CHAPTER 14:
Views Of The Past- Pt. 1
Iliana woke up to find Kantra not inside their bed. Wiping the sleep out of her eyes, she stretched and sat up to look around the room. She looked to find Kantra drying his dreads with a towel next to her bed. She raised her eyebrows in amusement while he gave a quick grin.
"Good morning" he greeted.
"Same to you, hunter man" she said, nodding. "So, you took a shower in there? Wasn't it kind of small for you?"
"I managed, but I accidentally broke the door into it" Kantra said, clicking nervously.
I know beings like him wouldn't simply make a small fracture in it, she thought.
"You broke it? Define 'broke'" Iliana said, cautiously.
"It . . .well. . .it came off from its hinges when I came out" he said, awaiting her reaction. "I left it at the far end to cause no accidents of sort."
"You broke the door? Broke? The door?" she asked, lying back on the bed again. "Oy, is there something you can't break?"
"Give me a break, I'm on an alien planet" he said, quickly. "You'd probably feel lost if you walked in into one of our showers."
"Yes, so I wouldn't be able to break it" she pointed out. He waved a hand at her in dismissal. "You shut up."
"You know, I think I've figured out why you're so cranky in the morning" Kantra said, placing a finger in the air like a scientist. "You do not eat and end to take out your hunger craze on me."
What? How'd he come to that conclusion?, she thought.
"Kantra, my friend, you're crazy" Iliana said, looking at him. "As a friend, I'll tell you right now, you're not going to figure out the human race so easily. Even we haven't figured out ourselves yet, which is kinda . .pathetic. So don't worry your dreaded little head over this."
"I'm not little!" he whined. "You're little."
"I know that" she grinned at him. "It's pretty obvious."
"You're not supposed to agree with me, you know" Kantra said, sitting down on the bed. "That is what humor is."
"Yes, but I love annoying you so" she said, patting his leg. "So, did you sleep better after your nightmare?"
He remembered last night's nightmare making him annoyed. How he hated having nightmares of his past and now apparently, of his future. But he wouldn't be giving Eliok the satisfaction of it. Then he remembered another image from last night. He remembered kissing Iliana somehow but he couldn't tell if it was a dream or reality from his drowsiness. Sure, he could've asked her but he didn't want to bring in any unusual feelings if it had been a dream. He didn't need for her to be looking at him as if he were a maniac of sort for thinking about kissing her.
Even if I did tell her, she's ooman and I'm not supposed to, he thought. Well, I could but she'd probably still freak out.
"Yes, I did" Kantra said, nodding. "I feel comfortable knowing I have someone by my side."
"And you will. . .until you have to leave, that is" she said, shrugging. "But for now, I'll stick to you like glue."
She's right, I will have to leave at some point, he thought. Hmm, the only planet that's actually interested me, or should I say person.
"You could always come with me when I travel, if you don't mind of course" he suggested. "It's nice to have company, when they're not trying to kill you."
Travel? With him? Leave Earth?, she thought. Interesting.
"If we're trying to free you or if you are, I will" Iliana said, easily. "I like talking to you. You're funny, cranky, and smart all at the same time."
Cranky?, he thought. Cranky?
"I am not!" he said, quickly. "You are worse than I am, silly girl."
"Hey, I'm 25, I'm a woman, not a 15 year old girl" Iliana said, sitting up against his side. "Besides, how old are you?"
"I am 83 years old" he said, proudly. "Much more wiser than you."
Wiser? Hah!, she thought.
"If you're so wise, how come you managed to pry the door off?" Iliana mused, settling her head on his leg. "Need me to help and heal you, along with cooking food for you?"
Must she point out everything?, he thought. And why is she on my leg?
"But in return I protect and teach you things" Kantra countered. "So we are even."
"You like competing, don't you?" she asked, raising an eyebrow. He grinned. "Men and their pursue to enlarge their egos, even the aliens have it!"
He placed his hand over her mouth to quiet her. She glared at him and opened her mouth from underneath to bite him. Taking his hand away, she stuck out her tongue making him flare his lower mandibles.
"Still beat you" she grinned.
"As I remember, I was able to tie you down back at our old hideout" he smirked which made her cross her arms. "So no."
"All right, that's enough arguing for today" Iliana said, changing the subject. "Question: How are we going to cook our breakfast when we have no kitchen? We have a coffeemaker but that's it!"
Maybe now she'll stop teasing me, he thought.
He got up and walked over to their table. Picking up a brown bag, he showed it to her. She looked puzzlingly at him.
"I snuck out before you woke and went into something called a 'Bakery'" Kantra said, remembering. Then shrugging, "I got something I saw oomans eating for breakfast while the workers weren't looking. Silly how oomans can't sense a yautja feet from them while cloaked."
He stole from a bakery? This man is crafty, she thought.
"If you're done giving yourself an ego hug, I'm starving" Iliana said, getting up. "Show me what you got."
He took out the contents easily and placed them in front of her. Iliana smiled instantly while her stomach grumbled for the food. He had gotten donuts, muffins, and pieces of pie along with some coffee. She squealed and hugged him immediately.
"Finally, we can eat warm food instead of those cold Pop Tarts we used to eat" she said, squeezing him. He gurgled at her response. "Oh, come now, you're not dying from my strength!"
"I was merely being humorous" he said, grinning. "I've never seen you react so pleasingly."
"Never had a man steal food for me" she grinned back. "Normally, I'd be upset but I can make an exception. Besides, it looks so delicious, I could kiss you."
Oh great, there go those memory flashes again, he thought remembering the night before. Then again. . . .
"Then why don't you?" he said, trailing a finger over her chin.
Isn't he something?, she laughed mentally.
"Hmm, a kiss in exchange for food? My, my, the hunter has turned into a negotiator" Iliana said, amused. "But, you're out of my reach. Have you noticed the height differences?"
He grabbed her by the waist and picked her as if she didn't weigh anything. In his arms, she didn't seem to way anything at all while he held her. She smiled instantly and wrapped her arms around his shoulders in case not to fall.
Boy, he's tall, she thought.
"Doh, now I can't eat my donut" she complained. "You suck, my little hunter."
"You make me sound as if I were a child" he whined. "And I'm not."
"Well, obviously with this height!" she pointed out.
She leaned over and kissed his cheek softly. His skin was warmer than hers even around the face and the feeling of it was different than any human. Exotic, very nice. She remembered last night while she drifted to sleep that he'd kissed her, but it couldn't be possible. Besides, he was much different than her, so why would he?
You're crazy, it could've never happened, she thought. This whole situation is making you crazy.
"Are you all right?" Kantra asked, snapping her out of her thoughts.
"Yes, fine" she smiled back. "I'm so hungry, I'm drifting off into space."
"How can you drift into-" he started.
"Whenever you don't understand what I'm saying, it's an expression" Iliana said, quickly. "Unless I'm serious, then ask."
He put her down and she instantly went to the food. Seeing the small female scamper off with what she'd picked to eat, he laughed mentally and picked his own to eat. Then went to sit next to her in bed. Before he could say anything, she fixed his coffee with sugar.
"So you don't complain or gag all over me like last time" she explained. "And don't eat the paper the pastries are wrapped in."
"I'm no that idiotic" Kantra said, quickly.
"Just being careful because if you choke, I doubt I can do the Heimlich maneuver on you" she said, taking a bite out of her food. He looked confused. "Don't worry your little head about it."
"I'm not-" he complained.
"Little, I know" Iliana said, rolling her eyes. "But I like calling you that and don't think it's motherly or something. Gosh, I could never imagine raising a kid your height. I'd be broken in one hug."
He laughed at her comment and at imagining her running from a grown yautja. It made him wonder about something though.
"Why do you not have children then? I've read that ooman females of your age can have children" Kantra asked, tilting his head.
He sounds just like my parents, she thought.
"One: I'm running from the government, Two: It was hard meeting anybody when I was working for them, Three: I'm not about to settle for just anybody I meet, and Four: Again, I'm still running from the government" Iliana said, drinking her coffee. "I need someone who knows what I've gone and will go through along with who I am. Besides, I have years to have children so I'm not rushing."
Hmm, most females mate easily, but some cultures are different, I suppose, he thought.
"You seek only one mate for your entire life?" he asked, curiously. She nodded. "It's different in our culture. Males can have more than one mate at one time whether its short or long term, there are some who only chose one mate in their life."
Talk about a guy's dream, she thought.
"How does your family choose?" she asked, smiling.
"Well, my family has mostly chosen one long term mate but there are some relatives that have chosen more than one" Kantra said, simply. "I will only choose one since I've been raised in that manner."
"Not interested in having so many females at your command?" she grinned making him laugh.
"No, I'd rather give my attention to one only, besides, it diminishes competition among children for a father's approval" he said, smiling.
"Aw, very sweet" she said, finishing her donut. "How many siblings do you have?"
"I have 5 so far, four brothers and one sister" he said, simply. "You?"
"One brother only" she responded. It made her feel glum from missing her family. "Well, this is quite depressing, huh?"
"Let's go into lighter matters, shall we?" he agreed. She nodded. "This beverage always gives you energy."
"Yep, that's caffeine for you" Iliana grinned. "Now, you'll be a happy yautja."
"Who says I'm never-oh, humor" he said, correcting himself. "Very amusing, I must learn more of it."
"You will, especially around me" she smiled. "Come, my child and you will learn."
"Iliana!" Kantra grinned. "I will miss you when I leave . . .but I hope you consider my offer."
"The more I'm around you, the more I agree" she said, sheepishly. "But I'll miss you too, I love messing with you."
"Well, you ruined that nice comment" he said, making her laugh.
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Iliana sat next to Kantra while holding his hand in hers. It seemed he'd grown accustomed to her doing that. Squeezing his hand, she looked up at him. He'd decided to tell her about his past now but she wanted to make sure he was all right with it.
"Are you sure about this?" she asked, gently.
"Yes, I've had time to think and I am ready to" he said, nodding. "As long as you are."
"It's not as tough as yours" she said, simply. "You have a hard time dealing with it."
"But I am ready to tell you" Kantra said, sighing. "I can't wait forever besides, you said someone should at least now of it so I'll tell you."
"Thank you and I will always appreciate you telling me" Iliana said, smiling.
"All right then, it all started . . . . . ." Kantra said, starting his story.
5 years ago . . . . . . . .
Kantra had finished sharpening his weapons in his quarters. His clan ship had many hunters who'd been going on their own hunts but he hadn't been able to find one. He was a very respected hunter among his clan so far and would soon be given command of his own group if he continued his high ranking. Kantra wasn't arrogant or anything like some leaders but more calm and sometimes humorous to make light of the situation which was why many young hunters looked up to him. He was ready to give up on finding a hunt when he heard he heard someone burst into the room. Looking over, he saw Kahet trying to look casual but his face showed excitement.
Kahet was two years younger than Kantra and looked up to him. Since Kantra's family had a high stature in the clan, he wanted to learn from him. His skin was soft brown color with black stripes over his arms, back, and thighs. His eyes were light brown which was odd for normal yautja but his background had descended it onto him. He stood at 7'5 with silver armor that always seemed to be clean even after any hunt.
"Were you bothering the Unblooded ones again?" Kantra asked his best friend.
"Of course not, that was this morning" Kahet grinned instantly. "Actually, I just located a hunt for us."
"What? Really?" Kantra asked, throwing his weapons aside. "Where?"
"Yes, it's the jungle planet up ahead" Kahet answered. "I couldn't find anything but Malkor found something just when I was about to give up."
Malkor was a close friend of theirs. Kantra had known him since before they trained for the trials and had been almost like best friends. But then Kantra met Kahet and they became like inseparable siblings. Malkor still came on hunts with them though on occasions but liked taking on very strong prey with older warriors.
We can go hunt, Kantra thought. Great!
"I will have to thank Malkor for finding it" he said, smiling. "So, how long until we reach it?"
"We have about three hours so we can train before then" Kahet said, taking out a shuriken to play with. "See? I told you we'd find something."
"It's been a month since we've gone on one, hopefully it will be worthwhile" Kantra said, placing his weapons in their corrective sheaths.
"Malkor said that the planet is mostly empty but there is worthy prey once we find it" Kahet said, shrugging. "I don't care as long as I can get out of this ship."
"You act more like a scientist than a warrior" Kantra laughed.
"Yeah? Well, you look like a grown hard meat" Kahet smirked.
"You look like a face hugger" Kantra shot back. "A slimy little-"
Kahet tackled his best friend and threw him on the floor. Kantra threw him back and threw himself on him to wrestle him over the room. This had been a daily ritual for them after every argument they had since they'd met.
Hours later, they were at the pods so they could be lowered down to the planet. Kantra wore his usual black armor while Kahet wore his silver armor. Malkor joined them while they waited for the pods to active to the coordinates.
"Are you sure you don't want to come with us?" Kantra asked him.
"The more the merrier" Kahet smiled.
"That's because you know you'd lose against my kills" Kantra grinned at him. Kahet punched him in the arm.
"Thanks for the offer but no" Malkor responded. "I have to train for my upcoming one and besides, I've started my training with the Arbitrator."
"I wouldn't be surprised if you end up one of the youngest ones one day" Kantra said to him. "You have been studying hard."
"Well, it's nice to keep your options open" Malkor said, shrugging. "I'd rather head from warrior to Arbitrator than Elder."
"If you keep tracking down these planets easily, you must be doing good" Kahet said, nodding.
Hearing that their pods were ready, Kantra got happy easily. He nodded to Kahet and they walked over there while saying farewell to Malkor.
"Thanks again!" Kantra called. "We will see you soon!"
"Keep your eyes open for anything" Malkor said, nodding. "You never know what you can find."
They both got into their separate pods and waited to be shot down to the planet below. Kantra had only seen a picture of it and so far, it was all green with small bodies of water. He didn't care as long as he found a good hunt.
But it wasn't as easy as he thought. When they got onto the planet, they found absolutely nothing that was worthy for their hunt. But soon they found an 8'6 creature that looked entirely reptilian and seemed to think very stealthily. They had tried to catch him for days but it kept eluding them in different ways. Kahet could've sworn at times that thing was toying with them, but Kantra just smacked him over the head for being so thoughtful and letting their food burn.
They had almost captured it but it evaded Kantra to a river. Kahet was there along the riverbanks and had cornered the creature while he headed there. It baffled Kantra to why that thing could cloak against them when its planet looked so primitive. Or maybe they were just in the most dense area possible. Kantra ran down the shore of the river until he saw water splashing in it. As to seeing no heat signal, he guessed it was the reptile creature. He saw shots of a plasma caster go off into the water from a tree which he knew were from Kahet. Running closer to where they were, he heard Kahet roar in pain. He held his side and fell down the tree seconds later.
"Kahet!" Kantra yelled.
He ran over to his best friend while trying to find the creature. That thing was outsmarting them somehow but he couldn't find out how. Every time he used a certain vision to track it, it would just camouflage. Kahet was bleeding from a wound to his side from a knife that looked slightly larger than one he'd been injured with previously. Kahet climbed back up the branch after taking the blade out and Kantra followed.
"How the hell does it know what we're doing?" Kahet asked, holding his side.
"I don't know but we have to find out before it makes us its prey" Kantra said, growled. Then looking around, "Where the hell are you?"
"Right here" a voice answered above him.
Kantra looked quickly only to be shot on the leg with a dart. He didn't have time to react because his whole mind went into darkness afterwards. When he woke up, he found himself lying on dirt while his body ached. Looking at his arms, he saw gashes on them making him hiss.
"He's awake!" he heard someone call.
What, Kantra thought. What's going on?
Sitting up, he saw warriors from his clan along with his Elder. Knocking the dizzy feeling from his head, he focused closer on the scene. Getting up, two warriors grabbed him by the arms.
"Unhand me! What is going on?" Kantra asked, confused.
He noticed Malkor walk up next to the Arbitrator and Elder. What were they doing here? Where was his prey and Kahet at?
"Kantra, you are charged with the murder of Warrior Kahet" Arbitrator Sau-Trul said, simply.
What? This is a joke, right, he thought.
"I'm what? What is going on!" Kantra demanded. "Where is Kahet at?"
"Apparently you are deciding to not confess to it, not a good choice" Sau-Trul said, firmly. "Elder, your permission to take him into the cells for questioning?"
Cells, Kantra thought. What for?
"Go ahead" Elder Lar'Ain nodded. Then looked at Kantra, "Your family will be disgraced by this tragedy."
"I am confused! Will somebody please tell me what is happening?" Kantra cried out.
"Malkor, you may inform him" Sau-Trul said, dismissively. "I will go prepare for his questioning and trial once we return to the homeworld."
The Arbitrator walked off while Kantra was held by the warriors tightly. Malkor walked up to him while looking grim but the Elder warned him to stay at bay.
"Tell me what is going on" Kantra said, angrily. "The last thing I remember is being knocked out by our prey."
"I doubt there was prey here, Kantra" his Elder said. "This planet is still primitive in its evolutionary stages and the predators, which are not so worthy, are centered much farther than here."
"But Kahet and I tracked this reptilian being, it was about 8'6 and-" he explained.
"Kantra, there have been no traces of any being here besides you and Kahet" Elder Lar'Ain informed. "If I were you, I would not add more charges to my name after this."
"Elder, what is going on? Where is Kahet and why do you keep telling me I am wrong!" Kantra demanded.
"Warrior Kahet was found dead next to your body approximately three hours ago" Malkor said, reading from the notes taken. "He was killed by a shot to the back of the head from a plasma caster and a blade wound to the heart. He also received gashes to his body by claws proportioned to your size. Your weapons were recovered at your side when we arrived and have been confiscated for evidence. Your body has also received gashes from claws proportioned to Kahet's size from which we wrote down as a result from a struggle. We also found one of his knives covered in your blood. You were found unconscious by blood loss and the ship tried to contact you. When we were unable reach you, we came down and found you where you are and Kahet feet away. He has been taken to the medical bay for preparations for his funeral and you will be sent to trial with Arbitrator Sau-Trul."
Kantra tried to absorb all of that into his mind. No! He had been knocked unconscious while Kahet had been injured. That is all he remembered. How could Kahet be gone? It was impossible! His best friend couldn't be dead, he just spoke to him hours ago. He tried to find something to prove his innocence but no one believed there was even prey here!
"I did not do any of this, that creature had to have done it!" Kantra yelled. "We were knocked unconscious and that is all I remember! My best friend is not dead and I won't believe it!"
Kahet can't be gone, he thought. I just saw him. Why is this all happening?
"The evidence is all there, Kantra" Elder Lar'Ain said, shaking his head. "I don't know what caused you to do this but I hope Warrior Kahet died an honorable death. I don't know why you're saying these stories about a reptilian being but I assure you there is none here."
"Search the entire area! It has to still be here" Kantra yelled, desperately. "I didn't kill Kahet, I would never dream of such a thing! You all know I wouldn't!"
Why doesn't anyone believe me?, he thought.
"Everything is going by evidence, Kantra" Malkor said, simply. "You just have to put a good defense somehow when you go on trial."
"But I'm telling the truth, I don't know!" Kantra said, frantically. "Why doesn't anyone listen to me?"
"I am sorry, Kantra" Malkor said, dipping his head. "I do hope Kahet is in a better place."
Kantra looked disbelievingly at everyone and felt the guards take him away. He knew struggling wasn't a good idea so he didn't. But how could he believe this and how could they? He knew the truth so why wasn't anybody listening to him? All he knew was that Kahet was probably gone along with his own life.
While on board the ship, he was treated like a criminal and questioned relentlessly. He tried to tell them what happened but no one believed him and some started calling him demented. His family was appalled by the news but Kantra told them what he knew and luckily, they were the only ones who believed him. Kahet's family, on the other hand, wanted him executed for their son's death. Kantra hadn't believed he was gone until he went to the medical bay and saw his best friend lying still on the cold metal tables. He'd stayed there for hours silently until they took him away.
He felt his life diminishing by the entire ordeal. Every day he went through it felt like a nightmare that he could not wake from. The trial did not make it easier and made him wish he could've just killed himself. The whole trial portrayed him as a jealous and ambitious hunter who wanted Kahet out of the way to improve himself. Their hunt was shown as of one that never took place and hadn't been scheduled at all by anyone making it look sneaky, despite Kahet had set it up. They said the same thing Malkor had told him about Kahet's death but even though Kantra tried to tell them his side of the story, every paid no attention and printed down that he had hallucinated. The only people he had support from were his parents but he knew that wasn't enough. The Arbitrator easily counseled with his colleagues to reach his decision. Kantra, of course, was in chains to hear the verdict.
"You are found guilty for the murder of Warrior Kahet" Arbitrator Sau-Trul said, coldly. "You will be executed in four days for your crime."
No! No! No, he thought.
"But I didn't kill him, I'm innocent!" Kantra yelled. He knew it was useless but if someone could just listen.
"Silence!" Sau-Trul ordered. Kantra looked down and closed his eyes wishing it weren't real. "You have 10 minutes to say goodbye to your loved ones. You will be taken to your prison cell afterwards."
"10 minutes!" Kantra exclaimed.
"You want to cut it in half?" Sau-Trul challenged. "I would not be granting this to murderers but since your family has been a honorable one so far, I will allow it."
Kantra was led out immediately but he didn't care. He already knew they were going to execute him just like all the other Bad Bloods. But he still believed in his mind what he'd seen that awful day. He felt his mother embrace him which was the only thing he wanted to remember from all of this. His mate had already left him for not believing him and his house had been taken down since he obviously wouldn't be returning.
"Oh my sweet child, how could this happen?" Bai'Kar said, holding her son.
"I didn't do anything, I know I didn't" Kantra said, upset. "I'd never hurt one of my own, I've always followed my ethics!"
"I know, son, but they made the verdict" his father, Nak'Aru, said next to his mate.
"Why couldn't they listen to me or investigate more?" Kantra growled. "I would never think of hurting Kahet, I can't. . . .this is unfair!"
"We cannot challenge an Arbitrators decision, not without proof anyways" Nak'Aru sighed. "Maybe if we-"
"Forget it, Father" Kantra said, quietly. "They already have it embedded into their minds that I killed him."
"Don't give up" Bai'Kar said, quickly. "You have four days, you could use them to-"
"No, they won't let me do anything at all as it is" Kantra said, shaking his head. "All I can do is wait in a cell like an animal to be put out of my misery."
Kantra didn't want to talk about his verdict or anything relating to it. If he only had little time to spend with his loved ones, then he'd spend them happily. He conversed with his siblings about how they were and played with them like he always had at home. He asked his father how his own hunts were going along with his mother's new pregnancy. He hated that he wouldn't be able to welcome his newest sibling which added to his anger inside. He loved his family and he didn't want to see them like this for his last time or for them to see him like that.
When it was time to take him away though, Kantra had only been chained from his arms only which gave him an insane idea. Throwing the guards out of the way, he ran down the hallway of the building while everyone looked surprised. He was worried he'd be shot but it was better than dying at an Arbitrator's hand which would be slower. Normally, he would've escaped sooner out of the building but he went into a room he remembered they kept the prisoners belongings. After getting his armor and weapons, he ran out of there like the wind. Seeing a window that was wide enough, he jumped through it and landed outside on the grass. He didn't care about any shards in his skin as long as he got out. Sneaking around the building, he went to the docking area for the ships. He saw one unguarded and sneaked in carefully since all the guards were called inside the building to see if Kantra was in there. He got inside the ship and found a way to rewire the circuits so it would be drivable.
When he heard the engine come on, he flew it out of the lot quickly. The guards and warriors shot at the ship but luckily, it was a good distance away. The ship sustained a few hits but nothing Kantra couldn't fix. From that day forward, Kantra traveled through the universe trying to escape the Arbitrators, forgetting his past, and kept hunting like he used to before everything went wrong.
"And that's my story" Kantra finished. "Interesting enough?"
Oh my gosh, she thought. I didn't think it was that harsh.
He looked down to fiddle with his mask and stayed silent. She took his hands into hers and placed her on his shoulder. She couldn't imagine killing a dear friend and getting blamed for it by everyone. No wonder he didn't like talking about it.
"I didn't think you would've gone through something so hurtful" Iliana said, softly. "It must've been a nightmare to go through all of that."
"You've no idea, especially when people say you're demented for believing your own story" he said, simply. "So now you see why I don't like speaking of it."
"I know, it's hard for you to" she said, squeezing his hands. "I'm sorry you had to go through all that but I'm glad you opened up to me."
"Do you believe me?" Kantra asked, looking at her. "Like I said, no one pretty much believed me."
"I believe you, Kantra" she said, smiling. "I don't think you'd be able to hurt anyone close to you. I mean, look how protective you are of me so far."
So she does believe me!, he thought relieved.
"Because I look after those I care for" he said, resting his head on top of hers. "But unfortunately, I couldn't protect Kahet."
"Did you try to investigate on your own for what happened?" Iliana asked, softly.
A lot good that did, he thought.
"Only my first year on the run but I couldn't a single thing" Kantra said, sighing. "But now this thing has come back and I am wondering how it's so advanced compared to where his planet was supposed to be from?"
"Good question" she said, thoughtfully. "Kantra, you said there was no trace of predators nearby right?"
"Predators as in?" he asked, confused.
"Native to the planet" she answered quickly. He nodded in agreement. "And he suddenly comes here, was he wearing the same things as last time?"
"No, he wore more armor this time" Kantra said, remembering. "He had the same weapons like last time and now it seems to find us easily unlike last time."
More advanced? Tracks down easily?, she thought.
"Kantra, what if that thing never belonged to the planet?" Iliana said, suddenly. "Isn't it odd how it was the only thing around for miles? And why does it track you down now so easily than back then with you and Kahet?"
Is she saying that. . , he thought.
"Are you saying that thing wanted to kill us before we got there?" he asked, surprised. "But how could it when . . .wait, it always seemed to evade us and toyed with us every chance it got which Kahet found out but I never listened. What if he was right? I could've evaded this whole thing and Kahet wouldn't have-"
His whole mind jumbled with questions now after Iliana's theory. If that thing was from somewhere else, how could it know of them? Why would it want to kill them? Why didn't he listen to Kahet and his thoughts? He placed his head in his hands to wonder at all these new thoughts.
"Kantra, don't freak" she said, softly. "We have time to think crazy theories about this while we run from Eliok. It's okay, sweetie."
She grabbed Kantra into her arms and placed his head on her shoulders. He made a rumble in his chest which made her caress his arm softly with her hand. She hugged him closely for a bit until his weight started bringing her down.
"Okay, maybe you should lay down and I'll hug you there" Iliana said, quickly. "You're going to mush me if I stay like this."
She still keeps a light side, he thought.
He smiled and relaxed back on the bed. Extending his hand, she took his hand and he placed her on top of him. She wrapped her arms around his side and placed her head of his chest. Hearing his heartbeat, she smiled.
"You will be freed one day and I'll help you somehow" she said, softly. "We'll find the truth."
A female who's kind yet with a temper, he thought. I'm lucky for finding one like this.
"You've already helped enough" he said, patting her head. "And I thank you for it."
"So, ready to hear my part of our bargain?" Iliana asked, trying to brighten the mood. "It's not as harsh but it can lighten your mood."
"How?" Kantra asked, simply.
"It includes the freedom of some of your people" she said, trailing a finger down his chest teasingly.
"Keep going" he nodded and grinned.
"Okay, my tale starts . . . ." Iliana started.
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End of Chapter 14. Thanks to Caz, Bastet1023, The Greatest Boba Fett Fan, and Cittygurl for the last chapter reviews! I'm glad you guys liked that little kiss in the night, hehe. And next chapter, you'll find about Iliana's past.