Disclaimer: Don't own Any Predators, if I did, WHOA BOY….lol, in any case, yeah, Fox owns 'em!

Author's Note: Sorry it took so long to put this chapter up! I got flooded with ideas for another fiction and I had to get it out before I lost it. Here's the fourteenth chapter of this lovely instalment. I hope you guys like it!

Chapter 14 – (Captivity)

Malice purred and chirped at Adara as he held her close to him. They had already been in the holding cell for over 3 days now. The temperature was still left in the single digits. Adara could see her breath whenever she breathed out. Malice himself was starting to shiver along with the other Yautja, they were now all huddled together, and even Myst's group had decided it was best to stay together. Faust was close by as well, he knew better than to let pride get in the way of survival at this point. Adara had not eaten in over four days now, and it was starting to take its toll on her.

Malice held her closer to his body as the others tried to have some sort of conversation. They'd found out earlier that the five other Arbitrators had been lured to the same planet days before Malice's group had appeared. A spy lured in the five Arbitrators; that spy was a Yautja named Silver. Myst's arbitrators were much younger than those with Malice; a few hundred years younger in fact. Adara had taken to them instantly, they seemed amazed that one as small as she could handle such a gruelling lifestyle. They were also impressed with her ability to stay calm; they'd never encountered many females that could maintain their cool under such straining circumstances.

Adara shuddered again as she looked up at Malice, who in turned looked down to her. "I don't know how much more of this cold I can take. I think I should walk around some, otherwise my muscles will be far too stiff and I'll cramp up." Adara said through clattering teeth. Malice shook his head and just rubbed her legs lightly, he did not want her to leave his arms. He felt responsible for Mercy's death; he would not let the only other female he truly respected as a warrior run the chance of being killed. He wondered why he cared so. It wasn't as if it were a nuance for Yautja to die in battle. He'd come to terms a few days ago that he cared for Adara. It bothered him at times; it made him weak. At least, that is what he felt every time he felt that she might be in danger. So, he'd do anything to keep her safe; in order to keep himself from faltering. It wasn't a weakness he cared to admit.

Strife and Norit had been relatively quiet, Strife more so than the others. They'd felt Mercy's absence more than the others. Tremor himself was quiet, but often took turns with caring for Adara with Malice. Auror and Stalker were simply watching the doors, hoping for a chance to get out of the freezing cold and to kill every single one of their captors. Adara felt responsible for not having foreseen the attack, she should have, but she had not. Her abilities allowed a certain amount of premonition; which for some strange reason had abandoned her. She knew it was partly because Sheridan was around. She knew a few things about Adara's abilities. But not enough to completely subdue Adara if she were to get out. Adara smiled with anticipation. She knew they'd make a mistake sooner or later.

Myst found himself looking toward Adara constantly, he interested in knowing why she was regarded so highly. He had first been under the impression that she was Malice's slave girl, but after a couple of days; it became quite clear that Adara was far more than that. No Yautja, no matter how benevolent he might have become; held his slave and cared for her the way Malice was doing. It also occurred to him that Malice and his group had suffered a loss, a female in fact. That would be difficult to digest; mentally anyway. There were reasons why unspoken rules among the male Yautja always were adamantly against having female warriors.

It was not that female warriors were weak, or incapable. The opposite in fact was true. They could shame any male if they set their will to do so. It was simply that their loss would be felt greatly. Any Yautja male worth his marking would cringe and wither at the thought of having a female go through pain. That was after all why the men were not allowed around any birthing female. Female Yautja often labelled them as utterly useless in such circumstances.

Myst figured Malice simply was taking care of Adara so that she too would not have to suffer. Myst could tell that Adara was slowly weakening; not a good sign. If she continued to get weaker, her death would be inevitable.

(Over here.)

Sheridan looked to Vulcan with annoyance. "What do you mean that this is immoral? Who cares? We're getting paid for it." Sheridan shifted in her bunk as she settled down for some rest. Vulcan shook his head and scoffed. "You want revenge, but are far too scared to face her by yourself. You fea-" "I DON'T FEAR HER! SHE DISGUSTS ME! Her and her family go on and on in this world claiming to be something they're not. Damn elitists! Her father was no different from you and I; he was nothing but a scavenger. There is nothing glorious about that!" Vulcan regarded Sheridan's outburst with a calm demeanor. "You fear her. You try and justify your actions by claiming to be doing the universe a favor. Do not try and deny it. For if it truly were an action out of the goodness of your heart, it would not have a price tag Sheridan. Not to mention; you have no conscience, you'd sell your own mother if it got you what you wanted." Vulcan had spoken dispassionately, but his words carried his conviction. Sheridan snarled and leapt off her bunk and headed out of the quarters.

(Back with Adara and the Arbitrators.)

"Little bastards," Adara said as she leaned heavily into Malice. Her voice was but a shiver. Sheridan had not made her appearance since the day she'd awoke, lucky for Sheridan. As Adara kept trying to formulate a plan the doors opened to the holding cell room. It was two bad bloods, and one of them had Adara's prized katana strapped to his back. Adara felt a renewed sense of energy, and a strong urge to kill. Those swords had been an earned gift from her father. She had to live through two hundred years of some of the most vigorous training she'd ever experienced to be able to get them.

Malice noticed the stiffening of her body and looked in the direction she was looking in. He noticed what she was looking at; her swords. He had never seen her part with them, so he figured they meant much to her but not until he saw her get up and walk out of his arms did he realize how much value they had to her. She could barely stand a few minutes ago, now she was actually walking toward the glass. She placed her hands on the glass, her fingers splayed out. "You don't deserve to even BREATHE on those." Adara said in a low whisper. It was all she could manage considering the situation. Slate, who had her swords strapped to his back walked forward and laughed, a mocking laugh. "Is that so? And what do you plan to do about it?" He crossed his arms over his chest looking down at her. Adara narrowed her eyes as she made eye contact with him despite the fact he had his helmet on. Slate started to choke; he brought his hands to his throat as he started to come to his knees.

Adara kept her eyes on him as he started to slowly asphyxiate. The other bad blood had no idea what was going on, he did not grasp the concept of what Adara truly was. The Arbitrators and Faust had come to their feet; they were as much in shock as the bad blood. Adara's voice rung out, "I will get my weapons back, and I will kill every one of you, one, by one." Slate continued to choke although his struggling was now subdued, at this point Sheridan came running in. "WHAT DID I TELL YOU? IF YOU GIVE HER THE CHANCE SHE'LL KILL YOU ALL!" Sheridan made the mistake of looking at Adara who'd now switched her gaze to Sheridan. Slate was already dead.

"You should have followed your own advice Sheri."

(Over with Merick.)

Merick who had been watching the whole scene from the ship's bridge smiled. "Bring me the girl. Ask politely, I will tame her myself. One with such power can be used to our advantage." Merick convinced himself that he would find a way into the girl's good graces. He'd give her proper lodgings and clothing. Women like her were swayed easily by material possessions.

(Back to Adara.)

Sheridan was much quicker to look away and get away from the room; she'd understood that Adara in her current state of mind would not think twice about killing her. Adara looked at the other hunter, as she was about to start killing him, three bad bloods walked in. Malice placed his hands on her shoulders and gently pulled her behind him. Adara was surprised; she'd never been guarded like this. She for the first time was being taken care of like a Yautja female.

Malice growled, "What do you want filth?" The three bad bloods laughed at Malice. "Look at him, in a cage like a worthless Ooman and he still tries to insult us." "You know what they say, 'he wants to die with honor'" "Over rated if you ask me." All three bad bloods walked up to the glass; all of the Arbitrators including Faust did the same thing. "WHAT do you want Silver?" Silver smirked, "The girl, Merick asked for her. So, MOVE!" Silver roared at Malice who didn't move from the glass.

Malice chuckled and shook his head, "How do you plan to get through all of us to get to her, Silver?" The three bad bloods, which were in full armor with plasma casters, aimed them at Malice and a few other Arbitrators. "If you are willing to die for her Malice, we are more than happy to accommodate you." Malice stepped forward to take them up on their challenge but both Norit and Strife held him back. At that point, Adara had made her way through the Arbitrators and up to the glass by Malice. Malice turned to look at her as she placed a hand on his chest gently, her eyes locked with his. She said nothing, there was nothing to say, and she'd made a choice. Adara turned to the bad bloods and narrowed her eyes. "Do you plan on making me walk through the glass or are you going to open the bloody gate?"

Silver smirked and met Malice's steely gaze as he motioned them back. The Arbitrators in respect for Adara's decision stepped back as the door to the holding cell came open. Adara stepped out of the cell; the bad bloods still had the plasma casters pointed at the Arbitrators. "If you want me to be cooperative, I think it is in your best interest to aim those away from them." Axel turned to Adara and scoffed. "You don't call the shots here girl." Adara chuckled as the plasma casters turned toward their bearers. Silver, Axel and the third bad blood froze in their places as the door to the holding cell closed. "Perhaps not gentlemen, but I can make certain whatever shot you call will be your last."

Silver and Axel both growled as they turned and motioned her forward. Adara didn't want to look back to her friends; no doubt they wouldn't understand her methods now. They were still in danger, even if she could fight back. She followed the Yautja out and toward the lift. She was silent on the lift ride up to the top level of the ship. As the lift doors opened, Adara was pushed out and the two Yautja stepped in as well the lift doors closed and the lift moved on. Adara thought to herself, "Well, there goes my only mode of getting out of here." She looked around, she wasn't in a hall as she'd expected. Adara was IN someone's quarters already. She figured that this is where Merick meant to meet with her. He probably expected to force her to tell whatever secrets or information he thought she processed. She didn't have long to wonder though; Merick walked out of an adjourning room soon after her entrance. He motioned her into the room he'd quitted and closed the door behind them once she complied.

"Welcome to my quarters Adara. I trust that you weren't, too annoyed by my men. They don't understand the art that is the handling of a lovely creature such as yourself." Merick had purred softly throughout his talk. He didn't believe her to be lovely. As a matter of fact he thought her hideous, but she the means to an end, and that was all that mattered, he'd mate with her if it meant that he'd get what he wanted. Adara was not fooled. Selfish people were as transparent as their attempts to hide their selfishness.

"Well, you seem to have the same problem yourself, Merick. Knocking me out to take me hostage. Hmm, doesn't seem very gentlemanly does it?" Adara looked on at Merick gravely. Merick simply chuckled, "Don't tell me that you expect ANY Yautja to behave as your weak minded foolish human males do." "I expect anything from your kind Merick, nothing is below you." Adara shot back her eyes narrowed, the venom in her voice quite apparent. Merick stepped forward, he wanted to kill the stupid girl and be done with it. But he couldn't, he needed her to further his plans; so he bit back the urge and instead purred out. "I shall have to prove you wrong shan't I?" With that said Merick took out his communicator and had started to contact the bridge.

Adara had turned away from him, wondering how the hell he was going to handle this. She realized the ship was a fairly good size. She couldn't just kill Merick and walk on her merry way. Then again, sometimes things had to be pushed along, so Adara came to the conclusion that she had waited long enough. Just as she turned around, Merick had a knife at her throat and quickly had a hand up behind her neck, holding her in place. "Normally I don't do this to women, but as you are not Yautja, I have no qualms…." Adara growled, "The hell you don't mistreat women, what happened to Mercy!" Merick chuckled, "That was a casualty of war, she puts herself out there, she knew what it meant. Beside, she died an honorable death. Now little one, you're going to do as I say or you will die a slow death." Adara scoffed her head was now tilted back, exposing her neck, "I am not afraid of dying Merick…. what do you want?"

Merick smiled, thinking he'd one he chuckles, "Well, You're going to help me conquer planets of course. If you don't, every Arbitrator in that pen of yours will die." Adara grimaced, she'd made a miscalculation somewhere and now was about to be made some psycho's little gofer. Adara closed her eyes momentarily and sighed out thinking to herself, "Dad, what the hell would you do…" A voice resonated in Adara's mind, chuckling, "Well baby doll, I certainly wouldn't be letting someone tell me what I'm going to do…. why should you?" Adara opened her eyes and looked at Merick and narrowed her eyes, "I don't think so…" Adara kicked Merick in the stomach, hard. He had not expected her to be so quick, or be so strong. He stumbled back, gasping for breath, he hadn't dropped his knife though, but it didn't matter, Adara took his ceremonial knife from its sheath on his leg and proceeded to stab him in the throat. Merick tried lifting his knife to stab Adara, but it was far too late, he was already fading.

The knife dropped uselessly on the floor. Adara came to her feet and sighed, "Okay, he's dead, now how the hell am I going to get out of here when I don't have any weapons…hmm." Adara took Merick's spear and ceremonial knife with her; she had to be armed in some way. Adara knew that there were probably guards at the doors, so it would wise to go through some other exit. She looked around, and finally found it. The ventilation systems would be perfect. Adara unhinged the grating covering the vent and slipped inside, making sure to put the screen back in place.

Adara knew they'd gone up about 4 levels, so she had to find the lift shaft and go down it. After a couple of wrong turns, which had led her to the bridge and the lounge area, Adara found the lift shaft and smiled. She pulled the grating off and looked down. The lift was on its way up. So she figured she should wait until it went past her. She knew she had to drop about 80 feet to reach the level the holding cells were located on. As soon as the lift went past her, Adara jumped off, she was glad she had gloves on; otherwise she'd burn her hands when she went to grab the lift cables. Adara reached the lowest level on the ship and sighed, "Okay, time to-" The lift was coming back down and it was headed straight for her! Adara jumped at the grating using the spear to puncture it and pull it off. Adara jumped into the vent shaft just as the lift brushed past her.

Adara lay there on the shaft taking in a breath to calm her nerves. "That was too fucking close." She'd muttered that in her archaic tongue. She started to make her way down the shaft and in search of the holding cells.

(Back in Merick's Quarters.)

Silver was growing impatient, "Something's not right Axel…we should-" Axel scoffed, "If he cannot handle a simple girl he has no right to be our leader." Silver growled, "That GIRL took one of us out with just a look. I do not think she is as much of a pushover as you say." Axel, "Well, are you going to be the one to interrupt him then to find out?" Silver snorted, "I am not foolish. If she kills him, it would mean we have someone less to concern ourselves about." Axel and Silver both chirped in mirth at the thought of Merick's demise.

(Back in the ventilation shaft)

Adara sighed, she was getting quite annoyed with taking wrong turns, but she'd found out the overall layout of the holding area of the ship. Adara finally got lucky and found the holding cells, she was now right above the area that led to the holding cell. She smiled as she notice the corpse of a Yautja was still there. The body of that idiot she'd killed earlier was still there and her swords were still strapped to his back. Adara smiled at her luck. She looked around slowly, nobody was there, of course Sheridan could conceal herself well if she so chose, but they all thought she was with Merick. She was at an advantage. Except, there were cameras monitoring this room. If she dropped down, they would see her and her advantage would be nothing.

Adara sighed out, she needed to take this risk, and she couldn't very well handle this problem on her own. Adara unhinged the vent cover as gently as possible. When it finally was loose, she let it hang off one side, as she'd only unhinged it from one side. She wondered how long it would take her friends to notice. Adara was not kept waiting long.

Norit looked at Malice and pointed to the vent that was now opening. They both came to their feet and watched, neither knew what to expect from this. Adara looked around and then noiselessly dropped down from the 20-foot ceiling, the cameras weren't on, they weren't signalling anything, what could be happening? Adara looked toward the very surprised Malice and smiled. "I forgot something," she said through a smile as she walked over to the dead Yautja and took back her swords and knives.

Malice chirped and chuckled, "I see…" He wouldn't say it, but he was relieved to see her in good health. He had not liked seeing her go off to the unknown. He had not liked seeing her in danger at all. Myst who now had come to his feet as well walked over to the glass, he again was in awe of her. Myst asked, "How did you escape?" Adara had walked over to the glass and was looking around at it, "I killed him, what else? He certainly wasn't going to let me stroll about the place…"

As Adara unsheathed one of her swords to slice at the glass, a gunshot erupted from behind her. Adara managed to move out of the way spinning around to see her assailant. "Well, Sheridan, you have more brass than I gave you credit for. Here to get me all by yourself." Adara smirked at Sheridan who was still holding up her gun at Adara. "Save it Giovanni, drop the swords." Adara chuckles as she flings one of her knives out, missing Sheridan by a hairs breath and digging itself against the wall.

Sheridan had hopped out of the way and looked at Adara with amusement, "You're getting rusty Giovanni, you missed completely!" Adara chuckled, "I wasn't aiming at you nitwit." This time it was Sheridan's time to chuckle, "Isn't that what one always says to cover one's mistakes up?" Adara grinned, "I don't make mistakes that stupid Sheridan, so I've never had a need." Sheridan narrowed her eyes, "Drop your weapons Adara, you're worth more alive. Although injuring you is acceptable." Adara smirked, "Say you catch me Sheridan, how the hell do you plan on leaving this room?" Sheridan rolls her eyes, "Through the door Adara, that's how normal people travel? Or are you too far into your demonic background to realize that?"

Adara's smile turned feral, "What door Sheridan? The one behind you is out of service at the moment." Sheridan gave the door behind a quick glance and blanched. The knife Adara had thrown earlier was lodged in the operating keypad. The door was now useless. Sheridan was literally stuck with Adara. She turned back to face Adara and narrowed her eyes. Adara chuckled, "Now you get the picture…you only have eight bullets left in that handgun Sheri, and it's going to take more than that to kill me."

Author's Note: TA DA! Cliffhanger! Stay tuned people! Please Review!