Chapter 55

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

"Have you lost your mind?! Do you realize what you've done!?"

A'stea took it in strides with Fi'ka, Bu'at, and Kaail by her side with Nu'kha leaning on a wooden pole a few feet away. He still wasn't comfortable with Kaail so A'stea didn't want to argue. She already got a lot on her plate. Too much . . .

M'uat, Shi'en, and G'uag began lecturing about the meaning of discretion. After they reached the hideout, she called for an emergency meeting at the tent to give them the news. Some would think that killing a high ranking master would be favorable . . . that it stated that the masters are not invincible and can be killed. But to the leading members, it only brought more problems and that she made a mistake of doing so.

"With all due respect, M'uat, it wasn't in our intentions to kill Master S'wqua and we didn't know he was tracking us. It was out of the blue and we acted according to our judgment."

"Rather his judgment." Shi'en pointed towards Kaail. "But you should have known better. Your hunting excursions among other things were going to bite us in the ass one day. And it did!"

A'stea bit her lip. She did her best to hide her despair for making such a stupid mistake. But Kaail can feel her body tremble . . . her resolve crumbling due to the accusations from stupid males who only think that their way is the right way for their people. After seeing what Master S'wqua was about to do to A'stea, there was no doubt that the Amengi won't let them go.

"Excuse me." He grabbed the member's attention. "But she isn't the one who killed the master. I did and yet you lecture her on something that was going to happen eventually. We did what all of you couldn't do combined."

"What did you say?" Mu'at takes a step towards them in a threatening manner. Kaail wasn't going to stand back and let him talk nonsense. He breaks away from A'stea, much to her reluctance, and meets him in the middle. The two males stared down at one another. Silence brew tension in such a small place.

Kaail grunted. "You heard me. You've seen the cruelty of the masters. They are relentless and will stop at nothing to find us. Even if you do leave on a ship, where would you go? They will follow and hunt us down regardless. Killing Master S'wqua was the only way to keep us safe and free . . . and the others will meet the same fate."

"Who do you think you are? The Leader? You've only been with us for a short time and yet you call the shots? Who will follow you?"

Mu'at takes another step when he looks behind Kaail and backs off. The group of Hish guards that were with them took a step and clicked their guns. A'stea looked in shock, noticing they were backing up Kaail.

One male spoke. "He's right. It's time we start fighting back, not just raiding their supply chains. If we don't strike them soon, then they'll kill all of us. They won't stop until all of us are dead."

The others grunted in agreement, staring down on Mu'at. Kaail watched as the weak male spit to the side, seemingly disgusted at the notion. "Then go ahead and get yourselves killed. Our plan to leave on the ship will still be played and it will be soon after this. Anyone who wants to join is more than welcomed."

A'stea huffed at the last notion. No one will go . . . at least not without reluctance. It had been apparent that the shift of opinion in the hideout gradually changed to staying and fighting. It was like a political world was forming inside the Rebellion itself: one side wants to leave while the other wishes to fight. After the massacres and curfew within the city, many are starting to think twice about what to do.

But she knew the members would still try so she decided to make a compromise.

"My Lords. I'm not going to force any of you to follow my plan. We have the right to choose our destinies. But if you're that adamant of leaving, I suggest that you take the females with pups first."

"What?"

A'stea shook her head at the idiocy in the members, wondering how they became part of the leadership in the first place. "You heard me. They are the most vulnerable of our Rebellion and they have far more important things to take care of than fight this war. Anyone else could come along if there's room. If you do so, then I'll gladly see to planning the right time to leave."

It was a foolish thing to ask but A'stea felt it was best. Her priority is to safeguard the future of the Hish that will bring an era of a new world for the Hish. That is a fact in her eyes. It was hard to see the concerned looks in Fi'ka and Kaail but she needed to do this. For them.

After a moment, Mu'at, Shi'en, and G'uag congregated between themselves, and within a minute, they relented. "Fine. We'll take them but don't expect us to come back and get you when things don't go your way."

"It's not a matter whether things don't go our way. But rather we have to win this war. Once and for all."

A'stea raised her chest, full of confidence to at least keep appearances. It wasn't lost on the males and they straightened themselves, looking proud as any warrior. Kaail couldn't help but smile in secret, seeing a part of how A'stea obtained a high rank in this strange group. Eventually, the members relented and took off to deal with other businesses. The Hish guards waited in their spots, still not moving as they thought they would.

"What do you think of this?" Kaail asked them. "Do you want to leave?"

"No." He was surprised to get an answer straight away. Even A'stea and the others seemed to be shocked by it. "The masters have killed too many and we stood by for too long. Whatever you decide, we will follow."

Kaail thought for a moment, glanced at A'stea to see the worry in her eyes, and then back to the males. "Okay. Keep diligent in your work and keep close contact until we figure something out."

With that, the males bowed their heads and left the tent. Only himself, A'stea, Fi'ka, Bu'at, and Nu'kha remained. Exhaustion crept onto A'stea and she moved to sit in the chair at the corner.

"This is going to c'jit."

A hand covered her face. Kaail kneeled by her side and rubbed her shoulders. He could feel her muscles aching and yet tensed even now. She's not doing so well.

"What happened out there with you too?" Fi'ka asked. "I thought you were going on a hunting trip."

"We were . . . but we were followed somehow." Kaail spoke, letting A'stea rest for a moment.

"Followed?" Bu'at tilted his head.

"Yeah. It seemed strange too . . . like they knew what we were doing. I don't have a good feeling about this."

A'stea lifted her head when she heard his words. Knew what we were doing . . . She sighed deeply and turned to Nu'kha for a few seconds. But in such a short time, she noticed he was acting strange . . . nervous or something close to it. His eyes, though, never left her and she pulled away at how uncomfortable they made her. "I think I might know why."

Everyone turned to her. "You know?"

She turned to Bu'at with a nod. "A while ago, I answered a call from Master S'wqua but ran into Mor'dath who said some interesting things."

"Mor'dath?"

Kaail didn't like what she said. He glanced at the scars on her neck, noticing that they were similar to bite marks . . . like a Hish. "Did he do that to you?"

A'stea flinched . . . an indication that he was right. That bastard. His fist tightened hard, pressing onto his knee but too angry to feel the pain. But he felt A'stea's hand softly touch him. He flinched for a second and saw the concern in her eyes. She didn't need to say anything to know what she wanted. Don't. He softened and sighs deeply.

She sighed as well. "The point is that someone told him about us and the Rebellion, threatening to squeal about it to the masters. I didn't want to say anything in front of the members, being how temperamental they are now."

"But how?" Bu'at raised his hands, baffled. "He's not part of our Rebellion and would be the last person anyone would tell."

"Unless . . . there is a spy among us."

Kaail spoke, gaining the attention of everyone. "I was told as well that a traitor is among us. I didn't want to think it's true but it makes sense now."

"Who told you this?" A'stea asked, raising an eyebrow at such a statement. How does he know as well?

Kaail paused for a moment, swallowing hard until he moved his sights towards a particular person. "He did."

A'stea and everyone turned to Nu'kha, shocked and in disbelief. Nu'kha? She watched as his expression turned from stoic to nervousness in an instant. Anger slowly flared in her as she glared right at him.

"You told him? Without telling me?" She waited for an answer but Nu'kha didn't. His head lowered in submission. "Nu'kha!"

Her voice, louder than it needed to be, grabbed his attention and he came walking towards them with a little caution. "I didn't want you to worry about it, given the pressure of the Amengi on us ever since the raids—"

"I don't care!" A'stea stood up. "I have more than enough problems to deal with and reframing to tell us made things worse. We could have prevented this from happening if you opened my mouth shut!"

"A'stea."

Kaail pulled her arm when she attempted to rush after Nu'kha while Bu'at and Fi'ka moved to block her path, only to prevent another fight. She didn't fight against him and calmed down for a moment. She bit her lip, staring down at Nu'kha in anger. "Of course I should have known better . . . all to protect me by keeping me in a bottle. No different when the masters put me in a cage."

Nu'kha stung back. His dreadlocks hid the side of his face from her. A'stea huffed in defeat and moved back to sit down. "How did you find out about this? Tell me now." She tapped her feet on the ground, making an audible noise that he couldn't ignore.

"The masters have been hiring many guards to patrol and hunt down defectors. One incident is when I was conversing with D'alg who heard of them conversing with a stranger. He didn't get a look at his face but heard them talking of the Rebellion's plan and even the raids itself."

"And do you trust D'alg's information?" Bu'at asked.

"I don't know. I can't dissuade or accept, given there's a lack of proof."

"Then do you think D'alg might be the spy?"

"Excuse me?" Kaail spoke before anyone else. "Are you suggesting that he might be telling behind our backs? He has nothing to gain from this and the masters treat him like dirt under their fingertips. And I trust him."

"Of course you would." Nu'kha hissed. "After all, both of you were on the side of the masters before you came to us. Ever since you and he came, things have gone to the c'jithole."

"Eat your tongue before I rip it out of you." Kaail stomps towards Nu'kha, ready to put up a fight against this male for accusing him of being the traitor. The thought sickened him, being so low as to do that behind everyone's back . . . especially A'stea's. He put his face inches from Nu'kha and both began to growl.

"Enough! Both of you!"

They stopped, pulling away at the sound of A'stea's voice, stressed and weak. Kaail saw how upset she was and how Fi'ka was trying to comfort her. He kneeled to her side and pressed his head on hers. "I'm sorry."

A'stea lifted her eyes to him and smiled. "It's okay." She turns to Nu'kha while being held back by Bu'at. "We're not going to assume things until we find out more. For now, let's keep this between ourselves and keep to the plans for the Rebellion. Leave us now."

Nu'kha debated until it was clear A'stea didn't want to hear anymore, giving him a glare shot right at him. With a grunt of displeasure, he stomped out of the tent. Bu'at turned to glance at A'stea and she nodded. "Make sure he doesn't get into trouble. And keep on the lookout for anything."

"Of course." He bows his head and takes off.

"Fi'ka."

"Yes?"

A'stea sighed. "Go check with the members and help them plan to leave with the ship. I'm sure it won't be long now."

Her friend smiled and gave a hug before leaving as well. With the wave of chaos and arguments subsided, she finally could take a breath but her body could now feel the strain from the stress of today. "Who can we trust now? I feel like everything is going to c'jit."

Kaail clicked his mandibles. I feel the same. Seeing her like this, he moves both of them around until he is sitting on the chair with A'stea on his lap. She gasps in shock but the small comfort when his arms wrap around her eased her a bit.

"We'll figure out something. Right now, there's nothing we can do but stay low until we make our move."

"Yeah. You're right." She giggles. "I guess we lost our chance for a moment together . . . back there."

Kaail sighed and lowered his mouth to her neck, purring. "Well, we could. It might help to relax for once and get away from all of this. But tell me . . ." He exhaled slowly on her skin, making A'stea shiver at his touch. "What did Mor'dath do to you?"

She stuttered. "Well . . . he tried to make advances . . . but I stopped him." She quivered again when his hand stroked the exposed skin of her hip.

"Anything else? Like what I'm doing?" He moves his mouth again, letting his tongue stroke her cheek as he inched closer to her mouth.

"I . . ." Her mind was blank and she couldn't speak. When she did get the strength to do so, Kaail had pressed his mouth on hers. Both moaned into the kiss, locked in passion with one another as the heat from their bodies grew. But right as Kaail moved his hand too close to the junction between her legs, she pulled away and locked her legs together.

"Please . . . not now." She was out of breath and as much as she wanted it, the recent events with Master S'wqua were too much.

Disappointed, Kaail purred sorrowfully. He let his jealousy get the best of me "I'm sorry."

"It's okay." She twisted her body until she was facing him on his lap. She gave a smile to ease him. "But I want to . . . when I'm finished with your secret present."

"And when will that be?" He made his voice more eager than he wanted to, thinking it might drive her away. Instead, he saw her smile grow bigger.

"In a while . . . when everything is all settled." She looked down for a moment. "I have a place to show you when the time comes. Can you be patient?"

"Of course." Kaail smiled. "Anything for you."

"Until then, we have to be careful. Everything is changing now." A'stea pressed her head on his elongated forehead, keeping eye contact with him. "Do you understand?"

He leans closer to her, barely inches from her red lips that he couldn't resist. "I understand."

Softly, they shared a kiss and enjoyed the warmth and smell of their bodies mixing, knowing that nothing will ever be the same again as their enemies moved secretly in the dark.

Waiting . . .

Hi everyone!

More division is spreading within the Rebellion and many are starting to pick a side. I can't blame A'stea for allowing the members to leave with the females and pups. But will they regret it?

And yes . . . I'm so frustrated that Kaail and A'stea didn't get their moment together but there is still much to read and maybe they will . . . if the masters don't spoil it.

But the greatest issue is who is the traitor and people are starting to point fingers at each other. So many reasons to betray but who can be trusted? Will they ever find out before it's too late?

Find out when Chapter 56 comes tomorrow!

Thank you for the reviews (Anonymous-E, Mariah, 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. :)

Happy Hunting! :))))