“Mycah," I commanded pushing him toward the door, “take your family to Damien and Daddy.”

As soon as I sensed the boys moving away, I pulled my gun and aimed it. Over the last moon I'd proved to myself I knew how to shoot. Paterians weren't as fast as the aliens and I had a fighting chance with this weapon.

“Stay away!" I said firmly to the men.

“There are no slaves here, only free men and women."

“Silence, slave!" one of them ordered.

“You have no right to touch our young or hold those weapons! There are no bands on your form, so no owners to protect you!"

“I can and will protect myself, cousin," I stated in a low, firm voice.

“We will reprimand you and you will not make this mistake again!" another of them stated.

My whole form was tensed and ready. I felt fear and used it to heighten my senses; it did not own me. Unlike any time other time a man had approached me like this, I felt ready to defend myself.

Killing these men was not an act I would relish, but it would have to be done. I trained my gun and took a breath. Their ignorance was signing their death certificate, but I had to keep my daughters from harm. It was my only option to stop them so I could get away.

A moment before I pulled the trigger, and ended the first man's life, I sensed movement beside me. The aggressors stopped approaching and I watched the looks on their faces become concerned. They glanced around and I furtively did the same thing.

Tyle's family, as young as they were, could look as vicious as any Warrior was trained to. Still in their sleeping shifts, each of them carried either a sword or a gun. The guns were aimed and the swords were at the ready. Once I noted their presence, they slipped slightly in front of me. None of them got in front of my weapon, though. If I shot something, it wasn't going to be one of them.

Mund's family was out of their room and so was Basin's. They were tightening the circle on the aggressors. Damien and his Brothers moved in synchrony with Holden's to add to this side, as Stayne and his Brothers moved with Arnold's family and closed off the exit from the other side. The men from the camp had emerged from their rooms and surrounded the Warriors.

I sensed it now. The Great Harmonious Spirit had the men. Damien and his Brothers had not called the entire camp, just our close friends and family that lived in this section with us. We needed them for added security.

The Large show of force was only so the aggressors would not attempt to fight back. My men could have handled this themselves, but it may have endangered our offspring. The other men did not mind helping and this way was safer. We could depend on the camp to help us keep an altercation from ever happening.

Now, we all waited.

The men stood at the ready. I felt their thoughts and knew they were merely bidding their time. The entire thing was planned out and very organized, as far as The Great Harmonious Spirit was concerned. Next was a period of education and then sanctions.

A transport Landed outside our area and five male Administrators walked briskly inside.

Everyone kept their weapons trained on the aggressors initially, so I did, too. As the male Administrators approached closer the weapons were lowered, but not put away. I was not part of the Great Spirit, so my actions lagged behind the men's. It seemed appropriate to follow their lead, though. Dealing with unpredictable Warriors was their domain.

The Administrators that came in were wearing clothes that had been hastily thrown on, as opposed to sleeping shifts. They carried weapons on their waists, but had not drawn them. They were here to teach and not agitate these aggressive Warriors.

The Administrators took in everyone down here as they stopped several body lengths away from the troublemakers. I knew these Administrators vaguely and was surprised it was them that had come. Gunth and his Brothers were who I expected, but they were not with us anymore. I shook my head at my own foolishness. It would take me some time to stop looking for the big man and his family.

The lead Brother in this family of Administrators was named Carg. He and his Brothers were masters of organization. Carg and his family monitored our food supplies and our textile supplies. It was because of them we never went hungry and always had materials available. Unlike Gunth's family, they didn't appear physically powerful. Carg and his Brothers were of small stature and a light build. Their power was in their minds and their capacity to anticipate the camp's needs.