Translations:

Paya: Goddess

Ooman: human

Sei-i: yes

Just as promised, after their nap they headed to the market place. It buzzed with all sorts of chatter and there were displays of different things.

"What is that?"

"Silks from the nearby planet of A'k-rashiar. Want to try some on?" Moving through the crowd they stopped at the merchant's stand to look at the different styles and colors. Lex picked out a golden-tan color schemed cloth with a leaf like pattern across it.

"Wow, these are gorgeous," Scar inspected the cloth agreeing with Lex.

"Do you have these kinds of robes at home? I've seen things that you call cotton, silk, and denim but I've never seen things like this when visiting."

"I don't think you've visited places like India. They have all kinds of patterns that I've known of like these. Miana had once brought be back a few. I think they're still hung up in my closet."

Scar hummed in thought, "perhaps one day we'll return for them. Here let's get this." Snatching the fabric from her, he walked up to the pleased looking merchant and made a sold bargain for the cloth. Wrapping it up in a bag, Scar grabbed Lex's hand and continued over to several other stands to gaze at.

Some had sculptures of ancient warriors from stories and others had more natural looking stone for gardens and such. They had tapestry that told the story of their goddess, Paya and other warriors but most just held exquisite designs and colors alike.

"How about that one for the living room?" Scar pointed to a very ancient looking tapestry that had an old but mystical about it. With its frayed edges and the worn on looking leather that let the blues, reds, and oranges shine in their making, it made a wonderful piece. Looking at the asking price, it seemed very undervalued to Lex. Something like, this back on Earth would have caught the eye of a collector of sorts like an antique collector.

"It seems under-valued though," Lex worried over the tapestry as they walked from the stand.

"Yes, probably because of the maker, region it was made, or because most are looking for brighter colors. I think we just got a good deal," Scar continued on smugly as Lex followed laughing at his "apparent" skill in bartering.

"What is there in this bazaar of yours?" Grinning down at her, he led the way to a section filled with lots of cages. There they saw many exotic animals and bidding going on.

"We do have a variety of pets to choose from. Want to see?" Leading way, Scar shied her many animals that looked much like insects and critters in a larger form as well as many colorful birds and small mammals.

When looking at a particularly small creature that had bright blue feathers lining the middle of its back from the top of the skull to the tip of its tail and had soft dark brown fur, Lex and Scar were confronted by messengers from the Citadel.

After a moment of talking between Scar and them, he turned to translate their conversation to Lex, "the Elder Va'rak wishes to see you, alone."

"You can't come?" When Scar translated, the guard bristled in annoyance.

"No." Scar looked worriedly at Lex. It wasn't always a good thing to see an elder you didn't know and he never knew what the reaction would be when she came. His clan have freedom to all if they wished to join their society and their ranks unlike those who could have other races as companions and those who chose to have them solely as slaves.

"Well, tell them that I'm currently busy and that now is not a good time. If it is so important then you can either come along or I don't go at all," Lex was completely calm and she silently turned back to the small creature who seemed to enjoy the attention Lex was giving it.

"Lex. Let's go."

"He's cute. Can we come back later?"

"Sei-i." Accepting the fact that it might not be there later, Lex turned and followed the guards to the Citadel. Their society didn't see any need for land transportation other than the trains you could take from city to city but even then those were in the air. Outside of the cities were the farms but the forests were maintained for hunting reserves, mining, and the occasional lumbering but other than that they were undisturbed.

Once they had reached it, they were handed off to another guy sent to see them in. While he wished to protest about Scar's presence, he could feel Lex's agitation and did his best not to set her off. As the Elder's door came into view, they opened to welcome them in. Scar and Lex stepped inside and the doors closed behind them, leaving them with the elder unaccompanied.

"I do believe I asked for you only. I also believe it's a bit rude to defy my orders." He clasped his hands together and waited patiently for her response which he believed would be amusing.

"I do believe it's rude to ask for someone who had just landed and who was out shopping. I also thinks it's rude for you to not introduce yourself, Elder Va'rak," Lex didn't let her shock of his perfect English render her speechless, in fact, being in such a situation before which needed diplomacy, Lex kept cool and responded without hesitation. Once he had stood from his chair, Lex and Scar bowed their heads respectively.

"Why do so when you seem to already know my name and I yours?" He clicked amusingly, as if he had cornered her again. But he came completely unarmed and underestimated the human's natural ability for wit and cleverness that accompanied their diplomacy.

"Common courtesy, Elder. However, we need to get to business on why you called me here. I'm a straight to the point kind of gal so let's get a move on shall we?" Setting her bags down by her feet she straightened her back and crossed her arms, a move that would seem cocky and aggressive to any other human but the Yuatja saw it as more of a very annoyed female.

"Of course, please sit," Lex sat in the only chair, slightly concerned about Scsr having to stand but Scar shrugged off not really caring whether he stood or sat. "I've called you here about a young ooman female named Miana. You are friends with her correct?"

"Yes."

"She accompanied you to Antarctica?"

"Yes."

"She was given a gauntlet by another surviving Yuatja?"

"Why am I here and what has this got to with Miana?" Lex never raised her voice once but the Elder was flabbergasted by her change in tone. Clearing his throat he shouted out a command and the doors opened to reveal Celtic in chains.

Scar roared in outrage but Lex's calm hand on his arm kept him from charging in defense of his younger brother.

"You see he shouldn't have given away such technology to her. The harm that could occur would be most tragic if anyone was to ever use it improperly. While giving something like a ki'pa-chi would be okay, this is unacceptable. I've asked for your presence because I need Miana to be brought back here for questioning and to ensure our technology was misused. Do you understand now?"

"Unchain him," when no move to occurred, Lex turned to face the elder directly, "Miana is my friend and while I have no problem learning about your society and joining your ranks I'll keep my human morals as tight to me as I can which means that while Miana is my friend and like family no matter what you say, no matter what you threaten to do, she comes willingly and full heartedly. If she refuses, then she refuses. If she comes on her terms then she comes on her terms and those terms are to be respected. Am I understood?" The elder nodded and Celtic was released from his chains.

"Do not worry. If all is well then he will not be tried or go to jail but if something is a miss or something was to happen while we were gone then he will be tried and possibly exiled and marked as a bad blood for execution am I understood?"

"Sei-i."

"Good. Then please, take my personal vessel that had been prepared for you and who ever you may wish to take," the elder clapped his hands gleeful and sat back down in his chair.

"One more thing though," Lex leaned forward and placed her hand son his desk to receive his full attention, "You are the rep for this clan?" Understanding her abbreviated term he nodded and she continued, "Then I have a few requests to make while I'm here." Turning she looked at Scar one last time and he nodded, encouraging her.

"We want to be me life mates and we need to go through this government thingy. I'm assuming you're the one in charge of making that happen?"

"Sei-i. The papers will be waiting on your return." Nodding, Lex grabbed her stuff and walked out with Celtic and Scar following behind. If they were going back the they would need to prepare because Lex knew Miana would come back kicking and screaming, even if she had at first willing key agreed. It was after all in her nature.

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Okay, so I wanted to update yesterday but sadly instead of feeling better I felt a bit more worse and today I'm running off of Mountain Dew and Royal Crown caffeine along with four hours of sleep... Pray that I don't crash at some point 'cause that would suck. Anyway I have a few author notes to post after this with a nice explanation of what's going on. This story has in fact ended but only Lex's portion of the story. There will not be a sequel either because there isn't a point. Anyway stay tuned for a few author notes from me and I'll be explaining characters and the way their culture works which will be an important aspect if the second portion.