Episode Thirteen - Sunakki (Part 2)

Eira had no intention of scaring the child. She wanted answers, not to intimidate a helpless little girl. Bending down, she made sure they were at eye-level. "Look at me," she ordered gently. "We are not here to hurt you. I am Eira Ulva, from the Qeathan tribe. If you don't trust them, at least trust me. I am not your zindari. Enemy."

The child's pulse continued leaping. "Q-Qeathan?"

"Kraz. Yes. Tell me your name. Isn't that the way of our people?"

From early childhood, Eira had learnt how empowering names were – be it for good or bad. Never removing her gaze, she willed the child to let down her guard.

A long, long pause.

"Y-yaena."

Eira smiled encouragingly. "Alright, Yaena. Can you tell us what you're doing here? It's dangerous for an anakki to come to the Oasis." This child was lucky to have survived in one piece. Judging by the frailty of her thin wrists, Eira could tell Yaena was no warrior. Her constitution was poor, and she lacked the honed muscles of a trained knife wielder. Yes, she was indeed lucky not to be preyed upon by the Skocian predators.

"There were rumours about bodies being discovered in the Oasis, and a week ago…my brother went missing," Yaena explained timidly. "He always returns after three days of hunting, and when no one would help me, I decided to track him down."

"Is that how you ended up here?"

"Y-yes. I'm a good tracker. I know my way around the desert and which parts to avoid. When I found this place, I couldn't leave because the predators wouldn't let me. They are everywhere. If I face them, I will be killed."

"And your family?" Eira prodded. "Where are they?"

Yaena's face crumbled with sheer disappointment. "My brother and I are orphans."

Eira's mouth firmed. She was right. To anyone, an orphan meant a child without parents but, in the Xaosose tribe, it meant an unwanted child.

"Check the corpses." Lars's command was tempered.

Yaena's gaze swerved to him, sucking in her breath at the intimidating giant. Moonlight bathed his face, highlighting the angry scar pulled taut over his brooding face.

"This is our Captain." Eira attempted to ease Yaena's abject terror. At six-foot-four, she imagined Lars would frighten any child. And his features weren't exactly...friendly. "He won't hurt you."

"Find your brother's body, or there will be nothing left after we burn the corpses," Lars repeated bluntly.

Eira scowled at his abrasiveness. What had gotten into him?

Yaena scurried to do his bidding, afraid he wouldn't give her a second chance. They watched the child stumble and trip over the pile of mutilated corpses, realizing her brother wasn't amongst them. It was actually a relief.

"Is he here?" Eira asked anyway.

Yaena shook her head ruefully, her misery like a child who had the sun stolen from her forever. "Vi. No. I don't understand…where is he? The tribe chief told me this is where all the missing people are."

Those innocently uttered words held a different meaning to Lars. Why would a tribe chief tell a child those exact words? And how had he known that the missing people could be found in the Oasis? Everything about Yaena's situation was shady. But thanks to that, she had given them another clue. "Girl, can you take us to your tribe?"

Yaena blinked at the sudden request, terror chilling her from the inside out. It didn't slip by Lars's attention, his suspicions thriving. She reeked desperately of fear, destitution, maybe even abuse. The thought brought forth a visceral anger, reminding him of his past. It was a fact that life was brutal, and it made victims of everyone but if he had the power to change it, he would.

Seeing Yaena's pale face, Eira quickly reasoned. "The Xaosose tribe are very private people. An outsider would be killed on the spot. No questions asked."

"She's right," Yaena acknowledged, her face flushed.

"You know the Xaosose tribe?" This question was directed at Eira.

"Kraz, but that was a very long time ago. Before…," her voice trailed off and he understood what she meant.

Lars contemplated their options. There was a dangerous individual out there trying to create super soldiers at the cost of human lives. The question was why, and how wide was his circle of influence or connections? They needed to uncover the truth, and to determine how it was achieved. He only hoped all the new clues wouldn't lead them to another dead end. For now, he concluded the enemy was targeting small villages, either to search for something or — the worst-case scenario — the villagers were being experimented upon. Truthfully, the latter made more sense to his cynical mind.

A deafening hum from above heralded the phantom's arrival, the ground trembled as it landed. The hatch opened and their pilot, Miran emerged with several foldable stretchers. "I've got your message, Vice-Captain Denali. How many corpses are we talking about here?" His gaze strayed to the sacrilege of human lives strewn like garbage. A low, unbelieving whistle escaped his lips, and he tipped his hat. "May their souls rest in peace."

"We're not taking them all, Miran." Anaelle relieved him of one stretcher. "I need only a few distinct ones for sampling, and the rest we will burn."

"Understood, Ms. Rose."

While the team bustled to separate the corpses and decontaminate the place, Eira cautioned Yaena to stay put, assigning Xue Long on guard duty. Satisfied that the child wasn't going anywhere, she hurried to Lars, driven by the need to question his intentions. "Were you serious about investigating the Xaosose tribe?"

"There's something going on there that might give us an insight to our recent cases. I believe the tribe Chief knows what is happening." He discreetly gestured at Yaena. "She'll be our ticket in."

"It's not that simple," she insisted. "We won't gain their trust even if we return her to the tribe. She's a sunakki, a bastard child. In the Xaosose hierarchy, she ranks the lowest. They won't be kissing our feet for returning an extra mouth to feed."

Lars's face closed over, shifting to that of a statue. "I'm beginning to dislike them more and more."

She couldn't dispute him, admitting sheepishly. "Our tribes did clash often in the past. But that's not the point. We'll need a cover, and I know how we can do it." Then she promptly added, "If you're sure you want to do this."

Golden eyes sharpened. "What do you have in mind?"

She hesitated. "Someone in the tribe must be familiar with who I am, or rather who my parents were. I can enter the village in the guise of locating the Qeath tribe. It's no secret that I disappeared after my parents were killed."

"Are you sure this is how you want to play it?" Lars understood better than anyone how their pasts affected them greatly. As Captain, he wholeheartedly approved but, as the boy she once knew, he didn't wish for her to relive the pain. "There are always other ways." If she changed her mind, he was giving her an out now.

Determination stamped every inch of her lovely face, her eyes locked with his. "Kraz. Yes. I am sure. What is my past to the lives that will be endangered because of one evil person's ambition? I want to do this." A self-mocking smile twisted her lips. "I promised to find my tribe once I avenge my parents. I am just —" she exhaled "—speeding up the process."

He studied her for a few heartbeats before saying, "Thank you." And he meant every word. "If it helps, know that you won't be doing it alone."

Incomprehension tore through her and she stated inanely. "But you're not a tribesman."

"There is a way for an outsider to be a tribesman." His lips quirked at her dumbfounded expression. "I'll be your husband."

Emerald eyes widened to the size of saucers. "H-husband!" She hadn't realized she was shouting until the others looked at them askance. Florian wasn't even concealing his frown. Conspicuously, her voice hushed into a whisper. "B-but…isn't posing as a married couple over the top?"

He crossed his arms, looking at her from narrowed slits. "Why are you objecting? Isn't this your chance to woo me?"

Her mouth flapped at his arrogance, bringing sparks to her eyes. "Kraz! I mean, Vi! No! It won't be real! I don't want to woo you because I'm forced to." She sulked adorably, turning her cheek the other way. "Then you'll know to expect it and it won't be a surprise anymore."

An unexpected chuckle left his lips. He couldn't comprehend her logic. That was her main concern? "Why wouldn't I be surprised? Everything you do surprises me." It flustered him sometimes, but he couldn't say that he disliked that she always butchered his assumptions. It was refreshing not being able to predict a person that easily. Life with her was a technicolour motion filled with candour and surprises.

"Hey, lovebirds!" Koga hollered from the phantom's hatch. "We're ready to depart!"

Eira laughed at the intensity of Lars's death glare. Patting his chest lightly, her fingers lingered. "Don't say you weren't warned, Captain. I'll gladly take advantage of you — just like our first kiss."