his instincts turned him to chase the departing criminals, his worry for Jack's wellbeing drove him down the stairway in a single leap.

"Jack!" he roared, scanning all around. Behind another wall, the heat signature of a very small human, struggling as it sat upon a chair could be seen. Without bothering to locate a doorway, the Hunter bashed through the wallboard and supporting lumber with his bare fists. There in the room sat poor Jack, bound hand and foot to a wooden chair, with some silvery material placed over his mouth. The Hunter could see bruising and dried blood on the boy's face, but that did not stop Jack's eyes from glowing bright at the sight of his rescuer, while his muffled voice tried to shout through the duct tape. Theron stopped and carefully searched for any sort of a trap before entering the room. Finding none, he went to Jack and cut through the tough bindings with one slick of his blade. The boy's hands went to the tape over his mouth and searched for a corner to lift. The Hunter observed him for a moment and then peeled one corner away with the tip of a talon before grasping it and pulling it from the child's mouth in one skin-pulling whisk.

Jack braved the tape tearing from his skin without a whimper. When his mouth was finally free he whispered, "Theron, I knew you'd come! It was a man and a woman, they…they hurt me. Real bad, Theron. I can't move my left arm, or walk."

Stifling his growl of outrage, the Hunter scanned over the small body with his mask which revealed multiple fractures and deep bruises. Fortunately, no head wounds were apparent, but the Hunter could see where fractured ribs had punctured several vital internal organs. Jack needed help – fast. Theron called again for assistance, this time he heard the voice of an Arbitrator who explained that he would be landing soon. Theron activated the signal on his ship via his wrist com that would allow the Arbitrator to land near him. Looking down at Jack, he witnessed helplessly as the small boy had fell unconscious. Another mask scan revealed that the child's life was ebbing away and the Hunter was at a loss as to what could be done for him. Theron drew a long calming breath, knowing nothing could be accomplished if he were driven by fear. He opened and surveyed the medicom that he carried on his armor. Was there anything that would help? There was still amply supply of the blue medication, but was the boy strong enough to heal even with its help? The only thing Theron knew for certain was that Jack was bleeding internally and seemed extremely weak. He reasoned that it was time for a desperate solution. One that might kill the boy, but without trying anything he was as good as gone anyway. How could he face Mel without knowing he had tried everything there was to try in order to save Jack's life?

Theron took a large syringe from his kit and selected a large needle. Silently, he jammed the needle into a prominent arm vein and withdrew enough green glowing blood to fill the vial. Then, after replacing the stout needle with his finest one, he teased the point into the jugular vein of Jack's neck and slowly injected. Then he stood back, monitoring the child's vitals through his mask. He traced the greater heat of his blood donation as it coursed through the small body and became diluted within the red blood. Jack's heart rate increased as did his respirations, even as his blood pressure dropped. Then, he seemed to settle with the foreign substance. Once more, Theron withdrew a donation from his own vital fluid and injected it in the child of his mate. And once more he watched carefully as the boy's body accepted it, assimilating the foreign properties and using them to re-energize his ability to heal.

Stories had been told to gatherings of Yautja, almost since the first contact with humans that their blood could act as a healing agent within the human body. There were legends of oomans deemed honorable enough to receive the life-saving elixir of their gods, which would also according to story, alter the ooman who received it. But these were tales told to pups, or shared with drunken unBloods. Never had Theron heard of any scientific testing or results. Neither had Myn'dill ever spoken of it.

He was pulled from his musing by the sound of Jack sputtering to breathe and foaming at the mouth. That had apparently been the last dose of Yautja blood that the boy could tolerate. His temperature was rising as some cells within him fought the invading alien cells as surely as any intruding bacteria or virus. It was now or never for an injection of the blue serum. Theron quickly prepared it even as Jack's breathing grew shallow. The dart penetrated the boy's neck to deliver the pain of continued life, as Theron gratefully thanked Paya that the boy was still unconscious. Even in this unaware state, Jack's body flinched and then flailed about as the fluid coursed through his cells. Through the mask, Theron could see the bleeding areas begin to seal off, and the body reabsorb the small pools of blood that had collected. There would be no moving the youngster until the bones had at least reconnected themselves and stabilized. Theron sat back on his heals to continue his observation. All through the Earth night, he watched over the boy, finding him a blanket from one of the bedrooms when he shivered in cold. He knew that Mel was very upset and wished there was some way he could inform her that Jack had been found. But he would not leave the boy to tell her. His duty was clear right now – try to help Jack. With Paya's blessing, he would be able to return a living ooman child to Mel. He did not wish to contemplate any other senario.

Just before dawn, Jack's vitals became normal and he awakened. A worried Hunter was immediately hovering over him, "Jack, can you speak?"

"Yes," came the small reply. "I knew you'd come after me, Theron!" Without a word, the gray Yautja lifted the boy and carried him from the house of his captors. Holding him close, as one would a pup, the cloaking nearly covered Jack. Only one foot could be occasionally glimpsed as the boy-carrying blur strode by. When they reached home, the Hunter walked up to rap on the front door.

"It is I" he announced as he heard Mel and Signý's footsteps inside. "I have him." The door swung open and Melanie stood back as the blur came inside, uncloaking at it entered.

"Hi Mom! I'm fine," came the small voice from the Hunter's arms.

"Jack! Jack!" Theron transferred his load to Melanie's insistent arms where mother and son clung to each other. The woman's shoulders shook as she cried in relief. When she could speak again, Mel asked, "My God, Jack, I was so worried. Where have you been, what happened? Are you sure you are all right?"

"I'm okay, Mom. Theron saved me! Can I have some water? I'm really thirsty."

She set her boy down in the kitchen, motioning for Theron and Signý to follow. She poured them all glasses of water and set down between her son and the Hunter. "Now Jack, tell me EXACTLY what has happened."

After gulping down several glasses of water, Jack licked his lips and began, "I was riding my bike home from school and a car pulled up along side me. There was a lady driving, nobody else was in the car. She smiled at me and the window rolled down and she asked me to please stop. I told her that I didn't mean to be rude, but I didn't know her. She laughed and said not to worry 'cuz she was an old friend of yours, Mom. So I stopped. She got out and came over and told me some stuff so that I knew she must a friend of yours."

Mel interrupted, "What did she tell you Jack?"

"Oh stuff like the adoption agency I came from, and how old you were when you adopted me." Melanie's forehead screwed up as she considered, "Go on, Jack."

"Then she told me that she'd been visiting at our house and that you had become really sick. Mom, she said you were in the hospital! I was scared! So she said that she had come out to get me and take me to the hospital where you were. She helped me put my bike in the trunk and then I got in her car. She made me buckle up, and then said my face was dirty and brought out a napkin or something to clean it. The next thing I knew, I was sitting, all tied up and something was over my mouth so I couldn't even call for help! I tried to get up, but I couldn't, Mom!

"Then a man came in and he started to yell at me. He said it was all my fault that his wife's heart had been broken. He said that I was their boy and had been taken away from them. Then he started hitting me, mom. I couldn't fight back, all tied up in the chair." Tears formed in his eyes, "I fell over and he kicked me right in the gut! It hurt so bad."

It was all his mother could do at this point to be still. Her fists balled tight in anger as she listened to how her son had been attacked. Theron scented her rage which joined his own as Jack continued his tale.

"But I knew Theron would come!" he brightened. "The weird thing was that the lady made the man stop and came over and stroked my head and talked to me like I was a baby. It was just weird! Mom, they said they were my real parents. Do you think they were?"

"I…I don't know, honey. But the important thing is that you are safe now. Can I check where he kicked you? You may need to go to the hospital."

The Hunter interrupted, "He is well. I injected him."

"Oh, thank God you were there with your medication, Theron. Thank you! Thank you for finding my son!" She reached out to him across the table. He arose from his seat and came over to her, sweeping her up out of the chair and into the safety of his arms.

"I would not have returned without him," he spoke in great truthfulness to her. "I understand the importance of offspring. Jack is a fine son. You have great reason to take pride in him. We will speak more about this later."

Jack watched the pair embrace each other and heard Theron's muffled rumblings to his mother. He sat as tall as possible after hearing the alien's words of praise. "Can I still have my training, Theron?"

The Hunter lifted his head and looked at the boy. "Your body was severely injured. We must wait until it is healed before you train again. Mel-an-ee, how long do you think it will take to repair itself?"

"Well, that depends on what the injuries were."

He raised his brows at her, and Mel knew immediately that they had been significant. "Theron and I will discuss it," she announced.

Great disappointment clouded the boy's face. It would be months before Theron returned! He was going to miss out on all this visit's training.

The Hunter understood the child's dismay. He remembered being about that age when he first went to Training camp and how much he longed to learn everything and impress his Elders. Although he had given Jack a dose of the medication just yesterday, another dose would further speed his recovery. Theron made a quick decision.

"Mel, with your permission, and Jack's approval, I believe that I have another dose of medication that will heal him very quickly."

"You do?" perked up Jack. "That would be awesome!" He looked towards his mother to see her answer.

"Well, if you really think it will help, Theron – and won't hurt him."

"It is safe for oomans, when given in the proper amount. I took great care to only give Jack what he needed." Signý raised a brow and looked quizzically at him. He gave her no notice but turned to Jack.

"It is the same medication that I gave you back at your captor's house, Jack. You were unconscious at the time, so you did not feel it. There is a price for using this medication. It is placed within your body with a needle and the medication is most painful."

"Awwwweee, I'm not afraid of any needle!" Jack boasted.

"It is not the needle that my kind fears." Here the boy's eyes opened in amazement – the Hunter was afraid of something? "It is the medication. It enters your body and produces the most exquisitely painful burning as it heals you. It does not last long, but for the time it hurts – your minutes will seem like hours. That is the price of using it. Do you wish to endure this healing, Jack?"

The child thought for a minute, wondering what 'exquisitely painful' felt like. He looked at his mother, who said nothing and then back at Theron. "I will do it," he said, suddenly not sounding quite so confident.

"Are you afraid?" asked the Hunter most seriously.

"Yes, I am," Jack admitted.

"Then why do you wish to suffer this healing?"

"I want to train again with you!" was the eager answer.

"We will soon see if you feel it is worth the price." Theron opened his field medi comp kit and removed the heating element. In the middle he placed a small blue chunk of something and it began to melt and sizzle on hot metal. When it was completely melted, it was drawn up into the large syringe, making Jack blanch at the size of it. Surely this was a needle to be used on an elephant! The alien took Jack's head gently in his grasp and bent it towards one shoulder, baring the neck to receive the medication. Theron's mask pointed out the pulsing artery most clearly to him and in a single motion he plunged the tip of the needle into Jack and delivered the fluorescent bright blueness into his blood stream. The needle was swiftly withdrawn to the sound of a young boy's howl of pain. Jack gave a great shriek and then fainted dead away.

"Is he alright?" panicked Melanie.

Theron immediately scanned the boy as he went unconscious, "He is well. The pain was very great and drove him into this state. It is better for him to be asleep and not feel what is happening."

"I've seen that blue crap used before on Yaut! That's what you used on him earlier? Has it been tried on a human before? A little child? What's in it?" Suddenly an exhausted and re-enraged Mel was on the attack in defense of her son.

"Be calm, female! Yes, it has been tested on oomans. Each time I gave only a very small dose that was appropriate for Jack's size and age. When he awakens, he will be well! Settle down! Would I be stupid enough to do something that would hurt Jack?"

She glared at him and sniffed, "Not intentionally."

He glared back, but understood her maternal instincts to protect her young. Now was not the time to tell her that he had also injected her son with his own blood. His com signaled that the Arbitrator had made landing next to his ship. "I must go now," he explained. "I sent for an Arbitrator to assist me in finding the Badbloods who hurt Jack. They must not go unpunished."

Melanie was surprised to hear her own voice reply, "No, they must not."