Chapter 38

Disclaimer: I do not own Alien/Predator series or any characters and may not follow all customs and cultures found in Alien/Predator movies.

Kaail kept quiet with his master following behind as they entered the holding area. His back still burned even after a few days of treating it with healing gel. And the jagged edges of his flesh weren't helping either. Now, he had to be babysitted by his master personally until he got to the destination. After that, his master left. He growled when some of the other Hish warriors weirdly looked at him. This is what I have to be resorted to.

He waited as the tournament was about to begin, starting with a ceremony to represent the participants that entered. And then it would begin the first round of hand-to-hand combat. Many males were excited to await the beginning . . . but not himself. Kaail kept his head down as he listened to the conversations.

"I can't wait until the tournament starts."

"No kidding."

"But it feels . . . different in some ways."

"What do you mean?"

He heard a pause for a moment. A sign of hesitation. "More guards are watching around. I think it has to do with how so little Hish has participated."

"I heard it's because they're joining the Rebellion. The more Hish leave, the more I think that they might pull it off."

"Pull off what?"

Kaail kept listening until he felt a hard pat on his shoulder. He didn't react like he usually does. Only one being is brave enough to pull off a move like that . . . and he wasn't in the best of moods.

"Hey, Kaail!" Bu'at's voice rang. "I thought I might find you in the back corner of the room."

His friend sat down next to him on the bench but Kaail didn't move. He kept his head down from everyone else. But it seemed to bother Bu'at a little.

"What's up with you?"

Kaail growled. "It's nothing."

"You sure? You like you took quite a beating. Does this have anything to do wi—"

"I said shut up!"

Kaail stood up as the room became silent. His chest huffing to keep up with the demands of his heart. All eyes were on him and Bu'at not, more terrified than curious. After a minute, Kaail glared all around and everyone went back to their businesses but a little quieter now. He saw the shocked expression on Bu'at and lowered back on the bench, putting his face in his hands.

"Just leave me alone."

Bu'at grumbled. "What's gotten into you? Your master banged your head in the process?"

He turned away and decided to fiddle with a strap to his leg braces, just so he hoped the conversation died. He got more weird looks from two Hish warriors and glared right at them. They got out of their seats and moved to another spot behind a pillar that kept the structure of the holding area in place. Kaail grumbled and went back to his distracting task.

"Are you alright?" Bu'at asked again but more cautiously.

Kaail closed his eyes, trying to calm down. Making a huge scene won't help. With reluctance, he straightened in his seat and sighed deeply, looking blankly at the wall. "What's the point in fighting the master?"

"What?"

He whispered so low that he thought Bu'at might not have heard him. But then again, a part of him knew what he said. He waited for his friend to answer. "Why would you say that?"

Kaail clicked his mandibles uncertainty. "They are too powerful for us. They know no mercy to anyone and if we go against them . . ." He bit his mandible. "They'll kill us all . . . like they are doing now."

He turns his back to Bu'at. "It's better to do what they tell us."

Immediately, his friend snorts arrogantly like he couldn't believe what he just heard. "Look. I can tell from your back that Master Thu'at tortured you with the same weapon you fear so much . . ."

Kaail flinched again. Bu'at was the only one who he told about his younger years and what the masters have done to him. And he was there too. Hearing him mention it made his back sting even more like someone spilled acid all over it and let it fester. He suppressed a hiss, pulling his arm back to dig into his shoulder and feeling his warm blood begin to seep out.

"But submitting to their will doesn't make it any better. You give them the power to control you." Bu'at paused. "And I thought you were the supreme Hish warrior everyone talks about. You're stronger than this."

Although he listened, Kaail felt like the words were going into one part of his brain and coming out of the other side. They were empty to him. All he could think of is what Master Thu'at said and what he'd done to him in the last few days. All of his energy began to drain and leave nothing behind but sorrow and despair. It was a feeling that he wished would go away.

After a few moments, Kaail thought it was the end of the conversation. Bu'at didn't say anything but he did hear scuffling from the side. He kept his eyes to the empty wall until something brown and leather obscured his vision.

Kaail pulled his face back. "What's this?"

He glanced at Bu'at, confused.

"She told me to give you this."

Bu'at handed the wrapping onto his lap and moved back a bit. Kaail looked at Bu'at in confusion as he nudged his head to the wrapping again. "Who?"

Bu'at smiled but rolled his eyes as well. "A'stea."

In an instant, Kaail felt a burst of heat inside his chest. His eyes widened, almost smiling. "A'stea gave you this?"

His friend nodded.

"What's inside?"

"I don't know. That bitch wouldn't tell me anything until you opened. Sucks I couldn't get a sneak peek." Bu'at grumbled, which was amusing to him.

Kaail looked to the wrapping and began to untie the strap that kept it together. He felt something hard and small inside but he didn't know what it was. What would A'stea give me? But the thought that she gave him a gift made him feel warm . . . and rather embarrassed in some part. The final piece of the wrapping was moved out of the way to reveal a small, silver band in the middle.

"Whoa . . ." Bu'at's eyes were popping out of his skull. "Holy pauk."

Kaail thought the same thing. He grabbed the band between his fingers and raised it to his face. It was very similar to the bands that A'stea used in her hair at the party. But this looked more impressive and expensive than hers. It was so bright in silver that even in the dim light, it shined. The metal used seemed very rare. He'd never seen anything like it. But the details are what made him impressed. Small line carvings etched the borders of the band, detail with such fine precision. This must have taken days to make.

"Geez. How come I don't get gifts from a female? You're lucky."

"I don't . . ." Kaail stuttered. "This is . . ."

"Shocking? Amazing? I can't blame you since you got a secret admirer. Do you think she'll make me one if I asked?" He winked at the notion.

Kaail attacked swiftly and precisely. He jabbed a fist into Bu'at's lower abdomen with medium force, enough that it won't cause too much damage but leave a few moments of pain. He watched in amusement as his friend stumbled back a bit, holding himself. When he got enough strength back, Bu'at growled. "Was that necessary?"

"Don't say things like that in front of me."

"Alright, alright." Bu'at raised a hand in defeat. "Fine . . . but don't get all sloppy over it."

Just as Kaail was about to make another remark, an Amengi guard entered from the door. All attention turned to him and Kaail had to act quickly, covering the small band back into the wrapping as he stood.

"It is time. Line up in formation and follow me."

The warriors grumbled and began to form a line behind the guard. Bu'at grumbled in annoyance but still felt the pain in his abdomen. "Come on then. Let us get this over with before I kill myself." He straightened himself before he started walking.

Kaail takes a moment and opens the wrapping to see the band once more. Its beauty reflected in his eyes, amazed at its artwork. When he fumbled it around, he noticed something was on the back that he didn't see. He flipped it over and noticed a symbol carved into it; two lines with one slicing horizontally while the other went down underneath the first one. He rarely saw such a symbol but he still recognized it.

He smiled. Honor . . .

He remembered A'stea telling him about that. I guess she took it seriously. His heart warmed at receiving a gift from her. All of his doubt and despair he felt earlier was gone, replaced with certainty and resolve. While no one was looking, Kaail took the band and opened it when he noticed a latch on the side. He takes a deadlock and sticks it halfway on it before clamping it securely, weaving his head back and forth to make sure. It might be a mistake to wear it in such a crowd but he didn't care. He followed Bu'at and the other warriors out of the holding area and into the stadium with a grin.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Thank goodness for A'stea that Fi'ka was able to buy time for her to send her gift and make it here before anyone suspected. Of course, her master wouldn't think twice about her . . . unless it's for something else to his benefit.

She made her way through a secret path that she and Fi'ka discovered a long time ago to get around without anyone seeing them, weaving through tight spaces in between the walls. When she reached the crack that led outside, she inched her head to see she was in the private seating where her master and other higher-ranked were sitting. As soon as she saw Fi'ka standing in the back, she whistled softly.

Fi'ka turned around and saw her. She turned to face back with the other servants before waving a finger to come. A'stea came out, straightening herself to stand next to Fi'ka.

"Did you give it to him?" She asked.

A'stea nodded. "I had to send Bu'at as an errand boy."

"Geez. I wished I was there to see it." Fi'ka chuckled. "I hope Kaail gets it or else I'll pull my dreadlocks out. You kept me up all night for the last few days to get it finished."

A'stea lowered her gaze, smirking to herself. She couldn't blame Fi'ka for it. After the party, she thought of giving him something to remind him of that night or close to it. She couldn't give weapons since many would suspect where he got it from so a metal band was the closest she could make.

She smiled. "I hope so."

"Ooman!"

She heard her master called and to her reluctance, she came to stand by his side. "Yes?"

"I want you to watch carefully." Master S'wqua reached her cheek and traced a claw down her jawline. "Be lucky that you're not in there. You're too pretty to damage."

He grabbed her chin like a vice and forced her to lower her head to him. "Maybe later we can have some fun."

A'stea thrashed out of his grip. Her skin sting when she got scratched. She pressed her fingers onto her chin, realizing it was deep when she saw her red blood on her fingers. Master S'wqua turned with a chuckle, reverberating to Master Thu'at who gave an evil smirk . . . almost enough to make her sick.

Pauk you.

The cheering of the crowds grew suddenly and all attention moved to the center of the stadium. Many Hish and Amengi all came to this event that's only held every few seasons so it's not unusual to hear so many roars and hisses of triumph. The masters, the servants, and herself looked through the glass as an Amengi guard came out to stand in the center.

"My Lords! It is time for the presentations of the high and mighty warriors of the great Amengi who rule over this planet."

The crowd's roar grew louder as the door opened from the side. On cue, the Hish warriors came in a line, marching like soldiers who were being sent to the battlefield. No difference there. Each Amengi who was near tried to reach out and touch some of them, as if it would grant strength or something of that sort. The worst was when Mor'dath came, roaring in such ignorance and raising his arms as if he was a god. A'stea rolled her eyes at the desperation. Asshole.

She searched for Kaail through the rows of Hish but couldn't find him. Was he not coming? Did something else happen to him? She felt a lump in her throat at the thought of it.

But to her relief, she saw him coming out as the last few. She watched as Kaail strode with such confidence, wearing his bone armor and weapons. She smiled, looking at his strong body and remembering how tough and yet smooth they were the last time she was so close to him. The memories of the party made her turn away with a blush.

When she looked back, Kaail looked up to where they resided and saw A'stea. She smiled and he smiled back, bowing his head silently. She watched as he got into position, lining up to face the masters with the guard in front of them.

"Here are your champions! Ready to prove themselves worthy of carrying the name of their masters and their achievements as they battle against each other . . . to see who will win and who will die! Let us rejoice in the victories to come!"

The guard raises one arm and the anticipation of the crowd was becoming unbearable to contain. The whole stadium began to rumble as everyone began to stomp their feet in a rhythm, waiting for the announcement for the tournament. Even A'stea saw the eagerness in the masters, hearing them place bets on their pawns. It took everything in her being just to ignore them.

The guard looked around, letting the tension rise to the breaking point. Finally, he made the announcement. The crowd roars as they hear it.

"Let the tournament begin!"

Hi everyone!

I understand where Kaail is coming from . . . feeling down after the beating he got from Master Thu'at. I mean . . . he has to overcome decades of being submissive in some way or another. Not everyone can stay strong after that. But can things change for him? Can he break free of it?

The good thing is that A'stea gave him a bead to wear (you know where I'm going lol) with the symbol 'honor' etched to it. Kaail needed that to boost himself out of depression in a way and stay strong. Also, to receive a gift from a female is very rare. Sorry for Bu'at but he deserved it lol.

Will it help him to keep going? And will it be the key to help him persuade the other Hish to join the Rebellion? So much to be said . . . An uneasy future.

Find out when Chapter 39 comes tomorrow!

Thank you for the reviews (Anonymous-E, Mariah, Larita1976 and IanAlphaAxel)! They are very important for me and I hope I see more readers posting as well. All opinions are welcomed. I hope you keep on reading! ;)

And thank you for your support in such a difficult time. :)

Happy Hunting! :))))