Baaul: A Change of Heart

Chapter 2: The Mission

The massive obsidian colored male sitting on the bone throne was one that he had once held so much resentment for. Now, he respected no one more. Xai'an stood easily over 8 feet tall and that size did not diminish just because he was sitting.

"It's been reported that there are yautja related ships on earth. I have reached out to the other clans to confirm they have not sanctioned any of their warriors on any covert missions. Until we know more we can only assume more Bad Blood activity. Baaul, I need you to investigate it and if need be, take care of them."

Baaul gave a curt nod, already mentally preparing the arsenal he would take with him. Earth wasn't new to either of them. In fact, Xai'an's mate was an ooman from Earth and he had been with him when he found her. He liked Zena, but he never really understood ooman female appeal. It was a fast growing attraction among their kind, but he had yet to speak to a female that really intrigued him.

"Take a discreet ship and send word if the group is larger than you can handle, but I have long ago learned that you are one of the best hunters the yautja have to offer. Hunt well, my friend." Xai'an stomped his foot in dismissal so Baaul stood from his kneeling position and thumped him chest with his fist as a sign of respect.

Knowing he had other matters to attend to, he left without a second thought. Baaul had become accustomed to the busy life his friend had now that he was Yautja Prime clan leader. It hadn't been that long ago the former clan leader, Anak, conspired against the Elders by using Xai'an's mate, as well as their hybrid daughter, as breeding tools to buy support from the struggling clans. In order to get to Zena though, he had to get rid of Xai'an, which would not be an easy feat since the massive male could easily hunt Kiande Ahmeda queens on his own.

Anak sent Xai'an to a planet that was in the middle of negotiations to become an official clan under the guise that he was going to kill Bad Bloods. This would have Xai'an put to death and leave his mate open for claim. Unfortunately for him, Xai'an's daughter,  Rosaline met the leader, Volok, and they bonded on a rare level. That pauker was even more ferocious than Xai'an yet they formed the largest and most powerful alliance in yautja history. It's what ultimately led to Anak's death.

"Where are you off to, Baaul?" A sweet feminine voice came to him that he knew almost better than his own. Zena was a small dark haired female though she was very insistent that she was 'average' size for oomans whenever he told her so. Her large green eyes always held so much emotion in them, an ooman trait he used to think was weak, but eventually grew to find endearing.

She was wearing a gold sheer cape over a small gold breast plate and a shimmering loin cloth that swept at her small feet as she walked. Since her mate had become clan leader she now had numerous tattoos lining her body that were meant for the gaze so no one would ever mistake her rank. She already had several due to her time on Earth, but they now covered her hands, fingers, toes, shoulders, back… everywhere. There was even one just below her left eye. Xai'an's mark.

He bowed his head respectfully. "Xai'an has tasked me with tracking possible Bad Bloods on your home planet."

She flinched and worry decorated her face. He knew she was thinking of the last time Bad Bloods had been on Earth. It led her to seeing Kiande Amedha for the first time. As oomans often were emotional creatures, the fear that gripped them did not go away simply because you could kill what you fear. It stays with them. Their little warrior queen was scared of their greatest trophy. "I see. I'd tell you to be careful but I know you hate that. Do you know where on Earth?"

Knowing Xai'an had already sent him the information Baaul lifted his arm to his wrist device to pull up the little hologram of Earth. With a few more clicks he zoomed into the location of the last reported signal and leaned down to show her.

"Oh! I think that's...just above Cuba and the Dominican Republic. Tropical islands that were considered third world countries in my time." She pointed with her fake claws in the area she was talking about.

Being well over 300 years old he had only visited earth a few times due to his hatred for the oomans who called Earth home. Until he met Z he hadn't even considered them a worthy hunt. He still didn't, but out of his respect for her, his hatred for the oomans diminished into a strong dislike.

"It would make sense for them to hide out here if that's the case. Limited technology for these people makes it harder to get help due to the dense forests. Easy pickings, really." Her full lips thinned and her brows scrunched together, a sign of disgust. He agreed with the emotion. 'Easy pickings' was not the yautja way.

"We shall see." With that he shut down the hologram and bowed his head to dismiss himself from her. Her soft laughter behind him puzzled him but he didn't question her. She was a strange ooman, always finding weird things amusing. Her daughter was very much like her like that. Pauking oomans…