Author Note: I do not own Predators. Unfortunately, they belong to 20th Century Fox. :( Anyways, thanks for all the reviews I've gotten so far, and thank you for reading Predator: Apocalypse. I'm sure you'll all be sad to hear that Predator: Apocalypse is reaching its final chapters, but don't worry. As I stated before, there will be a sequel (to refresh your memory, it will be called Alliance of the Gods). Anyways, enjoy! X3

Chapter 35

-Paya-sain'ja-

It was impossible to tell time out in space, but my guess was that an Earth-day passed before things got busy. I was given a bit more time to rest, then was summoned to a kind of meeting hall in the ship, a place I only vaguely remembered from the tour I'd gotten. The yautja rarely used it, and when they did, everyone knew it was serious. The yautja were tense, hostile, even, and seemed too preoccupied with the stress to notice me (a first).

"Do you think the Elders called this meeting to tell everyone about making a cure?" I asked Luar-lce.

I'd come to the assembly with Luar-lce, Bakuub, Yeyinde, and the other members of Bakuub's hunting party. I had never met the others (Dachande, P'kya'vha, and Kujhade), but I hoped to be properly introduced after the meeting. They had helped to save me, after all.

"There's no other reason they would," replied Luar-lce.

I can't see the stage from which the Elders will speak, because of my height. I was nearly five and a half feet tall, but the yautja where at least seven. I wanted to see what was going on, but was also occupied with trying not to be crushed. I was, however, able to see as well as I used to, before I lost my eye. Luar-lce had successfully changed an synthetic eye to match my sight, and implanted it into my eye socket. A bundle of hair-thin wires connected the eye to my brain. I was still getting used to it, and the unusual clarity I was getting from my new eye, combined with the regular sight of my natural one, was giving me a headache.

I move so I'm standing between Luar-lce and Yeyinde, in front of a green-blotched warrior named Dachande. The bulky hunter looks at me curiously, seeming amused, but says nothing. I feel safer near yautja I trust.

"The meetings starting," murmured Bakuub as the hall goes silent.

Seeing me strain to see, Dachande lifts me onto one of his broad shoulders. I try to thank him but he nods shortly and tells me to pay attention to the Elders. I see all of them gathered, as well as Kwei and several other priests.

Bhu'ja steps forward and calls for silence. "You may already know about the ooman who was made a member of our clan," he said. Seeing me in the crowd, he nods at me. Several yautja follow his line of sight and see me, curious and hostile as ever. "She speaks with the gods, and was chosen by them for a special task, which we, the yautja of this clan, will take part in as well."

There's some murmuring at this. I swallow nervously and try to get down, but Dachande holds me firmly on his shoulder. I realize he wants the other yautja to see me.

Kwei takes over. "As your High Priestess, I want you all to know this is true. Cetanu himself appeared before us and told us we are to do as they say." She looks sternly out into the crowd of yautja. "This clan will do as Cetanu commands. And Paya-sain'ja will lead this important mission."

There are yells of outrage at this last comment. My friends automatically move closer to me as the yautja roar their displeasure. Calls like "Why should a ooman lead us?" and "She's just a ooman. Why should we care what her mission is?" fill the room. I fight the urge to scream in pain and anger, digging my nails into my palms.

"QUIET!" roars Kwei.

The yautja are shocked into silence by her furious yell. She looks dangerous and angry, clutching her staff with clenched fists. Even the Elders look taken aback by her ferocity.

Kwei paces, her posture stiff and deadly. "How DARE you show such disrespect to the gods?" she snarls. "Who do you all think you are, to say you will not do as they command?" Her eyes are alight with fury. "I don't care if you like this order or not. Paya-sain'ja WILL lead her mission and you all WILL do as she says. She is chosen by the gods, just as I am. You will learn your place."

She reminds me so much of Cetanu I almost laugh. The only thing that keeps me from doing so is the terrifying expression on Kwei's face, and the glares and snarls from the angry yautja around me.

"Paya-sain'ja!" calls Bhu'ja. "Come and tell us your mission!"

With me on his shoulder, Dachande makes his way through the crowd toward the stage. It occurs to me that maybe this was why he kept me close in the first place: so everyone can see me, and to get me safely through the mass of hostile yautja. I get off his strong shoulder and step onto the stage, thanking him. He grunts in reply and leaves, going back to Bakuub and the others. I walk, terrified, toward Bhu'ja. The kind Elder nods at me and getures for me to stand and face the yautja.

"Tell them, Paya-sain'ja," he says gently.

I swallow hard. Cetanu, help me, I plead mentally. Right after I think this, I feel a flow of strength and hear, I'm here, in my mind. Emboldened, I step forward and speak: "I'm sure you're all aware of the situation on N'ithya, my home planet. A disease has spread, changing the humans, my people, into cannibalistic monsters. And, I'm sure you all know, I am the only survivor." I pause and let this sink in, then continue. "I'm alive for one reason: the gods chose me to save my people. Lil'ka herself protected me, and allowed Bakuub and his hunters to find me. One of them, Guan-thwei, died saving my life."

There's a few moments of murmuring. I wait for it to die down before speaking again.

"I know how you feel about humans. I know you don't like me, or the fact that I'm here," I said. "But right now, I'm here to tell you that this mission, our new job, is to cure the humans." For once, the yautja are stunned into silence. "The yautja gods were once the humans' gods as well. For that reason, they want my species to be saved. I know how to cure them, but I need your help to do so. The will of the gods is for you to work with me in making this antivirus and healing the humans on N'ithya."

The yautja get over their shock.

"There's no way we'll work with you"

"You're just a ooman!"

"She's lying! She isn't chosen by the gods!"

"Why is she so important? She's not a member of this clan! She isn't even yautja!"

Kwei roars for silence, but they will have none of it. They're so worked up not even she can quiet them down. It's then that I feel power surge into me, the kind I felt in the gods' presence. There are cries of surprise, and I look down to see my skin glowing with a soft golden light. Bidden by some instinct I don't quite understand, I look out at the yautja and say, "You will follow the will of the gods." Somewhere in the back of my mind, I'm as shocked as everyone else. I'm speaking in Lil'ka's voice. It has the same godly power, but it's watered-down to fit my human body. "I am Lil'ka, mate to Cetanu. I saved this ooman for a reason. How many times must we appear before you to make you see that she is our chosen warrior? If you do not follow our commands, you will face our wrath. Do as Paya-sain'ja instructs you to do. Cure the oomans. This is our will."

The glow fades and my voice returns to normal. I find I'm not disturbed or surprised that Lil'ka directed her power and voice through me, that she spoke using me.

"Any objections?" snarls Kwei, looking at me with new respect. When no one says anything, she says, "I didn't think so."

After that, I relay instructions for making the cure. Then, we start assigning jobs for everyone to do. Half of the medics will go and gather ingredients, accompanied by hunters. Groups of healers and warriors will go to the planets on which the required ingredients can be found, get them, and return. Everyone else, including me, will stay on the clanship and prepare to make the cure. I will be in charge of organizing the process and directing everyone on what to do.

There's no objections or shouts of outrage now, but I sense a seething hatred in the gathered yautja. I'm nervous about working with all these yautja, who obviously loathe me. They might not oppose me outright, but there's no doubt in my mind they will find subtle ways to show how much I disgust them. And once the cure is done, I know some will think it means I'm of no more use, and attack me.

Peace, little one, murmurs Lil'ka. Concentrate on your task, not the yautja.

I do my best to do so, and am helped by Lil'ka's soothing presence, but the doubt remains at the back of my mind. I know I will have to watch my back. Because someone may just decide to stab it.

...

Please review! What do you think? Not bad, huh? As usual, I totally winged this chapter, and I think it's good for something written on the fly, and when I'm so tired. :D Anyway, hoped you liked it. Please leave a review and tell me what you think!