As always I do not own predator. The OC's are mine.

Thank you to all of my reviewers and readers. You all have been so patient with me and I couldn't thank you enough. I'm sure there are mistakes. Let me know if you come across one. Happy reading.

Chapter 15

Jay looked on curiously as she watched her uncle and grandfather. She then glanced to Kenzie and saw the look of utter shock on her face. She contemplated venturing forward, but knew that wouldn't be in her best interest. She wasn't supposed to be in the kehrite. She had strictly been forbidden from being there when there were others, especially when C'bra wasn't with her.

Jay glanced around as she shifted her weight from one foot to the other. She was itching to make her way closer and see exactly what Kenzie was looking at. Even though, she wanted to, she didn't. She stayed rooted in place. If she was smart, and right now she wasn't because her curiosity was getting the better of her, she would have left.

She sighed and shift her eyes to S'kta who seemed to be trying to inch away. She cocked her head to the side as she stared at him. She'd seen the look of guilt many times on C'bra's face and that look was mirrored on Uncle's. Which begged the question: what was he guilty about? Jay's curiosity was thoroughly piqued.

Colby moved around the massive males and looked inside the box. What he saw caused him to shake his head. He knew that they were…different to put it lightly, but this was taking it to the next level. It reminded him of frat boys on earth.

As Colby looked at the object that lay in the box his blood began to boil just a little. He wondered why the old man had sent his sister into the bowels of hell to get this. Was it significant to the old man? Colby didn't know. What he did know was that Kenzie seemed to be in shock.

Colby watched his sister as the stupefied expression seemed to be etched into her face. He could slowly see that expression begin to warp into anger. Sheer, unadulterated anger. Colby then glanced up at the old man and saw him inching to the side.

Viper had been so busy scanning Kenzie for any major injuries, that he hadn't immediately seen what was in the box, but he didn't need too. The smell hit him like a ton of bricks. He knew exactly who whatever it was belonged to before he even looked into the box.

H'bu seethed as she stared down at the item in the box. His blood boiled in his veins and all he saw as white rage. His suspicions had been deemed correct. He now knew for sure the reason behind his brother's disdain for his offspring and ooman females. He hadn't wanted to believe it at first, but actions resembling those of a pup could only be ignored for so long and he had been ignoring S'kta's for the past century.

H'bu should have known sooner. He could pinpoint the day his relationship with his brother went from bad to worse. He just didn't know what had cause the change so quickly.

They had always stayed at odds as children, always fighting with each other. Fights S'kta started. Even though he wasn't one for the childishness his brother so often partook him, H'bu would not allow S'kta to think he had the upper hand and met everyone of his challenges growing up.

It was no secret to H'bu that S'kta wasn't his biggest fan. His brother had made that very known growing up. His disdain for H'bu stemmed from the fact that his bearer was an ooman female. One that their sire had taken as a life mate over S'kta's bearer. The younger male was more than sure that his brother's bearer had planted that seed of hate inside his mind.

He'd always thought of his brother as hateful and prejudice against him and his offspring, but he always felt there was something more. Something he didn't want to admit to himself, but now was forced to. S'kta was not only prejudice, but jealous as well. Jealous of his sons for the mates they had chosen. Jealous of him, because he now knew he got the woman S'kta wanted. The woman he knew Kenzie reminded him of.

A resounding echo could be heard throughout the kehrite as it fell quiet. Spectators looked on as H'bu stood breathing heavily over a shocked S'kta. If Colby hadn't seen it for himself, he would have thought someone had lit a ton of C4 in a metal bin. He wondered if S'kta was seeing stars.

Without warning, H'bu began an assault on his brother. His anger getting the best of him.

Viper contemplated whether or not to pull his Sire from his Uncle. He would be lying to himself if he didn't say he was pleased to see it taking place. He was also shocked. He'd never seen his Sire like this.

Viper watched sadistically while trying to keep his furious mate in his arms. He was angry yes, but at the moment someone had to be the calm one and Viper could tell that it wasn't going to be his mate or his Sire.

Elder Hadru along with Xile stepped in to separate the brother's when they noticed Viper made no move to. When they finally got the two separated Hadru demanded to know what was going on. Neither of them spoke, as H'bu stared menacingly and S'kta seemed to cower slightly under his brother's gaze.

"Are these-" Xile started as he picked up the item in the box, allowing it to dangle off one of his fingers.

Kenzie wiggled her way out of Viper's arms ignoring the pain she felt over her body. "My panties." She snapped, snatching them from the large Yautja. Six pairs of eyes shifted to S'kta.

Hadru had dismissed the spectators from the kehrite before leading the others to the conference room. Xile was sure to walk between the two brothers. He didn't want Elder H'bu to snap again, though he did seem visibly calmer than before.

Upon entering the conference room, Kenzie shivered at the cool temperature. She was still wet as well as shirtless. She was more than thankful, when Colby pulled off his button up shirt and handed it to her. She put it on gratefully and smiled her thanks to him. She had the best brother.

She went to take a seat, but was stopped and pulled into Viper's lap. She was thankful for the extra body heat and didn't complain. She pressed herself closer to her mate as an uncomfortable silence befell the room.

Kenzie glanced across the table where all of the older males were sitting. The one she had been introduced to as Hadru sitting between Uncle and Boo. The longer Kenzie looked at Uncle the angrier she got. The man was a sick pervert and she wanted to rip each of his dreads out slowly.

"Care to tell us why you had a pair of the females' ooman coverings?" Hadru questioned

Uncle said nothing as he tried to avoid his brother's glare. He wasn't sure what his nephew was doing under his mask, but he was sure that he didn't want to know either. He had never felt so much guilt in his life and he wasn't sure why he was feeling it now. On top of that he felt intimidated and humiliated, though he would never tell anyone that.

His younger brother's blow had caught him off guard and for it to happen in front of so many people didn't help matters. He couldn't even do anything when he had initially been hit. When the attack continued all he could do was try to counter and hope that his brother wasn't angry enough to do serious damage. For the first time in his many years, he felt he deserved what he was getting.

"I do not care why he had them." Viper spoke angrily from behind his mask. "I want to know how he came about them."

Again S'kta said nothing and Kenzie was growing more irritated by the moment at his silence, but this was a question she could answer and she would just to see him squirm more.

"He took them from our home. I pulled those off this morning." She informed her mate.

Viper stood so fast that Kenzie nearly toppled out of his lap. If it wasn't for her brother grabbing her she was sure she would have hit the floor. Her mate charged at his uncle, but was stopped by his clan brother. His blood was boiling and all he saw was rage.

Hadru stood and placed a hand on Viper's shoulder. He needed the younger male to calm down. If the pup wanted to challenge his uncle, then he would allow it, but it had to be gone about the right way. The infraction was made on his mate and therefore it was the females' decision as to what she would like to do about it. A female of their species would have skinned S'kta. Hadru was going to allow the ooman female the same privileges.

"We will let your mate decide what she believes is an acceptable counter to this situation." Hadru stated trying to calm the younger male further.

Kenzie liked the sounds of that. She wondered if she could justify killing him as a punishment. When all eyes fell to her she thought about her panties she'd stuffed into her back pocket. Standing to her feet she made her way around the table and stood behind Uncle. Taking the panties out, she positioned them on his head before pulling his dreads through none to gently eliciting an irritated growl from the male.

Once she had them through both leg holes she asked H'bu to make him stand. She glared up at him once he did. He was about the same size as Viper. Almost eight feet if he wasn't. She thought about kneeing him where the sun didn't shine, but had an even better idea.

Before S'kta knew what was happening, Kenzie was using his member as a speed bag. She'd gotten in four good punches before he stepped back and roared at her. She could see the anger in his eyes, but wasn't worried about it. Every male in the room stood to their feet. H'bu stepped between the two and clicked something that she, of course, didn't understand.

"While you're at it Boo, tell him that he has to wear those until I say he can take them off. Since he likes being a panty punk so much he can let the entire ship know it." Kenzie stated with a triumphant smirk. At her statement, Colby fell into laughter.

She new that Uncle understood her, but she figured if it came from H'bu then it would be taken more seriously. She looked around her mate's father to see anger flash in S'kta's eyes. She didn't care. He had put her life in danger for a pair of her own panties. She was pissed and humiliated. It was only fair if he felt the same way. Besides neon pink was a great color on him.

Kenzie grabbed Viper and Colby and made her way out of the room. She was still mad, but pain was seeping through her anger now that her adrenaline had completely worn off. She needed a hot bath and to sleep for the next twenty hours.

Once they had entered their living quarters, Viper removed his mask and took his little mate straight to the lavatory. He stripped her of her clothes. When she was naked in front of him he had to stop himself from purring at her, remember that she had been hurt. Removing his loincloth, he picked Kenzie up and walked them into the bathing pool.

As he settled her on his lap, she let out a contented sigh. Gentle had not always been something Viper was familiar with, but over the past few weeks he'd learned so he wouldn't hurt his mate. He caressed her gently, trying to work the tension and soreness out of her muscles. It seemed to be working because hit little mate relaxed into him and let out her own soft purr.

This pleased Viper. He always enjoyed being able to elicit new sounds from her. He enjoyed making his mate feel good.

Once he felt he had relaxed her all her could, Viper rose form the bathing pool with her securely in his arms. He grabbed two large cloths and carried her back into the sleeping chamber. He laid one on the bed before placing her on it. He then went about drying himself. Viper left the room only to return moments later with a healing salve. He rubbed it gently onto his mate's wounds. By the time he had finished she was sound asleep.

While his mate slept Viper went about reconfiguring the access panel to their living quarters. He had given his father and uncle access for emergency purposes only. He now saw that was a mistake. He's just removed his uncle from the system when a beeping ensued, signaling there was someone at the door. Viper looked at the screen to find that it was C'bra. He let his brother in and led the way to the couches.

"I just saw S'kta. He has on quite a festive head piece. I was told it was compliments of Kenzie." His brother spoke with a smirk.

"It is a fitting punishment. I would have liked it be more…severe."

"Mine would have been. You are too tolerant, Brother. That's why he tries his ridiculous little schemes with you."

Viper shook his head causing his tresses to whip around. "I am tolerant of him on certain things. My mate is not one of them."

The brothers sat and talked for a while longer until Sonja called trying to see where C'bra was. When his brother was gone, Viper decided to feed his mate's little pet. Once that was done, he checked in on his mate before retreating to his lab. He pulled up all of the different planets on his screen. He knew that he and his clan brothers would be sent to exterminate a large hive in the near future. He just didn't know where it would be.

Viper was dreading having to go. He didn't want to leave his mate, especially alone on the ship without him and after what his uncle had pulled he was more uncertain. The only upside was that Sonja and his sire would be there to look after her.

Daniel Snider could vaguely hear someone calling him, but he was too busy jotting down more information in one of his field journals. The he was now living on had many odd specimens and he was eager to sample and study them all. He had been cooped up in his house for the past few weeks and he honestly had no intentions of going anywhere anytime soon.

There was a sharp sting to his arm and the old man looked over to find his grandson standing there with an irritated look on his face. He could only assume that the boy had pinched him.

"What is it, Colby?" He questioned going back to his writing.

"I've been trying to get your attention for the past ten minutes. What is so interesting that you could just tune me out?" As Daniel began to explain his grandson held up his hands. "You know what? I don't think I want to know."

"Then why are you disturbing me, Colby?"

"Kenzie was placed in an obstacle course of death by Vipers uncle."

That caught the old mans attention. "What? Is she alright?"

"She's fine. A little banged up, but fine nonetheless. She made her way through that thing with flying colors. But you will never guess what it was she had to retrieve in order to pass it." Daniel raised an eyebrow. "A pair of her own panties Gramps!" Colby exclaimed.

Daniel was on his feet in no time and heading out of the door with Colby hot on his heels. He made his way to his granddaughter's house and rang the bell. It was answered by Viper. He pushed his way past the large male and into the house.

"Is my granddaughter alright?" He questioned turning his attention to Viper.

"Calm down. She is fine."

"Where is she?" Daniel then questioned continuing on the living room.

"She is resting."

"I assume you took care of your uncle."

Viper shook his head. "I did not have to. Kenzie took care of it herself."

Daniel immediately rose from his feet squaring off with the larger male. "She wouldn't have had to take of it. You told me you would take care of her. That is the only reason I allowed this…relationship!"

"Lower your voice before you wake her!" Viper snapped. He then took a step closer to the old man. "Are you trying to say that I am incapable of caring for my mate?" He growled lowly. Gramps said nothing. "You did not allow anything. I came to you only because my brother stated it was the right thing to do in ooman culture. The decision is not and will not ever be yours to make."

The two males stood there and glared at each other. Colby looked back and forth between the two of them. While his grandfather often got on his nerves with all of his experimenting and trying to force him to eat odd things he didn't want the old man to die just yet. Grabbing his grandfather's arm he pulled him back.

"Gramps, Viper is more than capable of watching out for Kenzie, but you know how strong willed she is. She's a tough cookie and she doesn't need constant babysitting."

Colby wanted to add the fact that his grandfather hadn't been worried when he was leading them into an alien infested maze. He hadn't been worried when he would poke them with something when he wanted to know whether or not it was poisonous. Instead he kept that to himself.

Daniel didn't say anything; he pulled his arm from grandson and walked out of the house. He was so focused on his thoughts, that he hadn't noticed there was someone in front of him until her bumped into them. He looked to find that it was C'bra. He nodded slightly before trying to step around the large male.

"I was coming to find you." C'bra informed him blocking his path. "I have someone I would like to introduce you to."

Daniel looked at him skeptically before nodding his head following the large male. It felt like they had been walking forever and they were in a part of the ship that he had never seen before. Granted the only places he had bothered to figure out how to get to were Kenzie's place and the dining hall. Everything seemed unimportant, since Viper had set him up with a lab in his house to work out of.

They came to a door and C'bra placed his hand on the lock pad. The door slid open and Daniel followed him inside. He pinched himself to make sure that he hadn't died and gone to heaven. The room was filled with nothing but scientific equipment. Most of it was so high tech that Daniel's pulse began to race with excitement from just looking at it. He was so lost in the beauty around him that he hadn't noticed someone else had joined them.

"Daniel this is S'vyn and this is his lab. He's agreed to let you help him with some his research and he'll answer any questions that you may have. The boy thought you were staying locked up too often."

Daniel didn't have to ask which boy C'bra was referring to. Usually, he would be upset with Colby for trying to butt into his business and change his routine, but this time he didn't care. All he cared about were the words that had come out of C'bra's mouth. He would get to have access to this equipment. He could hardly wait.

A/N: Hope you enjoyed. Hopefully I'll have the next chapter up much sooner.