The next chapter is up! Enjoy :)
As they sat there relaxing, Setg-in still had a lot on his mind.
A small part of him wanted to tell Thea everything. He felt it was unfair that he had been somewhat lying to her about how he came to be here.
But he was unsure how to brooch the subject. He was also concerned that she might become afraid of him and have him leave. And he really didn't want to lose her as a friend.
He tells himself it maybe too soon to mention anything. But holding it off and not telling her, maybe even worse.
Setg-in didn't want to think about the possibility of the other bad bloods finding him here. He knows they saw him do a space jump. And it may only be a matter of time before they find it out.
Question is a matter of when.
It could be days or even months from now. And that is assuming they were still hellbent about finding him and making him pay for fucking up their latest and biggest mission.
'Bad bloods have always been a vindictive lot. I sadly, don't think they may let this go. They were royally pissed at what I done.' He thought.
His gaze shifted from the screen to Thea sitting right next to him on the couch.
Thea noticed from the corner of her eye that Setg-in was staring at her. Which was pretty odd, since he usually kept his gaze pretty focused on the screen whenever it was on.
Her gaze slowly swept over to his. And she could see somewhat of a conflict in his amber colored orbs.
Funny, how his facial expressions still weren't always that easy to read. But his eyes pretty much said it all. And right now, it appeared something was troubling him yet again.
She paused the screen, then put the remote down.
"What's wrong, Set?" She asks.
For a several seconds, he didn't say anything.
The young woman watched as his mandibles clacked together as he made clicking sounds. And wonders why he has yet to say anything. It was fairly concerning and not the first time he has done this.
She has seen him do this a few times before, when he was hesitant to answers some of her questions in the past.
"Hard to explain. But feel, must know." He got out.
Thea shifted her body and was now completely facing him.
"Whatever it is, it's ok. I know you still feel at times you can't completely trust me. But I'm not here to judge. I've had a feeling for a while that there is much more to you than you initially put off. But please, whatever it is, you can tell me. I don't want there to be any secrets between us." She replied.
Setg-in sighed, "May be afraid, if tell truth."
"Are you going to hurt me?" She inquires.
He gave her a slightly funny look, before shaking his head.
"No, as said, won't harm you." The yautja warrior told her.
"Then, I don't see reason for me to be afraid." Thea stated.
'I won't, but there are others out there that wouldn't mind doing so.' He thought.
"May think different after I tell." He said.
The young woman lightly bit her lip.
"Have you...hurt someone?" She asks, voice laced with hesitation.
"No. But...others I with, have." Setg-in said.
"Others you were with? You mean, you're not alone? You came with someone else?" She inquired.
He shook his head, "No, not here. In space. I escape because they very bad. They hurt many. Not come here to see Earth. I crash here. They shot ship make me crash here."
He saw a combination of shock and disappointment flash in her eyes. And he didn't blame her for being upset. He did lie to her.
"Why didn't you tell me from the start, Set? Why did you lie to me?" Thea asks.
"Did not want scare you." He replied.
"I guess, I can understand that to an extent. But I still wish you would've said something. Please, I need you to come clean with me. Who is it you escaped from? What did they do? What did you do to make them come after you and shoot you out of the sky? If you're going to be here, I need to know everything. I need to know if we're safe." She pointed out.
Setg-in closes his eyes and lets out a sigh. Then he slowly opens them and locks his gaze on her.
"Just don't want lose friend if tell." He admitted.
Thea didn't say anything at first. She did however slowly reach out and placed her small hand over his.
"You won't. But I need you to be honest and upfront with me." She said in a calm tone.
With that said, Setg-in started from the very beginning.
He told her how he was in fact an outcast and had been on his own for the better part of the last couple years up until a few months ago. He told her how they cornered him, knocked him out, and took them aboard their ship.
Then with some difficulty, he told her what he witnessed them do.
Thea felt like she could barely contain her tears when the young warrior told her about the massacre, he unfortunately bore witness to. How he tried to intervene to protect one small child. Only to be beaten and wrestled to the ground while they made him watch what the third bad blood did to that child.
Afterwards he got to the part of the story on what he did to piss them off and how he came to be here on Earth.
"They stole many hard meat eggs. They plan to place them on populated world. Let them infect innocents so they can hunt. Very dangerous. Whole world could be in peril if happen. Because hard meat spread quickly. Any egg could be potential queen.
If one is queen, she grow and make more eggs. When happen, no stopping spread through entire world. All living beings would be in danger. All would be wiped out.
Couldn't let happen. I went in cargo hold and destroy all eggs. This anger them because it ruin mission. We fight, they injure me. But I escape on shuttle ship.
They chase me through space, shoot at ship and damage it. I did space jump to escape them. End up near Earth. Ship falling apart. Had to make emergency landing.
The ship became more damaged when crash landed here. And I receive more injuries. When find out ship not operational, no choice but hit self-destruct sequence.
I left before it explode. Then walk through woods. Find house in distance and went to it. Eventually, end up in shed where you find me." He explained.
It was quite a story to take in. But there was still one thing he hasn't explained.
"Why were you cast out of your clan to begin with? What did you do?" She asks.
Setg-in was hoping this was something he would never have to explain again.
But if he wants to earn her trust completely, he may have to tell her his whole story. Even if it meant opening up some old wounds.
"Made bad calls. Trusted wrong people. Led hunt brothers into ambush all slaughtered including favored son of high Elder. Was only one left alive. Was blamed for leading them to death. Friend also stole cargo, I didn't know it stolen, and help him. He escape, left behind to take fall. Have since been stripped of blooded status and labeled bad blood and been on run since." He said.
Thea could clearly see hurt in his eyes as he tells her of his misfortunes. It was something that haunted him, and he had to live with the guilt of the mistakes he made that indirectly led to several young yautja deaths plus the betrayal of a close friend on top of that.
It turned his whole life upside down and stripped him of something he worked hard to earn.
It also must be hard living with the fact that it seemed like everyone has turned their back on you and now have to spend the rest of your life on the run from authorities.
The young lightly grasped his hand.
"I'm sorry, that happened. Even more sorry they blamed you for it all. It wasn't right for them to do so. All because you made some bad calls and mistakes. It's something that can happen to anyone. Things like this has happened before with some human indviduals. Especially, among soldiers and even some police officers. Many carry blame and even survivor's guilt at what had taken place.
And while it is horrible, others seem to forget that we're not always going to make the right choices and decisions and make mistakes. But I don't believe they should be hung out to dry or crucified for their actions.
Most of the people this does happen to are not bad people and shouldn't be treated as such. They should be given the chance to redeem themselves. I know with humans; they usually are allowed just that.
It's just unfortunate that it apparently doesn't work out that way for your kind. And now, it appears your life has been completely thrown off kilter because of it all." Thea told him.
"That how yautja society works, Thea. Always have been that way. One who causes death whether directly or indirectly must face consequences. Can't afford make mistakes like that. They expect much from one who leads group.
Should have known not to go that way. Should have taken different way. If have, hunt brothers still be alive. And should have know friend was no good and was stealing important cargo." Setg-in said.
Thea shook her head, "It's not your fault. Despite what they said. They may expect nothing but the best from a leader. But it could still happen to anyone, leader or not. As for your friend, what he did was rotten and low. A true friend wouldn't have done such a horrible thing. Unfortunate circumstances brought you here, but it doesn't mean things will never get better again. If there is one thing that is important; it is that you're still alive. And you're not alone."
Her words were comforting. Even though a part of him doesn't believe he is lucky to be alive. A life on the run didn't feel like a life at all. Yes, he saw many amazing worlds within the last couple years. But he still had to live with the knowledge that Arbitrators could track him down at anytime. And they would either drag him back to his clan in chains to be tried appropriately in front of the clan Elders. Or they would simply kill him themself.
And with each place he's visited and came up empty handed; he lost more hope each time of ever finding the Exiled Clan.
Contrary to popular belief, it wasn't really a clan made up of bad bloods. But more or less, warriors that have lost their way or decided to live a different way of life and wish to establish their own separate society.
His grandmother told him this. She even had a friend that chose to live among them. She even told him that some of the clan consists of yautja with alien mates and their offspring.
That it was made up of warriors that broke laws by deciding to take a mate of a different race.
Setg-in hoped if he did ever find it, that they would grant him sanctuary and let him live among them freely. By doing so, he wouldn't have to run anymore and could hopefully, live in peace.
Though, it looks like it will never happen now. He was completely stranded here on Earth. And while he didn't mind living with Thea, it was still a huge risk being here. Especially, if other humans discovered him.
Still, he's a bit surprised when it was all said and done, that it sounded like she still wanted to be his friend and possibly continue to aid him.
"You still...want me stay?" He asks.
"Why not? After everything you told me, it doesn't sound like you're bad at all. Just pretty much been through hell and back, literally. Can't find it in me to throw you out for that. Also sounds like you've been on your own for the most part without anyone to connect with or talk to. I guess what I'm trying to say is...I'm still your friend." Thea told him.
It felt good to hear that.
And it made Setg-in feel grateful that he ran into this ooman. She was not like others. Most would've handed him over to the authorities if they found him injured. But instead, Thea did the complete opposite.
He feels she has already done so much for him.
It made him feel like returning the favor one way or another. That's when he decided then and there that he would keep her safe.
Until Next Time ;)