Yay! People like it! I was going to update this yesterday but I got distracted. See, Thief came out the other day and I've been obsessing over it since I saw it in GameInformer so I spent most of yesterday on YouTube. XD

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I am in the records office rifling through various missions. None are to my liking. Sure, I could take the unblooded hunting, but I have found that I have no patience for the false bravado of younglings.

Noise disturbs the quiet of the office, and several heads – mine included – look up from their studies to see what the fuss was.

Hurg'rok is dragging an ooman female through the doors of the chamber, and I narrow my eyes when I see that her clothes are torn. She bleeds in places and she is covered in bruises. Hurg'rok is not known to be gentle with females.

She keeps struggling to get away from him, and he loses what little patience he has. Using the hand not gripping the female's arm, he slaps her hard across her face.

She gasps but it turns into a snarl. She strikes out with her legs and catches Hurg'rok in the groin. He releases her and drops to the floor. I smirk; serves you right.

I glance at the female as she backs into a corner on the opposite side of the room. I double take when I recognize the face.

Alex.

Her green eyes are wide with her fright, and they dart about rapidly. Her gaze meets mine and I know she recognizes me. Few ooman can tell the differences between Yautja; fewer still after seeing the face only one time.

Ruha approaches her, hands out and ready to catch her. I know Ruha won't hurt her. A second seasoned warrior and an apprentice stand close if she tries to escape Ruha.

Then I remember.

Before I can call a warning, Alex has tackled Ruha to the floor and slammed an elbow into his chin. The second warrior rushes forward to pull her back and gets teeth sunk into his arm. Hurg'rok, having recovered, rushes forward, but he just gets another kick to his groin and he's down again. The unblooded apprentice rushes forward to pull Alex off of his master and wraps his arms around her shoulders.

A leg comes up and makes contact with his face before she reaches over her shoulders and grabs him. In one swift move, she slings him over her back. I flinch at his hard landing and I hear the air whoosh from his lungs.

I pinch the bridge of my nose and sigh.

I regain my composure and stride across the floor.

Alex has backed into the corner again, watching as the warriors pick themselves up from the floor and more step through the door. I shove my way between Ruha and the unblooded and stand before Alex.

She stares up at me, unsure of what to do.

"You will restrain yourself." I tell her in her language. She swallows and a tremor sets into her limbs.

I look her over. Half her face is swollen and red, her lip is busted and bleeding, and the multiple wounds she had when she entered still ooze blood.

"What is going on here?"

I turn and find the clan leader, Ji'kra, striding forward. The crowd parts to let him through.

Hurg'rok answers, "I captured a female on Earth. I was going to document her before she started a fight."

Something defensive stirs within me. Females don't last long under Hurg'rok's abuse. It is why he is not bonded yet; none will have him.

Ruha says, "She does not care for Hurg'rok. Send her to the camp, or put her in the arena. She's too valuable to be wasted."

Hurg'rok glares at Ruha.

Ji'kra, however, is gazing from me to Alex, who stands partially hidden behind me, one arm held protectively to her stomach.

"You know her Kri'za?" he asks me, and the room goes silent.

"I am the one that marked her."

Ji'kra steps to Alex and reaches for her. She flinches. He waits patiently, hand still outstretched. After a moment he tries again, and this time she lets him tilt her chin sideways so that he can see the scars on her face.

He nods.

"A fighter. Such would be a waste."

I know Hurg'rok is fuming. Even Ji'kra does not approve of his actions.

"But what to do with her? Hmm."

And in that moment, my instinct wells up inside me, the male honor that dictated that I protect her from the xenomorph those few months ago.

"I will take her."

"Are you sure? You were adamant about keeping slaves not long ago."

"Yes."

The papers are signed, and I walk out of the office, hand on Alex's shoulders to guide her.

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Inside my house, I take Alex to the tiny room that is connected to mine. I make up a pallet on the floor for her and she sits on it carefully. She still favors one arm. I sit and gesture for her to move closer to me. She does so slowly, and I pull out a medkit and tend to her wounds.

Then I make her drink some hot tea laced with a plant that will make her sleep.

Her eyes roll back in her head and she slumps over onto her side.

I reposition her gently and cover her with furs.