Boundless

Ambers Beneath the Ice

Kay'ja observed as Lar'jar keyed his gauntlet, programing it to show in front of them a series of selected video recordings. 

The Yuatja had perfected not only surveillance, but their biomasks' technology generations ago; the holographic projections allowed spatial depth. Kay'ja would not only be able to see it from different angles (within reason) but also walk into the area to analyze a scene up close (if she chose to).

An alien scenario: an ooman city, artificial lights cutting through the night. Ah'kaedh was running in front of Lar'jar. There were enormous metallic boxes in disarray, and Lar'jar had briefly stopped to análise a long trail of red - ooman blood.

It soon became clear the boxes were some dumpsters, and an ooman was hidden between them, quite weak - dying. Ah'kaedh was positively frantic, but he handled the injured body with such care.

Another scene, and they were now at the med bay. A silent Enforcer held one of the tiny hands, the alien body rested in a cot. She was white as a corpse, breathing heavily, unconscious. And Kay'ja could not remember a single instance when her grandson looked só stricken by grief.

Kay'ja had a moment of reprieve while Lar'jar looked for the next recording; her grandson resting in an elevated bed of furs, the tiny alien sleeping almost under him.

The following scenes showed a very injured Enforcer dismissing his brother's care - Ah'kaedh couldn't free himself of Lar'jar soon enough to return to his ooman.

The first scene featuring Lance was the day she almost had a nervous breakdown because Ah'kaedh had a (minor) spinal injury. The Matriarch could see not only how that tiny Alien was protective (protective!?) of her grandson but how the Enforcer would not refrain her. If anything, he could not deny her that impertinent alien.

And then came the hand-feeding. The kittens. Moments where Lar'jar would discreetly observe the pair interacting and absorbed in their particular world.

The ancient female could see for herself that Ah'kaedh not only cared for Lance - he respected her. Adored her.

The next scene though...

"That's enough", the Matriarch was beyond disgusted upon seeing how Ah'kaedh, after beheading a Yautja, clawed at another Enforcer to pick up an ooman that, by all rights, should be dead for interfering in his challenge.

"If you wish to understand your grandson, Matriarch, there is one more recording you must see".

"None of that is... natural, Medic. My grandson is sick. He's been sick since he escaped captivity", the female was way more than merely disgusted.

Knowing it would be unwise to press the issue now, Lar'jar bowed his head and left once finally dismissed.

***

"Kay'ja", Jakhar greeted, not bothering with the honorifics.

"What were you thinking when you allowed Ah'kaedh to bring a fucktoy onboard?"

Jakhar was quite used to the matriarch's distaste for small talk, but that was ridiculous. Luckily Lar'jar had given the Elder a heads up.

"Kay'ja, do you want the truth, or is this just a venting session?"

Jakhar could be patient, but the Elder would be damned if he ever allowed someone (even his Matriarch) to question his judgment in such a way.

"Watch yourself, male", the ancient flared her mandibles.

"The truth, then", the male retorted. "There is not a single rule or protocol that prevents us from keeping the company of willful individuals, and you should know that. Your grandson surely does", the male observed.