This chapter was fun to write. Things are getting intense. Thank you for the favs and once again Sassiebone, for the input :)

More reviews would be most appreciated :D

xx

SSC

Chapter 9

The Wahash were routine creatures.

Khan was an early riser. He enjoyed watching the sun rise over the golden hills. He found pleasure in the way the midnight sky began to warm to a blush purple.

The first night she had stayed, he had forgotten her presence when he left his bed. She was perched on top of his wardrobe, much like a jungle cat. Her eyes were glinting like marbles with a gold core. Then slowly she had jumped down from on top of the cupboard. Her landing was graceful and agile, he was a little entranced at first.

She then bowed in a gracious acknowledgement before walking out into the balcony.

Arba would accompany him in most tasks. She would stand beside him as he signed papers and only moved to sit if she was ordered to. When his coordinated meals arrived she loomed in on the timid servant's space. She then sniffed at the food, testing to see if it was compromised and then brought it to him.

He had never seen her eat. After the third day he wasn't even sure if she slept.

"He just keeps following me everywhere. I bet if there wasn't a lock on the door of the bathroom, the man would watch me urinate." Orlando ranted while pacing the width of the carpet in Khan's study, facing his desk.

The Augument leader was brought out of his thoughts by the words that left his second in command's mouth. Khan frowned and leaned back into the comfortable leather of his chair and fixated his glower on to the blonde man.

"Thank you for that Orlando. I really needed that image in my head." He grumbled irately. Orlando immediately stopped pacing and looked to Khan before smiling brightly.

"You're welcome." He responded amiably. Khan focused his attention on Arba. She was sitting silently on the lone chair situated in the far left corner, facing his table. Her back was straight, her attention focused on the wall opposite her and she seemed to be lost in her thoughts.

"Arba." He called, immediately grabbing her attention. She calmly turned her profile to him, his golden eyes wide in question.

"Leave us." He insisted smoothly. Without a word of protest she stood up, bowed to the both of them and marched past the study, through the foyer and out the door. The two men watched her leave before Orlando chose to break the silence.

"Why do you get the only female one?" He asked averting his attention to Khan once more. Khan did not miss the slight carp in his voice.

"Because I picked first." Khan answered curtly with a condescending pinch of his lips. Orlando rolled his blue eyes and folded his arms behind his back.

"Lucky bastard." He grumbled "Want to exchange?"

Khan smiled "No."

"Wager then?"

"No."

Orlando sighed out in surrender and decided changing the topic was best. "All ready for your speech tomorrow?"

"It's hardly a speech." Khan responded, weaving his slender fingers under his chin, his colourless orbs focused on the mahogany table. "I am simply revealing our presence to the public."

"Make sure to speak in Arabic. Awe and comfort them at the same time." His friend advised pleasantly. Khan nodded in agreement, Orlando had a point. If he was to gain the public's intrigue and trust then he needed to speak their language. But he didn't request privacy to discuss the matter of the speech. Khan wanted to talk about a more pressing matter.

"Has there been any strange activity at your end from our...protectors?" He asked.

"Other than the alarming fact that they have kill switches that could be activated any moment to slaughter us in our sleep?" Orlando grinned and shook his head "No."

"We've all arrived to the same conclusion then. Good. We need to find a solution, fast." Khan mused while rubbing his chin in thought.

"Why the rush?" The blonde inquired while eyeing the Newton's cradle that was perfectly still on Khan's desk. He was fighting the temptation to play with it.

"They are not a gift, they are a time bomb. I don't know when they plan on unleashing them on us but it will be before the rest of us get here." Khan could practically imagine waking up in the middle of the night to Arba leaning over him, ready to slice his throat. Of course, he would have his guard up, but would that be enough?

"It's all conjecture so far, we need to find out what they are up to." He added after a moment.

"Want me to gather Intel?" Orlando suggested. He was the best at stealth and blending into the shadows. Khan knew he could rely on his friend to find everything he could and not be caught in the process.

"Yes, by tonight."

"No problem."

There was a sudden knock at the door. Khan barked out an order and the door open, it was Arba.

"Excuse me Sir." She graced him with a curt nod of her head "His Highness had requested your presence, they are about to leave for the fuel inspection."

Khan and Orlando made their way down the pastel red brick path behind the palace. Arba followed them, always at a measured five steps behind. He knew it was part of their strict conduct. The fuel inspection Arba had mentioned was something Khan had insisted on. He wanted to see the inner workings of the oil providers in the U.A.E. Soon he would be the one to manage the exports of the energy source. Another reason to be on high alert for treachery.

Orlando walked beside Khan, his attention focused a few feet ahead. Susan was leading a train session with two other Auguments one male and one female. The male one was Joaquin. He was a tall, slim, capable man. He had a square face with a very sharp jaw line. His dark hair and eyebrows stood out against his pale complexion. The deep furrowed lines of his forehead gave onlookers a glimpse to the serious person he was.

The woman was Suzette she acted as Susan's understudy. She had a sandy blonde head of hair that reached just over her shoulders in an elegant Bob cut. She usually had a polite smile plastered on to her pretty face, the smile never reached her chocolate brown eyes.

They were dressed in their training uniforms, which was usually a dark blue suit that could be zipped up at the front. But they had chosen not to wear the top half of the uniform and only kept the black vests underneath. Khan guessed it was so the heat didn't bother them.

The two Wahash's, Ashera and Sabaa stood at the far end of the platform. They had stripped out of their coats and stood in white wife beaters. Ashera was supporting his usual shade of black pants and Sabaa with his leaf green. They stood on the outskirts of the platform, calm and unruffled as usual.

It was a lot cooler than the day before. The sun was setting, leaving the sky to darken to a blush purple. The moon had already emerged in a chalky, faint, crescent stamp in the sky.

Joaquin had Suzette in a headlock that she was struggling to get out of. Susan was observing them when the approaching Orlando and Khan caught her attention.

"Khan, Orlando." Susan greeted she turned to them and nodded. Joaquin and Suzette quickly scrambled to their feet to stand beside Susan. They inclined their heads in gracious acknowledgement. They were training hard, Khan could tell from the light sheen of sweat that gleamed on each of their faces.

"Susan, what's happening here?" Orlando inquired, his blue eyes glimmering playfully. Khan didn't know why Orlando enjoyed asking such obvious questions.

"A little sparring session, the heat isn't so bad this afternoon so I thought I'd make use of it." She said then gestured to the stoic warriors behind her "The Wahash make excellent sparring partners. Thank you for lending yours to me Orlando."

"My pleasure." The blonde man responded with a charming grin that deepened the laugh lines around his mouth.

"So how are they against our own?" Orlando asked inquisitively, that was a question even Khan was intrigued by.

"They can keep up so far, of course there is one left to test." No one missed the sharp look Susan directed on to Arba. The female Wahash stood behind Khan. Feeling Susan's penetrating gaze, she acknowledged it.

A devious smile pinched at the corners of the Augument's full lips, a smile that didn't waver even as she looked to the dark featured leader.

"How well do you think your Wahash will feat?" She asked, despite the lightness in her tone Khan knew her intentions were not.

"She fought well enough that first time." He replied monotonously.

"I meant against me." Susan added in a stern confidence. His dusky brows lifted in vague wonder.

"Is that a challenge?" He mused, her smile intensified. Orlando perked up, his energy radiated in a sudden restlessness.

"Khan you must say yes." Orlando muttered to Khan, in a perverse eagerness. The Augument commander resisted the urge to roll his eyes at his friend's antics.

"I want to see if your protector can take a punch." Susan stated in a mocking way, her attention focused on Arba. The Wahash stared back boldly, her expression was slack of emotion but she was confidently holding her own in the stare battle.

"Arba let's see how well you do against Susan." Khan said. A moment of silence followed until Arba began to unbutton the front of her red coat. Susan turned away victoriously and made her way to the platform.

Arba unclasped the last brass button. The coat gave way and she began to remove the heavy material in her usual slow pace. Khan watched her, unable to turn away from the sensual movements of her shoulders, the way her golden skin would gleam in the setting sunlight.

She held the kermes coloured coat by its collar. Orlando was suddenly at her side, beaming brightly down at her.

"Let me take that for you." He had an arm out in a gentlemanly insistence. Khan knew she was a little stunned by this, he could see it in the tenses of her shoulders. Khan watched them keenly.

"Thank you." She responded, her voice was delicious gruff from having not spoken in a while. Orlando's grin widened as he accepted her coat and folded it over his arm. She left their side and marched to the centre of the platform until she stood facing Susan. They were but two feet apart.

Khan and Orlando moved to a closer spot but remained on the outer area of the arena. Joaquin and Suzette stood to Khan's right.

Susan took a defensive stance. Legs spread to strengthen her centre, her arms folded towards her body by the elbows, her fingers curled into a fist. She seemed athletically intimidating with her hair held back in a pony tail and her entire body radiating in a prowess.

Arba was defenceless in comparison, with her arms at her side and her stance was normal.

Susan didn't hesitate or wait for a signal. She punched first, her strong knuckles colliding painfully against the Wahash's face.

The impact sent Arba stumbling back a few steps, blood immediately rushing out of her nose.

"Oh, that must have hurt." Orlando commented, flinching slightly. Susan was back into defensive mode, waiting for Arba's attack while being pleased of the pain she caused.

Khan expected the Wahash to brush away the blood dripping down her nostrils and fight back, but she didn't. Instead Arba took her passive stance once more and looked Susan dead in the eyes.

The audacity of her unreceptive response irritated Susan, so much so that her next attack was brutal.

The other Auguments stood at the sidelines, watching as Arba received blow after blow. Susan had at one point twisted the Wahash's arm from behind and dislocated her shoulder. A sickening crack echoed and Arba was forced on to her knees from the agony, but no cry left her lips.

Susan towered over Arba, sneering down at her, her features were scrunched up in annoyed frustration.

"Why isn't she fighting back?" Suzette asked curiously, unable to turn away from the scene. Khan was pondering the same question, until it dawned on to him. He didn't actually tell her to fight. She had taken his and Susan's words literally, to see how well she can handle an onslaught from an Augument.

Khan watched as she got to her feet in the same rigid confidence she always had. Her arms were at her sides. Her knuckles were paling from how tightly she was clenching her fists. Blood was still streaming down a cut on her cheek and her nostrils. Her left shoulder was at an ugly slant.

He was impressed, receiving a punch from someone (an Augument no less) and the pain from it was not easy to hide, but she was doing a good job. It was a little alarmingly.

"Arba." He called, the pointed end of her ear facing him, twitched. "You can fight back you know."

In the next moment Susan was flying across the steel platform in reaction to a kick in the abdomen by Arba. Their attentions moved from Susan to Arba, just as she was lowering her leg. Keeping her keen gaze focused on Susan, Arba placed a hand on her shoulder, gripped it and then locked it back into place.

Khan could see the heat in her golden orbs again. Susan was quickly on her feet, still stunned by the unexpected disarm. The Wahash took predatory stance, her shoulders slightly hunched forward, her knees bent, her arms were folded to her body but her fingers were relaxed.

There was an electric charge in the air around them. The spectators watched in high interest.

Susan charged, Arba was still. A series of clouts were delivered by Susan but Arba dodged and block each one with a concentrated speed. Their steps were fast trying to either overpower or defend. It was like watching an intense and murderous dance.

Susan aimed to kill; Arba's actions seemed more...taunting. At least that's what Khan witnessed. He could see she enjoyed the building frustration she was adding flame to in Susan. It wasn't just a fight to Arba; it was a source of entertainment.

The velocity of Susan's next swing came to a abrupt halt when Arba anticipated deflected her arms with a swift strikes. Susan didn't get a chance to defend herself when Arba had already leaned up and head butted her opponent, hard.

Susan's head craned back, dazed. The Wahash didn't waste time and ducked braised her palms on the floor and swept her leg under the female. Susan stumbled back and fell painfully on to the slate. Susan get a chance to breathe, Arba had already pinned her down, claws to the throat ready to deny her life.

"Stop." Khan bellowed. She tensed, her arms stiffening. Almost reluctantly she stood up, gazed down at Susan impassively and then stepped away.

The Augument was struggling to catch her breath, her chest heaving in both fear and fatigue. The usual kept strands of platinum in her hair, had slipped free of its restraint and fell across her face, damped with sweat.

Susan got to her feet on shaky limbs, her murderous stare narrowed on the Wahash. Arba remained stoic and stood in the same composed stance as before. But Khan saw it, the smug glint in her brilliant eyes, like a small flame burning through a pile of branches. Susan could see it too, amplifying her feelings of humiliation.

Susan was a better fighter, but her arrogance made her underestimate her opponent. Either that or, Arba was just better. But Khan was willing to give Susan the benefit of the doubt.

A thought drifted into his mind. This was a Wahash against an Augument at their basic form. Imagine them in their triggered state. Khan glanced back at the Ashera and Sabaa, his cold eyes narrowing. Three of them, three.

He approached the women, followed by Orlando. Suzette and Joaquin remained a safe distance knowing they would be recipients of Susan's wrath once Khan and the others left. He stopped at Arba's side and focused his attention on his fellow Augument.

"I think she proved herself, don't you?" He meant to be patronizing. He didn't wait for her response and gave a pleasant nod of his head to Arba and marched forward. Understanding the silent command, she trailed after him along with Orlando.

Once they had formed distance between the arena, Orlando decided to slow his pace to match Arba's.

"That was brilliant." She was once again startled by his appearance, she moved to take steps back when he stopped and stretched out her coat for her. She eyed the top, then his smiling face. Khan could tell Orlando was charmed by her reluctance and gently waved the open coat.

She surrendered and turned her back to him and slide one arm followed by the other, into the sleeve holes of her coat. Orlando guided the coat over her shoulders and she immediately moved out of his path and began to button the front of her jacket.

Khan didn't like what he saw, the way his second in command assisted her. It bothered him, but he didn't make a move to voice his displeasure.

"Thank you." She uttered with a curt incline of her head. Orlando continued to smile in self satisfaction.

Khan narrowed his gaze and busied his tense hands by pulling out a tissue from the inside of his pant pocket.

"Here." He gestured it to her. Arba addressed him. He gave a pointed look to the dried blood on her upper lip and face.

"One needs to be presentable before meeting royalty." He said, there was a spark of vengeance in her eyes, but she veiled it behind a mask of indifference.

She carefully plucked the napkin from his hold and began to clean herself up. Khan didn't like how Orlando continued to observe her. He was probably intrigued by her already healed wounds.

"Shall we proceed? We are already late." Khan noted firmly, snapping the male out of his thoughts.

"Oh of course, yes." They began to walk again, ready to meet with the Sheikh and his advisers. As structured Arba walked exactly five steps behind them.