Chapter 28: Rise and Conquer

The cold air brushed across my skin as I raced across the ground, passing trees and bushes that scrapped on me but it was just barely a scratch. I kept my eyes ahead of me but I had no idea of where I was going, only that I needed to find a safe place as fast as possible. But to be honest, was there anywhere that was safe? I could go to Mars and that might not be enough.

Then my legs started to ache and burn, knowing that I had reached my limit even in my Yautja form. But still, I pushed them to the breaking point and the heaviness in my chest grew, struggling to get any air into my lungs while my heart beat faster to keep my body working.

All of a sudden, I heard a voice that was just above my head, which snapped me from my thoughts.

"Anya! You need to stop!"

It was then that I remembered having Rory on my back when I escaped from the facility. I was so focused that I forgot that he was there. When his little voice called to me, my whole body just stopped and we came to a complete halt. That causes Rory to grab tightly to my dreadlocks and I yelped a little but it was for only an instant.

As soon as I stopped, my legs gave way and I fell down on my hands and knees, exhausted from running so long or at least I believed so since the night sky was becoming lighter with the sun beginning to peak out. Rory jumps off my back and comes to my side, watching as I felt my body change from Yautja to human form again. Now, my body was really aching and I looked all over myself, seeing some of my bullet wounds healing themselves.

"Anya? Are you okay?"

I didn't answer him right away. I was still trying to catch my breath but he was very patient with me. Eventually, I took a huge breath and looked to my side to see Rory worried a lot. I smiled a little bit.

"I'm . . . alright, Rory. I'm just . . . tired. That's all."

When I lifted my upper body off, I shook a little as I tried to get back on my feet from my knees. Rory comes to grab my arm and does his best to lift me up. It was only a little but gave me enough to finally get me to stand. I huffed and turned towards Rory.

"Are you alright, Rory? Let me see your leg."

He didn't argue as he sat down, trying to steady his already wounded leg that was bleeding a bit. Luckily, it was a clean one and didn't seem to hit any major arteries. He whimpered a little and carefully went about his leg to make sure I didn't cause any more pain. I tore off a piece of my worn out shirt and begun to wrap it around, pressing on it to make sure it was set. It wasn't much but at least it was treated.

"Looks good. Just make sure not to use it as much, okay?"

"Okay."

He said it like it was a natural thing but I looked into his small, brown eyes. Wondering if he was really alright. But at least he was safe for now and . . . he did snap me out of it while I was going crazy at the labs so, in a way, he saved my life.

"Thank you. For everything. But you shouldn't have jumped on me like that back there. I could have killed you."

He didn't give a chance to absorb the meaning of my words as he wraps his tiny arms around my waist, almost taking me down again since my body was still recovering but I had to thank my fast regeneration for working.

"I don't care. I told you before. You're my sister and you did it to protect us. You're not the monster they say you are. You are you. Always."

I have no idea how someone so young could say something meaning full. It was like talking to an old soul or something but his words gave me comfort and I held him back in a warm embrace. When I remembered something, I released him immediately and looked at him.

"Rory. We need to find a safe place until we can get back to the others. Who knows what has happened with everything. I'm sorry I took off like that. I couldn't help it."

Some of my words were true. Something inside me, whether it was instinct or another, moved me to get out of there but I had to secretly admit that I just wanted to escape from my problems. You're a coward.

Rory nods and smiles at me and I returned the favor. I was about to turn back into the direction we came from until Rory stops me by grabbing my already torn up shirt.

"Hold on. I got something to give you."

I turned to see him grab something from the pocket of his jacket, moving his hand around inside it until he pulls out a small object that appeared to be made of metal. As soon as he lifted it up for me to get a good look, my eyes widened in surprise and I went back to look at him.

"Is that . . .?"

He shook his head once more and I went back to the object he was holding on to. It was the same device from Lar'ja's gauntlet that I was told held important information that could expose the Bad Bloods and their plans. The reason why I was surprised was not that it was the device but how he got it without anyone noticing.

"How did you get that, Rory?"

"I got it when you and Lar'ja were out. They took it since they figured it was something important. The soldier that was holding me had it in his pocket and I snuck in and grabbed it without him being aware of what I was doing. I kept it since."

I observed it a little more before I went back to Rory. Even I didn't notice him taking it out or anything. He looked terrified but in reality, he was using that to get it. I smirked at him with amusement.

"Clever little thief you are."

He smiled but fidgetted around as he got caught doing a prank. It was cute and I couldn't help but chuckle a bit at his reaction. At least he's using it for good reasons.

But just as we had a perfect moment together, a huge blast zipped past between us, completely shattering the tree close by and it fell with a huge thud. Both Rory and I separated to the sides and I looked into the direction of where the blast came from. I stood up and yelled out.

"Who is it!?"

As if answering my question without words, a huge figure jumps from the trees above and lands just a few feet in front of me. My whole body shuddered when I realized who it was. The Bad Blood was back again.

"There you are. I was beginning to think you died since I couldn't find you back there."

His form was overshadowing mine for a bit so I quietly motioned Rory to find somewhere to hide since I didn't think the Bad Blood had seen him yet. I watched from the corner of my eye as he ran to a nearby bush, observing from the small holes in it.

"What do you want?"

I sneered at him, letting a Yautja growl come out of my throat and he backed up a bit but wasn't sure if he was a little wary or just shocked that I made such a sound. Either way, he came back to his original spot and looked at me with curious eyes.

"I thought I already told you. I'm here to finish my mission and I'm glad to say that it will be over soon. I'm just here to tie up loose ends."

When he said that his 'mission' was over soon, my heart and stomach sunk a bit when I remembered why he was here in the first place.

"What have you done to Lar'ja and everyone else!?"

Again, I growled at him but the Bad Blood didn't step back this time, probably expecting me to react like that. It was the other way around when he began to chuckle and I backed up. After he was done, he tilted his head to the side in a curious manner but his eyes remained serious.

"What does it matter? By the time I reached you, the bomb I implanted probably went off and destroyed everything, including the stolen weapon. All of your friends are dead."

My eyes widened and my heart began to pound in my chest, ready to burst out from all the anger that was building up inside me. Silently, I blamed myself for abandoning my friends and Lar'ja earlier. A little bit of sadness was coming but the anger dominated and I couldn't hold it in anymore.

"You fucking bastard!"

I ran as fast as I could towards him with my fist as the only weapon I had. Looking back, I was stupid to think I could win with no weapons but at the time, the rage has spread throughout my body while wiping all coherent thoughts.

But it didn't matter. The Bad Blood anticipated this and before I could reach him, he lifts up his arm and a spear-like weapon comes springing from it and into my direction. I had no time to react as the sharp end goes through the mid-section of my arm and buries itself into the ground behind me. The force knocks me to the ground on my back and I slightly winched, still feeling the fresh burns on my back that haven't healed properly yet. When I tried to lift myself back up, the spear dug itself into my arm, even more, causing me to shriek in pain as I watched green, neon blood dripping from it.

"Now, now . . . I told you that I'm not here to fight you. I've done my mission but I'm still interested in your answer to my earlier question."

I looked back at him with hatred in my eyes. Does he still want to ask me that? After everything that he's done. What a motherfucking asshole . . .

"If you think that I'm joining your little gang, then you got another thing coming."

All I got from him was a small laugh and some clicking of his mandibles together like he's trying to think of something. He looks at the surroundings before him and stops when he sees in the direction of where Rory was hiding. I immediately knew he was setting his sights on Rory and so I scrambled to get his focus back on me.

"You will never succeed. I've known what you have done and your plan to use me for your conquest. Well too bad. I'm not interested."

Although his eyes went back to me, I can see that he was still curious about the previous area he was looking at. But then, I saw him lifting his gauntlet back up, activating his plasma cannon that was pointing towards me and I froze, expecting him to end my life. The blue light started to shine from it and I was mentally preparing myself for the end but some part of me wanted to fight. However, the spear in my arm reminded me that I couldn't move but as it sounded like he was ready to fire it, Rory comes charging in and stands between me and the Bad Blood.

"Rory!"

No matter what I did, Rory just stood there with his hands out to the sides, making himself a protective shield for me. I could only watch in horror as the plasma cannon was ready to discharge until the Bad Blood lowers his arm and the cannon goes silent.

"There you are, little ooman pup. So you've decided to come out."

Without warning, the Bad Blood picks up Rory from the back of his jacket and pulls him high into the air until he's about to face to face with each other. I screamed for him to let Rory go but he just ignored me. Soon, he began to move his other hand around Rory, going through his pockets until he finds what he's looking for. He pulls out the small device from before and inspects it before turning to me.

"I was looking for this. One less loose end to tie up."

And with that, he crushes the device with his bare hand, letting pieces of it crumble to the dirt. The device was the only thing that had evidence to expose the Bad Bloods and their plans. But now . . . it was gone . . . just like the Bad Blood wanted and his ugly smile with his mandibles extended out was a confirmation. Then, the Bad Blood started to walk away with Rory still hanging by his jacket and that is when panic started to set in.

"Where are you taking him!? He's got nothing to do with this!"

The Bad Blood stops but only turns his head to the side while Rory scrambles to release himself but it was useless.

"He's got a lot to do with this. I find him very interesting and who knows? We might find some use for him in the next step of hybridization."

What is he saying!? Why Rory? For hybridization? For some other crazy experiment? I can't let that happen?

"Just let him go. If you want me instead of him then I will gladly do so."

"Anya!"

I saw the disbelief in Rory's eyes but I had a gut feeling of what they were going to do with him if the Bad Blood takes him. I barely survived torture like that but to see a child go through a similar process like that or worse, I wouldn't be able to take that guilt if I could do something to stop it. So I offered myself in the hope he would abandon Rory but I had no such luck.

"I don't think so. You're going to have to do a lot more convincing for me to let him go and take you instead. If you want him back so badly, then come and get it. See you around."

Before I could talk any further, the Bad Blood had darted off with Rory screaming for me and to let him go. He didn't have any strength to fight back against a ten-foot monster and the spear in my arm wouldn't let me go.

"RORY!"

But there was silence and I started to sob a bit, cursing myself for being this weak and not being able to protect him. I was useless and I just wanted to disappear from the face of the Earth. I just wanted someone to take me away from all this.

"Are you really going to just give up like that?"

My head jolted up to the sky. I thought I was going mad because it wasn't my inner voice that was talking. This one was deeper than any human voice I've ever heard but it was familiar. I've heard this voice before and I tried to jog my brain to work again and just as I remembered who it was, a sudden light blinded my vision and I couldn't see anything.

But when it faded in brightness and I opened my eyes, I wasn't in the forest anymore. In fact, I was . . . nowhere. Just standing in the middle of white all around me. I was confused and I began to panic until the voice calls back again.

"You are stronger than this Anya. I know you well enough that you can fight your way out of this."

I turned around quickly to where the voice was but I saw nothing but white. But when I turned my head back around, a form was standing a few feet from me. I couldn't make out who it was until I focused my sights on the figure and realized it was my mother standing in front of me.

"Mother . . .?"

I tried to move forward but my body refused to do so. Instead, I reached out with one hand, hoping that she would reciprocate but she just stood there. No expression on her face and staying as still as a statue. I was very confused about what was happening to me.

Am I going crazy?

And then, her forms begin to fog up, swirling in unnatural waves that were similar to that of a ghost. I was about to cry out for her until she became no more than a gray cloud floating around. But just as quickly as it came, the fog began to spread again and make a new form but bigger than my mother. It grew and grew, bending back and forth until it stopped. I just remained silent and watch as the form became clearer, settling into itself until the figure became clear.

When I realized who it was, I gasped and almost dropped to my knees in disbelief.

"Lar'ja?"

It was him. His form replaced my mother's and stood there just like she did before and I was getting a little nervous. Was this a dream? And if so, why is Lar'ja here? Is he dead? Or . . . am I dead and I just don't know it yet?

"Anya . . ."

I looked back into his eyes since he was no mask on him as he begun to walk closer and closer to me in slow and painstaking steps. Something screamed inside me to run to him. To hold him in my arms. So when I pushed my body forward, the hold that was on me before was gone and I raced to him as Lar'ja opened his arms with welcome. When I made contact with him, I was half expecting him to poof away but his solid frame melded into mine and I wrapped my arms around him, pressing my head into his chest as soon as the waterworks began.

"I'm so sorry . . . Sorry for being a coward and running away to only let you and everyone else die. I should've protected you, Rory and everyone else. I'm . . . so . . . sorry."

I let my tears fall and I sobbed so hard that I was having a hard time to breathe. We didn't move at all from our current positions until Lar'ja pulls away from me and grabs my chin in his fingers gently so I could look into his eyes. They were warm and I loved every single touch he gave me.

"You have nothing to be sorry for. It wasn't your fault for any of this but you should know."

He leans closer to my face and all I couldn't do was sob a little, trying to focus on him and only him. His mandibles move about until he opened his mouth to say something.

"You are not alone. I'm here for you always. So no matter where you go or what you do, I will always be at your side. Always . . ."

He leans his head until our foreheads touch and I closed my eyes to cherish this moment. A moment that I never thought I would ever have. His words had sincerity in them and I knew that he would be there for me and to protect me. The elation inside my chest burned through and was covering all the skin on my body.

I opened my eyes and looked into his piercing, golden eyes that showed so much lust in them and I was sure that my eyes mirrored his. I wanted to tell him something that I longed to let him know but I didn't have the courage to do so. Until now . . .

"I love you."

He just stared at me, frozen to where he was and I was starting to regret saying something like that until he spreads his mandibles and slightly opens his inner mouth and I realized that he was smiling. It was a cute attempt but if I didn't know any better, I would have thought he was roaring at me. I smiled back at him.

"Ta'kasa . . ."

He said the name that was given to me by my mother. I didn't really know how to react to him saying that name but the look in his eyes destroyed any doubt I had and smiled even harder this time. I kept my eyes on him until I blinked.

When I opened them again, he was gone.

In fact, I blinked a few times and noticed that I was back where I was before. In the middle of the forest with the spear still dug into my arm but it wasn't as painful as before. What the fuck was that?

I had no idea of what just happened as the possibility of myself going crazy but Lar'ja's words from before began to fuel my resolve to get out of here and fight to protect everyone. I need to get the fuck out of here!

I put my hand on the part where the spear met my bare skin and I begun to twist it around to see if I could dislodge it. I yelped in pain as the spear dug even more. But I couldn't give up. I need to get out of here for Rory's sake, Lar'ja's and even my own. At this rate, I was ready to cut my arm off in order to free myself from this predicament. Come on you fucking bastard!

But then as I was about to pull once more, I heard footsteps coming closer to where I was and I went into fight mode, holding my one arm up like a shield. What if it's Stargazer? What if it's the Bad Blood to come and finish me off? What next?

My question was answered when I saw A'kib come running out of the bushes, barking into the air as soon as he saw me. He ran to greet me, licking any part of my face he could get. I giggled a bit. I was about to push him off until he stopped and look behind him. I had no idea what he saw but he wasn't growling or anything, just waiting for something.

And then, the one person that I wanted to see came into my view and my heart lifted. I merely stared as Lar'ja emerges from the bushes, clearly still feeling the effects of the sedative as he wobbles a little bit. But as soon as his eyes came into contact with mine, he sprints towards me until he falls straight on his knees before me. At first, he was hesitant to touch me, keeping his trembling hands in the air until I reached out to him. I caressed one of his mandibles with my free hand and held it there, enjoying the warmth for a little bit.

"Lar'ja."

Somehow, I snapped him out of his thought as he shook his shoulders and head a bit, letting his dreadlocks sway back and forth. He blinked his eyes a few times before he began to purr against my hand. It traveled from his body and into mine, making me shudder for a moment. It only lasts for a moment when Lar'ja looks to my arm, growling from seeing my green blood dripping into the small pool on the ground that began to form.

"Anya. What happened to you?"

He carefully placed one of his hands above the wound and I winced a little. He moved his hand away but I looked into his eyes so he knows it was okay. He placed his hand back on it.

"It's the Bad Blood. He attacked us from out of nowhere."

As soon as I said that, I heard more footsteps behind Lar'ja and I went into fight mode again but I noticed Lar'ja didn't react at all. I was utterly confused until I saw Brackett, McKenna, Nebraska, and Nettles come out of the same bushes as Lar'ja, carrying their rifles in their hands. When they saw me and Lar'ja, they went into action and huddled around me.

"Anya. You're alright. Well . . . at least mostly alright."

Brackett had stopped mid-sentence when she saw the spear in my arm but I was thankful for her words. I glanced at McKenna and saw him frantically looking around us as if he lost something.

"Where's Rory?"

My heart sank a bit when I knew the answer to his question and worried about how he would react but also that I let it happen. How can I explain to a father that I let their son get captured by a ten-foot fucking alien? How?

"The Bad Blood. He took Rory with him. I tried to stop him but got pinned down. I begged for him to let him go but he wouldn't. I'm so sorry."

McKenna just stared blankly at me while Brackett moved to kneel behind me, trying to fiddle with the spear, which made me yelp in pain and Lar'ja growled at her to be more careful in which she took to heart as she kept going. I only focused on McKenna and I was fearing the worst until he sighed.

"Anya. It's not your fault. You did everything you could and knowing you, even for only a little while, you wouldn't sit back and allow it if you had the power to do so. Right now, we need to get to Rory and kick the Bad Blood's ass."

Right then and there, all of my fears and worries dissipated and I couldn't help but smile a little bit to him and when he did the same, I was feeling better than before. But Brackett yells out when I could feel her hands right where the spear exits my arm.

"You can talk later. Right now, we need to get this out of her so we can do that 'kicking ass' thing you were talking about. McKenna . . . come over here and hold Anya still."

On command, McKenna comes to my side and places both hands on my shoulders, putting pressure on them as Brackett firms her grip on the spear while Lar'ja stays kneeled in front of me but gripping on the other end of the spear. I looked behind Lar'ja and saw Nettles was not doing so well. He looked like he was going to vomit as he turned his face away. You've seen blood before . . . What's gotten into you now?

"Alright Anya, Lar'ja is going to pull it out fast so it's going to be painful but quick. Can you do it?"

Although I couldn't see Brackett since she was behind me, the uneasiness in her voice told me that she wanted to make sure I was alright. We don't have a choice anyway. Right?

"Go ahead."

When I gave the signal, Brackett's and McKenna's grip on me tightened as I watched Lar'ja stand up, still gripping the spear but looking down with concern in his golden eyes. I just nod so he would proceed and sure enough, as soon as I did, he goes into position and then . . . yanks the spear right through my arm.

I screamed into the air but it only lasted a second as I gritted my teeth together and closed my eyes tightly. The burning sensation in my arm was growing but wasn't too unbearable. After a while, I relaxed and opened my eyes to see that the spear was finally out of me. Lar'ja throws it away and bends down to hold me in his arms, lifting me up to my feet and purring to soothe me and I could hear A'kib whimpering a little. I breathed heavily in his arms while Brackett came over to check my wound. Lar'ja growled a bit but I rubbed my hand on his arm for reassurance. When he was calm enough, Brackett inspected the wound in my arm.

"It looks like it's already healing. That's good. It should be closed within a matter of a few seconds. Let's get going."

Everyone got their stuff and prepared to move out while Lar'ja kept me close. I looked back to my arm and saw the creepy sight of my flesh connecting together and filling the hole until it disappeared. I wasn't a pleasant sight but I was glad that it was healed but I did have a few questions to ask.

"How did you guys get out of there? I thought you were killed by the bomb. And where's Coyle?"

Lar'ja was the first to answer all my questions, not hesitating to let me know what had happened.

"The Bad Blood did get to the room we were held in. I was still trapped while the others fought to stop him but it was useless. He did plant the bomb so that it would destroy us and the weapon but we got out of there in time. Coyle told us to leave him behind. The facility was destroyed."

When he explained, I had a hunch that Coyle wasn't going to make it. The wound he received was fatal so I suspected he would try to act like the hero or something. Either way, I silently mourned for his loss but at least everyone else got out of there.

"Yeah. I figured as much but . . ."

I stopped mid-sentence and Lar'ja picked up my hesitation and looked deeply into my eyes as if trying to find the answers in there.

"What is it?"

I inhaled and exhaled slowly so I could tell him what happened here.

"The Bad Blood destroyed the device from your gauntlet and Rory had. He destroyed the evidence we needed. I'm sorry about this."

I was about to drop my head towards the ground but Lar'ja caught it by my chin, gently rubbing it between his fingers that were surprisingly soft.

"It doesn't matter now. We are here and need to get Rory back before it's too late."

There was so much more I wanted to say, especially about the vision I had earlier and more. I started to blush a bit but I shook my head around and put it in the farthest corner of my mind. I nodded and he let go of me entirely. My legs were still aching but I ignored it along with the stinging pain that was hurting my back. I started to walk in the direction that I remembered the Bad Blood taking until I was stopped.

"Wait, Anya. We need to give you something."

I turned fully around and saw Brackett shuffling through Nebraska's bag that was on his back. She then pulls something out of it and I recognized it as my wrist gauntlets, knife, and necklace that I believed were destroyed. She grabbed them in her hands and carried them to me.

"How did you . . .?"

"We got it before the bomb went off. All of Stargazer's soldiers either ran for their lives or killed by the Bad Blood. We knew these were important to you so we got them in time and got the weapon as well."

I never thought that these guys would risk their lives for something like this. Getting the gifts my mother left behind along with Lar'ja's weapon needed for the incoming war . . . I had to hold back the tears that were threatening to burst out of me. She came until she stopped just in front of me, holding the items to me and I just looked at Brackett and then back to the items and then back to her again. She just smiled.

"It's time that you use them."

I looked around at everyone's faces and they all nod in agreement. When I turned to look at Lar'ja, he just purred a little and bowed his head much lower than usual until his dreadlocks hung a few inches in front of him and then back up. Somehow, I could feel confidence growing inside me and I looked back at the gauntlets and with one hand, I grabbed one of them and moved it around until it slid on my forearms. It clicked on like glue and I turned my arm around and saw it fits well, seeing the silver part of it glisten from the rising sun. I did the same with the other gauntlet and put it on as well.

With the contractions of my arms, both gauntlets released the blades from themselves, almost reminding me of like Wolverine and I silently laughed at myself for it. I relaxed and the blades returned to them. When that was done, I reached for the knife and inspected it before fitting it on the side of my pants, pulling it to make sure it was secured.

And then, I looked back and Brackett was holding the necklace in the air, smiling as she did so. I tilted my head a bit and smirked until I reached over to grab the necklace from her. I took the metal piece that has my Yautja name carved into it and it also shined from the sun as well.

Ta'kasa . . . Balance . . . This is the name you wanted to give to me, Mother. I hope I can live up to it someday.

With that, I took the necklace and raised it over my head, letting the string wrap around me until the metal piece settled in the center of my chest. I took one last look at it before I lifted my head up to see everyone was up and ready. I glanced at everyone until my eyes stopped at Lar'ja with his golden eyes glowing so brightly from the sun's light.

When I looked away, I straightened myself and stood before everyone and then, I smirked a little and lifted my arm up to let my wrist blade come up. Everyone seemed to get my message and cocked their guns.

"Let's go hunt that fucking bastard!"

All at once, everyone cheered into the air while A'kib howled into the sky and Nebraska started to whoop as well. But it was Lar'ja's roar that got us all pumped up, watching him lift his head into the sky and spreading his mandibles wide. It was ironic that it used to scare us but now . . . it was the source of our strength.

When it was all done, all of us nodded in unison and we took off into the direction of the Bad Blood, ready for a showdown that we needed to win.

All I could think of was getting Rory back but the image of the Bad Blood came into view and I growled inside my chest.

You are mine. And you will fall by my hands.

You will die . . .

Hi Readers!

Man . . . A lot has happened in this chapter, even though I didn't think so when writing this but as I read it . . . God . . . my heart was pounding for me to kill the Bad Blood and with the final showdown drawing near, anything is possible.

But Anya and the others are ready for it but will Anya ever confess her feeling to the real Lar'ja? Will she even make it see that day? Will they be able to get Rory back before it's too late? And will she ever like up to her new Yautja name that holds an important meaning from her mother?

So many questions with only a few more chapters to go until the end.

Keep on reading as Chapter 29 comes around the corner so don't miss it!

Enjoy! :)))

P.S. Thank you Anonymous-E for the update on Rory. I had a tough time writing this and forgot to add that part so I edited it a little bit for it. Thank you very much and love your review! And to answer your question about Lar'ja and Anya, a sequel is in the making that will continue the story so there might be a possibility but who knows? :)))