"I don't suppose there's any way this ship can tow yours somehow, is there?" Jen asked curiously as she faced Kwei and R'ka in the larger dining hall aboard the ship she'd found.

"Yes, there is. On the other claw, this ship's computer doesn't have the navigational information for my world. My ship does. There are two ways to get that information to this ship. I can download it to my wrist computer and then upload it to this ship's computer, or I can link the two computers together so that any different information is passed to the other. There is a security risk involved. Anyone who has the access codes to my ship will also be able to use them to access your ship as well." Kwei replied seriously.

"Can the codes for this ship also access yours?" Jen demanded in alarm.

"No. There are only three codes in use for this ship at this time… and those are ours. All others have been disabled and deleted. So even if there was still a Bad Blood left who had been part of this ship's crew, he would no longer have access." Kwei replied calmly.

"Then let's go with the direct link up." Jen said firmly.

"That may not be a wise decision, Jen. Those who have a higher priority access to my ship would end up issuing commands to both from their wrist computer, if the two ships are in close proximity to each other. You would lose access to this ship that way." Kwei advised.

"Kwei… I understand that you are only trying to protect me, and help me keep this ship. Honestly… I don't care about it! I plan to use this ship as payment for the damage to yours, and to buy us in. What happens to it after that? I couldn't care less." Jen said as she looked Kwei in his eyes.

"Jen… are you sure about this? This ship would be the single most impressive trophy I've ever heard of!" R'ka said as she tried to reason with the ooman.

"I'm positive, R'ka! The three of us have been together for a long time now. I'm not about to throw either of you under the bus so I can make out like a bandit. I've told you both before, but I don't think you really get it. I don't care about trophies. The skulls of those four assholes I killed… and the dog-tags of my team? Yes, I'll keep those. Everything else? I'll give that up in an instant to keep the two of you safe." Jen said in absolute seriousness.

"It seems that this matter has been settled R'ka. I don't think Jen is going to change her mind on this." Kwei said heavily.

"Hey Kwei?" Jen said with a smile. "You'd be right." She added once he looked at her. "I'm not going to change my mind!"

R'ka silently shook her head. This ooman female had given up so much for her that it was almost impossible to believe. She knew that Jen had no regrets about nearly dying on the day they'd met. The ooman loved her enough that she'd gladly do it again with no healing serum available. It was just how Jen was. She knew that she could rely on the ooman to do anything for her and Kwei. That was just how she was. R'ka knew that Jen wouldn't hesitate to give up her life or even her honor if that was needed to keep her and Kwei safe.

Kwei wanted to scream because he was so frustrated with Jen right then. He knew that venting his anger would be of no avail. Jen would continue on her chosen path no matter what it cost her. He knew that Jen had no regard for the value of her trophies. It didn't matter how much he and R'ka argued with her, Jen was adamant that any thing she had be shared and used by all.

Kwei got up and headed to the main computer where his access codes allowed him to link the computers of the two vessels together. After that, they would need to gather their belongings from the cave and hard dock the two ships so that they could then leave this world.

BREAK

When R'ka felt the docked vessels leave the surface of the Game World, she let out a breath of relief. The planet had been an inescapable prison that she would have spent the rest of her life on. Now, because of Jen, she was actually leaving this accursed world.

R'ka knew that Jen was very different from anyone she'd ever met. The small ooman female guided her, taught her, watched over her, protected her, loved her, and had even had sex with her a great many times. She shared her home and furs with the ooman, while that same ooman had freely shared her trophies, skills, and knowledge. R'ka would proudly proclaim that she loved Jen fiercely, and that the ooman had come to be many things to her… sibling, mentor, surrogate Bearer, and even mate. Whatever the future held in wait for Jen, R'ka had determined that she would be with the ooman through all of it.

As Kwei sat at the controls of the Black Yautja vessel, he thought about the strange occurrence in his life that had allowed him to meet both Jen and R'ka. He knew that R'ka was young, but the Black Yautja female was also eager to learn and very determined. She was willing to listen to those with greater experience and ruled out nothing that was suggested. She was willing to share the only home and place of safety that she had available, along with what meager resources she had. Even as a traditional enemy, R'ka was one that he would gladly have at his back in combat.

Kwei felt that Jen was a different type of blade altogether. The ooman had less age than R'ka, and yet she was also very wise for the few years that she had lived. The ooman gave her knowledge, skills, and experience with no hesitation at all. The combat skills of the ooman made her seem like an experienced Elder, and yet in some ways she was much like an Unblooded warrior. In the time he had known her, he had come to regard Jen as a sibling, and as a mate as well. Strangely, he also regarded Jen as someone so concerned about his well being that she was like a second Bearer to him. He knew that any debts of honor and Life Debts had been paid and exchanged so many times that it would make his head hurt to try sorting out who owed who. Jen had told him many times that she didn't care about such things because she would be there for him as long as she was alive. He knew that many others would have been enraged by such declarations mistakenly believing that Jen cared nothing for honor, but he knew different. Jen cared nothing about such debts because she knew that they would be both repaid and renewed so many times that there would be no use in keeping track of them.

Kwei had come to understand that Jen felt it was her responsibility to assist those that she could. If a debt of life or honor was incurred in the process, she never expected either of those debts to be repaid because it was what she had been trained to do. She couldn't be an excellent Arbitrator, because she was already an exceptional Arbitrator!

[Black Yautja vessel, state your intentions!]

[I am Kwei-Kv'var-de of the Broken Knife Clan. I am returning home after a hunting trip to the Game World. My Clan ship is heavily damaged so I am using a captured Black Yautja vessel to transport it.]

[Kwei-Kv'var-de of the Broken Knife Clan, I would assume that you have the landing coordinates to your Clan compound.]

Kwei knew that even as they spoke, that the Arbitrator he was speaking with was already contacting his Clan to verify his claim. Fortunately, both he, and the vessel he had flown would be documented by his Clan's records.

[Indeed I do Honored Arbitrator. If you will access the computer of the Yautja vessel, you will see that you also have access to this one as well.]

[You are correct Kwei-Kv'var-de of the Broken Knife Clan, I do have such access. The systems on board show two others with you, where your Clan records indicate that you were alone when you left.]

[I have with me one ooman female and one Black Yautja female. Both have business with the Matriarch of my Clan.]

[Are you certain that the Black Yautja female can pose no threat?]

[I can guarantee that, Honored Arbitrator. There is no threat to my Clan aboard this vessel.]

[Very well. Know that I will be escorting you. Arbitrator Setg'in out.]

Kwei piloted the two ships down to the planet's surface and proceeded to the territory owned by his Clan. When he arrived at the landing field, he hovered in place until he was directed to a place to set down the damaged vessel before landing the larger one. He was also ordered to report immediately to the Clan Matriarch where both Elders and Ancients would be in attendance.

When Kwei landed the ship, he was joined at the exit ramp by his two compatriots who were wearing their armor and equipped with all of their traditional weapons. In Jen's case, that also included her grenades, combat knife, MP-5, and .44 Magnum, and that was in addition to the armor and other things that R'ka and Kwei had made for her.

As the trio left the ship, Kwei noticed the Arbitrator fall into step behind them. He understood the Arbitrator's situation. An armed and armored Black Yautja was walking freely among them. Had R'ka been bound, gagged, and completely nude, the Arbitrator would still follow them to ensure the safety of Yaut.

Kwei led the way to the Council room with Jen and R'ka right behind him. R'ka was slightly to his left, while Jen was slightly to his right. He knew that both females had taken up positions where they could provide assistance if needed. He knew that the Arbitrator was still behind them, and that Jen had noticed his presence. She had informed him of the Arbitrator almost as soon as they had left the ship, and by that, he knew that even here, where it was not needed, she was still going to guard his back.

As Kwei came to a stop in a large circular room, Jen looked around carefully. She noted that there were a lot of Yautja in the room, and that everyone was armed with the same types of weapons that Kwei had, but none of them were as heavily armored as she was. That would make an interesting difference if things went south. It was instantly clear to her, that if things did go south, this would be a fight she couldn't win. Jen would have to be content with taking as many with her as she could, and she had already decided that she would not be going down easily!

R'ka knew that this was Kwei's home, and that if it came down to a battle, she would be in enemy territory, on an enemy world, with no possibility of retreat. She knew that she couldn't risk being captured, so that meant she had to die fighting.

"So you return to us with a damaged vessel, while the one provided to you was not damaged at all. Why?" An older male demanded of Kwei.

"On my eighth day of hunting, I was entering the ship when I was struck from behind and captured by a group of four Black Yautja males. They had already captured the Black Yautja female so they could force breed her. After my capture, they destroyed the interstellar drive, all sensors and controls." Kwei replied.

"How did you gain your freedom from them?" An Elder female asked.

"When the four males were about to force breed this Black Yautja female, the ooman female killed three of them, and battled the fourth, during which she was gravely injured, but still victorious. After she had killed all four males, she freed the Black Yautja female, and that female freed me." Kwei answered.

"Why didn't the ooman free you?" The same female demanded.

"Because she was not conscious. When I say that she was gravely injured, I mean that she was in the process of dying. She had several broken ribs, her left arm was broken in three places, a serious concussion, and many internal injuries. Even after an eighth of a vial of healing serum, I still needed to cut her open to heal some of those internal injuries!"

"Why did you wait so long before returning in the Black Yautja female's vessel?" An Ancient male growled out.

"That vessel does not belong to me!" R'ka snapped loudly.

The Clan Matriarch eyed the small group warily. If the Black Yautja female didn't own the Black Yautja vessel, then who did? It seemed that there was a very interesting story to be told, and it was one that she now wanted to hear.

"Well then Kwei-Kv'var-de, I think you should tell us what has transpired since you left." The Clan Matriarch said smoothly but firmly.

Kwei knew that a suggestion had not been made; the Matriarch had issued a command. He gave the basic details of the past year, and finished with Jen making the discovery of the Black Yautja vessel.

"Why do you believe that this is the vessel belonging to the four who captured you, and why should we not have these two imprisoned and made into slaves?" An Elder female demanded.

R'ka felt her blood run cold and instantly took a step back in fright. There was no way she could submit to what might happen to her if that suggestion were carried out.

"R'ka, relax. Nothing's been done yet, and nothing has been decided." Jen said firmly as she reached up and grabbed the hand of her friend.

"But…"

"R'ka…" Jen began as she motioned the larger female to kneel in front of her. "Listen to me. Nothing is going to happen to you."

"You can't stop us from doing anything! We have the authority to make her worst fears a reality, and you couldn't stop us from doing so!" That same female snapped.

From behind her helmet, Jen glared at that particular Yautja. She knew that R'ka was just as terrified as she was pissed. She reached down with her right hand and drew her .44, cocked it, and placed the muzzle against R'ka's head.

"R'ka…" Jen began seriously with out letting her eyes leave that female. "Listen to me. I won't let that happen to you. Take off your mask, my helmet, and look me in the eyes."

Setg'in's eyes narrowed behind his mask, and he silently drew a blade disc to kill the ooman from behind if she tried anything. Suddenly, his eyes shot wide as he realized that the ooman female was about to kill her Black Yautja companion!

The Clan Matriarch watched as the Black Yautja female removed her mask and that of the ooman female. That was when she saw the weapon in the hand of the ooman.

"Why are you about to kill the Black Yautja female?" The Clan Matriarch demanded loudly.

"Because R'ka's worst fear right now is being bred by force since she has yet to experience her first breeding cycle!" Kwei growled loudly as he ejected his wrist blades. He didn't care that this was his Clan. He owned R'ka for his freedom and even his life, just as she owed him for hers. If R'ka was killed because of this, he would kill as many of those present as possible.

The Clan Matriarch snapped her head around to glare at the Elder female who had spoken. "You dare to have the dishonor to even suggest making any female into a pauk-slave?"

That female gaped at the small group for a brief instant before she was decapitated from behind by a very old male.

The Clan Matriarch looked at the group and spoke slowly in the ooman language so that she could be certain that she was understood. "You may put that weapon away. The Black Yautja will not be harmed, and neither will you." She said calmly.

Jen eyed the older female for a few seconds before looking up at Kwei. When she saw him give a brief nod, she un-cocked her pistol and holstered it. Taking her helmet out of R'ka's hand, she put it back on.

"Thank you for what you were going to do for me." R'ka said heavily. She knew that while she would have been spared the fate of a pauk-slave, Jen might have been subjected to it. That the ooman would take that risk in order to spare her, showed just how much the ooman cared about her.

"I'd have hated to do it, but I won't let that happen to you if I can stop it." Jen answered heavily as R'ka stood back up.

"So tell us Kwei-Kv'var-de… why have you brought these two females to us?" The Clan Matriarch asked as she gazed at each of them.

"I wish for my mates to be accepted into this Clan."

The old female gaped at the small group in surprise. She looked at each one before fixing the lone male with a hard look. "I have never heard of two females sharing a male in the way you suggest." The Clan Matriarch stated honestly.

"Who says he's the one being shared?" Jen asked as she reached up and caressed the inside of R'ka's left thigh from behind before wrapping her arm around that leg with her hand passing under the loin cloth to rest on the front of the thigh.

Setg'in narrowed his eyes at the group in front of him. "You speak Yautja?" He demanded of the ooman while speaking Yautja.

"Not really." Jen replied with a smirk as she looked at the Arbitrator behind her. "I can only say a few words, but I can certainly understand most of it. Anything I don't understand is translated by my awu'asa."

The Clan Matriarch shook her head in disbelief while trying to understand what had just been said. "So you have been bred then?"

"Well, I haven't gotten pregnant yet, but I've bred both of them many times each, and enjoyed every session!" Jen answered smugly.

"How can two females possibly breed each other?" One of the very old males exploded angrily.

"What? Do you want us to demonstrate for you?" Jen asked before turning to the male beside her. "Kwei, you didn't tell me about having that kind of kink here." She added in an amused tone.

Jen watched in immense satisfaction as most of the room exploded in sputtering denial.

"Breeding practices aside, the ship that you used is now damaged, and neither of the females are Blooded, so how do you propose that this is rectified, Kwei-Kv'var-de?" The Clan Matriarch asked casually.

"Actually R'ka Thwei, the Black Yautja female is Blooded! She had just completed her Chiva when she was exiled because the cost of transport wasn't paid by her Bearer who was murdered by a Bad Blood during her absence. As for the damaged vessel… Jen, the ooman female has told me to offer her ship in reparation." Kwei responded clearly.

"Didn't you say that vessel belonged to the four Black Yautja males that she killed, and that she found that vessel?" An old male asked intently.

"Yes Elder, I did." Kwei answered.

Setg'in replaced the blade disc and crossed his arms while fixing the ooman female with a shrewd gaze. A trophy of that magnitude would not be given up easily unless there was an excellent reason for it.

"So the ooman female has offered an exceptional trophy to pay your debt to the Clan?" The Clan Matriarch asked to be sure.

"Yes, I have!" Jen called out loudly in a firm tone.

"The smaller Clan ship will be fully repaired and stocked. The Black Yautja vessel will be accepted… in exchange while the difference in value will be in the form of a furnished home. Is that acceptable to you?" The Clan Matriarch asked.

Jen knew without a doubt that the woman was speaking directly to her. "As long as there's enough space to make a room with a steaming bath tub like the one R'ka had, I'm happy."

"I thought it was said that all of you lived in a cave provided by her?" The Clan Matriarch asked slowly.

Jen could see that the woman was very confused by what she'd said. "Yep, we sure did!" she replied smugly.

"You built a hot bath in a cave?" The Clan Matriarch demanded in shock.

"Yes." R'ka answered simply.