Boundless

Countdown

[36 years ago]

Bright lights, a thousand scents, loud sounds of all kinds.

Oomans were a loud, gaudy, selfish, irresponsible race. Or so it seemed to Ah'kaedh. After spending a couple of months in the Solomons moons and exhausting all leads he had on his Girl, the Yautja felt ready for some peace and solitude.

His people were not given to the chaos oomans called society, and for Ah'kaedh, and his introverted personality, oomans' society was beyond tiring.

But that night, once most inhabitants had already retired to their homes, Ah'kaedh decided to take a last look in one of the many places he heard about, years ago.

His tiny Pest would tell him so many things. In such detail that he was now watching one of the many places she described.

That place has been owned by the same family for generations. They used to be artisans back on earth, and if I'm not mistaken, a branch of the family is still there. But... oh, it's a shame I don't have any of their pieces to show you. They made the most beautiful puzzles!

The Girl had described some of the pieces she owned in minute detail. Ball puzzles, sculpted on crystal stones.

Ah'kaedh could not purchase any ooman item. And yet the Enforcer had some sense of right and wrong.

Ever since he had found that store, he yearned to take some of their puzzles with him. And offering them to the Diligent girl he missed- and missed deeply.

Ah'kaedh ended up leaving large pieces of alien ivory, whose value surpassed, and by far, the cost of the pieces he took in his last night at the Solomons, even by ooman standards.

The Enforcer never spoke to her. But he had been listening. Intently. And oh, how he loved the sound of her voice.

I was listening the whole time, he thought while holding one of the five pieces he took, admiring the detailed sculpted piece. And Ah'kaedh wished to show her he had been paying attention. That he remembered.

The puzzles would make beautiful, meaningful tokens of his... regard? Affection?

(Would Ah'kaedh keep her? Or find his Girl and let her go? Ah'kaedh could not answer those questions. And the Enforcer needed to find her first, anyway)

In the quietness of his vessel, the Enforcer could finally relax, free of the ooman's chaotic cacophony. But silence was not the refuge it once was.

Ah'kaedh missed his Girl's voice; the long monologues, the weird tales, the whispered songs, the absurd questions.

Now this hunt was becoming something more like a puzzle. But he still, yes. He still had time to find his Girl...

***

[present day]

Kivar was angered out of his mind. Not at others, surprisingly. No, it was at his own body. He had one of the most grievous injuries during the mudslide. The enforcer was in better shape, but better shape for what they were about to face was not enough. He and another Hunter were staying behind as support - checking information, running surveillance with drones, the works.

Tasks handed for inexperienced Young Bloods, if you asked anyone. How ironic the only Young-Blood onboard would be seeing all the action he didn't have a chance to experience due to all that bad luck.

The Kid had collected his share of skulls now. Two Bad Bloods, some large beasts, and if his past success during this assignment was indication of future performance, he would come home with some nice Kiande Amedha trophies for his wall.