Boundless

Blood and Water

Tell me, Ho'kan son of Noor. What is the nature of the ongoing association of a Youngblood of the Deep Mists with a female of a prey species?

Gratitude, Ancient.

Gratitude, Youngblood? Is that your reasoning?

***

"Do you know how many colonies we lost to Xenomorphs?"

The translation played over the ooman's voice, at harsh odds with the creature's softer pitch.

Frustrated, one of the spectators keyed his gauntlet, freezing the replay of Ho'kan's biomask footage. Silently, Gor'gol stared at the still image, looking at the ooman from Ho'kan's point of view.

"Gor'gol," the projection of another Hunter stopped beside the Ancient. From his chamber at the Clanship, Jakhar had been watching the recording alongside the Arbiter. "What do you expect to find?"

"She used subterfuge to stir that Youngblood from his task," Gor'gol walked a slow circle around the still image, absorbed.

"Of course," Jakhar rasped with tiredness and petulance.

The Ancient snarled a warning, flaring his mandibles for good measure.

"What? She released him, Gor'gol," Jakhar spat. "That alone would make anyone prone to trust whatever left her mouth."

"Is that what you think?"

"What did she have to gain by freeing that Youngblood?" Jakhar challenged.

The Arbiter crossed his arms, stepping towards Jakhar's visage.

"Why am I even listening? You've aided those two, haven't you?" the Ancient enunciated every word of the accusation.

"I told you I have," Jakhar's image barely inclined its head.

Gor'gol looked away, unfocusing his gaze, as if to relieve his mind of an extra task.

Two deep breaths later, he spoke: "Most of the present council wishes it gone."

A number of the council Elders were still away on hunt. Some were of a neutral opinion. A mere couple were on Ah'kaedh's side.

"What about you, my friend?"

"Detained on matters of higher importance," Gor'gol grumbled, evasive.

"The Matriarch wishes it gone. What about Ra'jesh'kta?" Jakhar inquired, his projection walking around and then sitting down on a spacious chair.

" Most of the council wants it dead after Ah'kaedh returns from the mission," Gor'gol seethed, circling back to his previous statement.

Years as an Arbitrator had made the Yautja skilled at interrogation; as much as he would have preferred this to be just another of their many friendly communications, the Ancient's goal was to dismantle Jakhar's point of view. The Elder's support to Ah'kaedh was an infuriating obstacle at this point.

"You know my position," Jakhar retorted. "Showing me this changes nothing."

Gor'gol's mind rolled over the details, seeking flaws in Jakhar's stance.

(The Ancient had raged at a recorded message left some days ago, in which Jakhar questioned if Gorgol's own views on the matter were not biased.)

Experience had taught him (and many others) that the easiest way (and, at times, safest) was to objectively choose what was better instead of what was right.