Chapter 6

"Dekna, I know I said I would buy everything you need to fix your console thingy, but I don't think humans have even made some of this stuff." I sighed with an apologetic grin at the over grown lizard in my garage. "I mean, take this; I don't think I can find a nucleic high photon warper in Homebase."

Dekna huffed like a pouting child and took to kicking around the tools strewn across the concrete floor. "You oomans are more primitive than I thought. Not hard to understand, why you have not invented yet?"

I raised an eyebrow. "Who, me personally? I kinda already have a job, and besides, DIY is more my thing, not circuit boards and the time-space continuum."

He snorted in an 'I thought as much' manner, before catching my attention again as I walked to my BMW. "Valentina!" he cried.

I whipped around, suddenly alert by his serious call. "What's wrong big guy?"

Dekna stepped a little forward, his crystalline glare grating into mine. And then, as time started to slow down, he trilled slowly before immediately grinning goofily. "You will buy more food?"

Rejectionnnnnnnn! Disgraceeeeeee!

If my life were a cartoon, this would be the shot where I freeze, sweat drop with 'X' eyes and crack into pieces.

Instead, in the wonderful reality that I really was in, I just shook my head and walked away. Just like with Tiny, I was only worthy as a source of food.

Used more than a cheap street hooker!

The trip to the nearest town was 45 minutes away, only 10 of those minutes being alongside any other cars. Axe Town used to be the local settlement for all the civil war soldier's haunts, such as the local brewery and inn. However now, while all the houses still held an aged look about them, they were accompanied by the local school, park, superstores and concrete roads. While out of the way, it was by no means close to Hicksville. I drove through to a cheap parking lot in the centre of town, happy that there were plenty of easy spots to park in. After going to the local electronics store and freaking them out with the amount of techno shizzle that I bought, I made my way into the local mall, making sure to avoid the sale shops and pimpled teens and their horrendous snap backs.

Honestly, what happened to buying a cap because you supported the team, and not the angle between the cap and base of your hat?

Safe to say, I wasn't successful clothes wise when it came to saving money. Soon, a rouge velvet blazer and matching heels were in my possession, though I could easily say they made me look like a goddamn sexy accountant.

Food shopping, as always, was a marathon and a half; three trips back and forth from the car, and I finally had everything fitted into the spacious boot. The interactions with the check out lady was as genial as ever.

"Hey Ms M, how's ya' trees?"

"Yes, my residents is in good shape, thank you Jeanie. How's the beauty course at the college faring for you?"

*Smack of chewing gum* "S'all good Ms M. We just started our trimmin' unit; say, ya' wouldn' wan' a trim, would'ja Ms M? S'not like you'll miss a little on the ends, and really could do with the practice!"

"Really…well, to be honest with you Jeanie, I'd love to help you, but I can't get a hair cut for…religious reasons, yeah. Sorry, and all."

"Aww, s'ok Ms M. Pity, ah always thought ya' would look nice with a pixie cut! Here's ya change, have an awesome day!"

"I will, Jeanie, you too."

Oh god, awkward conversations like that make me want to stab people in the eye with a mascara wand covered in onions and sunscreen.

Booooom we went there!

As I pushed the last plastic bag into the trunk, I bristled and ran all my long hair over my shoulders. It was in its usual curly, side-parted style, slightly dimmer in its colour, signalling the need to re dye it.

It's not that long, is it?

I snarled at myself for listening to Jeanie Eustace, currently retaking her grade for the 2nd time and sporting pin straight ginger hair with several hoop earrings and a stud on the dimple of her cheek. I slammed the hood down and with a sweep of my hair, turned to walk to the driver's door.

My scream after pulling at the caught hair under the hood caused a little boy carrying bottles of milk for his mother on the other side of the car park to drop them and start crying.

The drive back was in silence, no radio, stalking out loud to myself, contacting spirit guides, nothing, nada. When I pulled into the garage, Dekna wasn't there, so I assumed he must have gone into the manor again. I had given him a key to both buildings, which he had attached to the belt of his loincloth like an Asian schoolgirl's bag adorned with her Moshi monster key rings. Hefting every single bag into the kitchen, then pulling the last of the clothes shopping bags to my room reminded me that for the past 3 days that Dekna had been here, I had only gone on my morning run, and used the presence of a 'guest' to excuse not doing my usual workout. My muscles were now lethargically strung, and I mentally winced at the idea of the ache that they would have once I picked up my full routine again. All of Dekna's prezzies were left on the metal workbench; all his equipment we had found in the forest was there, and his wrist console had been taken apart, only the darkened, curved screen recognisable.

Hunger gripped my stomach like one of those hand-exercising grips, so I made my way back into the house, slipping off my trainers and putting them in the shoe pantry, before making my way through the house and to the kitchen. I paused by the open door of the library as the familiar 'shink!' of Dekna's unsheathed wrist blades hit me. Slowly, I ducked my head and shoulders back through the door, as I gripped its frame. "Dekna…?"

A sudden blur of movement, and Dekna was now sitting in an armchair, a thickly bound book that I recognised as I came closer as Swallows and Amazons. I thought I had heard Tiny's raspy hissing as well, and hadn't Dekna been standing by the open window, with his blade hand raised…?

Dekna innocently looked up at me as I walked in front of him as he sat with one leg crossed over the other, much like how Dad did. If Dekna had glasses to be perched on his nose, I would've called for a line up. "Val. Journey fruitful?"

I blinked a little and shook my head. "Yeah, it was good thanks. Your stuff's in the garage, and I'm just about to start dinner. Curry sound good?"

He carefully studied the page number, before humming thoughtfully and closing it and placing it on the side table next to him. In an utter Frasier moment, he clasped his hands around his knee and tilted his head with a frown. "Curry…" he rumbled with apprehension. In his stay here, I'd been trying to introduce Dekna to as much cultural stuff as possible, as well as different types of food on his little holiday. So far, we'd discovered that he hated cereal (freak), oranges, Mexican and French food. The only sure fire thing he seemed to like was meat; everything else had been pushed to the side with his eating utensils that I had insisted he eat. Before that, he been doing in a rather nifty impression of a conveyer belt as his mandibles worked to feed the food into his mouth.

"Yeah, it's this southern Asian dish that's known for usually being spicy, covered in sauces and such. Don't worry, they'll be chicken."

Dekna visibly relaxed from his tensed position, before gazing back at the book, as if willing he to go away again. I rolled my eyes and walked away.

An hour later, Dekna looked up from his book, just as Titty seized the Amazon. A thick blend of spices assaulted his olfactory senses, and he closed his eyes, mandibles slackening to concentrate on it. In a daze, he abandoned the novel and zombied his way to the source of the smell.

In the kitchen, various bowls of vegetables lay around the hob as Valentina worked, a lady on a mission. To be quite honest, she was pissed off that Dekna hadn't taken to earth food yet; just because Yautja were the 'superior' race, did that really mean they had better food?! The volcanic shade of the curry coated the cooking chicken in the pot. The coriander soon made its way in, as well as the last of the rice wine vinegar. A ping from the oven below her waist alerted Valentina to the finished naan bread; with her left still stirring the main dish, her right ventured down to switch off the oven and grab a cloth, which she enveloped over her hand so that the tray of bread could be set onto the counter. Her eyes never left the bubbling mixture, only closing briefly as she tasted a little of it.

Perfect!

Valentina had spent her summer holidays in Sri Lanka in her gap year with Tilly and Kev, and had become obsessed with the culture. Despite the fact that she left her window in her hotel room open one day and a bunch of monkey had come in and trashed the place with all the complimentary fruit, she had managed to go over there 3 more times, and was planning to stop by there again when she finally planned her 'silk road' pilgrimage. She wasn't particularly sure why she was so obsessed, but since she now was good friends with a pen pal family she stayed with the past two times, she was picking up on the main language, Singhalese, and was an apparent natural cooking their food. She blamed her great grandmother; according to Grandpa Lionel, she had had a thing for Asian dudes, so it was probably in her blood.

Dekna watched his odd ooman friend lick the fleshy opening that she called 'lips' with her short tongue, before muttering "Needs more lemon grass!" and leaping towards a small labelled jar. He watched wide eyed as she moved around the room like a mad scientist, a little dizzy from his overworking senses and the cloud of turmeric tainted musk that was wafting through the window. Another ping next to him made him jump, and Valentina dashed in his direction to press a button on what he had learnt to be the rice cooker next to him. A chime of automated bells alerted the acknowledgement of whatever action she had demanded of it.

Dekna considered backing away before Valentina fully noticed his presence, as her misty blue eyes swooped over him with no indication that she noticed him. However the rich aroma of the 'curry' beckoned him to come closer. The punch of flavours permeated the air, and he trilled in delight when he noticed that the dark red colour of the mixture reminded him of the desert areas of his homeland. Without thinking, once the scent of succulent chicken came to his attention, he grabbed the spoon and dipped it in, opening his mandibles and inner mouth wide as his tongue darted out and…

"AIIEEEEEEEEE NO NO NO!" the fierce war cry of the female defending her territory was the only warning Dekna got before the spoon was wrenched out of his grip and he was dealt a blow with it straight onto the crest of his forehead. He yelped and covered his head as more blows found him, roaring as he raced from the kitchen. Vaguely, he heard Valentina screaming at him "HOW DARE YOU TOUCH THE FOOD WHEN IT ISN'T READY! GET OUT OF MY KITCHEN NOW! HAVE YOU EVEN WASHED UP FOR THIS EVENING!?"

Dekna paused by the door with a furrowed brow. "Washed in morning. Am sufficiently clean, Val…" His deep voice ebbed away as own eyes widened at Val's demonic expression. He flew out of the kitchen as if a hoard of Xenomorphs were on his tail. "C'JIT C'JIT C'JIT! H'CHAK, VAL! KHA'BJ-TE OOMAN!? [SHIT SHIT SHIT! HAVE MERCY, VAL! RABID/MANIAC/RECKLESS OOMAN!?]"

"YOU FILTHY CROCODILE, COME BACK HERE SO I CAN SKIN YOU AND COOK YOU AS A PIE!"

A faint intake of breath reached Dekna's sharp hearing, the only warning he had as he dived behind the large tree trunk in the centre of the living room. Silence reigned as he peaked out to look at the santoku knife, only a little of its blade visible from its new ligneous hilt. If he had stayed running at the same angle, it would have gone right through his stomach. He knew his only chance was to escape and come back to beg forgiveness when Valentina was in her normal childish, joyful mood, so as he heard her war cry ring out again, he used his inhuman speed to leap up onto the platform of the next floor, swinging himself up into a crouched position on the other side of the banister. He got up and dived out of sight to seek sanctuary in his room, just as a smaller vegetable knife found the mouth of the hung up boar that lived in the corridor Dekna was running through.

A little while later, Dekna finished sharpening the blade of his wrist gauntlets, tapering them to a point sharp enough to cut paper. The light from outside was negligent, the sky that he could see from his window now a deep purple grappling with runt orange tones. Despite this planet being infested with the insect oomans and being too cold for a Yautja's liking, Dekna had rather enjoyed his stay in his comrade's residence. It was endless in size, and held many texts and artefacts that reminded him that oomans could occasionally do something right. Of course, they were nothing compared to the treasures and accomplishments of the Yautja. However, Valentina's sire's sire, known as Lionel Montgomery, seemed to be like the current owner of the Manor. Both were unusually honourable for oomans from what Dekna had gathered from Valentina, and shared the same odd mannerisms. The various trap doors and hidden passageways that Valentina had pointed out for him was mark of the man's cunning. Since his arrival, he had already found two more hidden areas that Valentina had recorded down.

And despite the fact that the female ooman he now lived with was shorter, lighter and weaker compared to even a female Yautja, Dekna knew that she was a capable warrior; her skills with the knifes earlier were a testament to her skills, as well as her religious training she did every day and the collection of weapons in her basement. While it was unfortunate that Dekna couldn't hunt her as worthy prey because it would be dishonourable to hunt one that had helped him like she had, he was still looking forward to sparring with her, when he got around to asking. There was little doubt that she would not beat him, but he was curious of the extent of her skill.

Warily, he made his way down stairs, mouth watering as the smells of dinner grew stronger. However in the kitchen neither Valentina nor his prize could be found; the place was now spotless, the windows closed and the surface damp from being freshly wiped. Just as he was about to continue his search, a familiar, musical voice called "Dekna? Dinner's in the dinning room!"

He clicked his mandibles in anticipation rapidly, jogging lightly to his destination. The central dining table was set for two, the end seat and the seat to the left of it set, with various bowls and cutlery around it. A large jug of water with ice cubes was set next to the places, as well as a small vase of wild flowers. He was now used to the traditional set up of Valentina serving food, and recognised the flowers as the blue kind that was common in these woods. Valentina was straightening the noir blue table cloth, dressed in mint green pyjamas that had a fluffy collar and cuffs. An extremely obese yellow bear with a red shirt sat on her breast pocket, while her hair was braided down her back in the same fashion she always had in the evening. When she noticed his arrival, she briskly went over and tugged at his wrists to inspect his palms. After peering at his face as when, she nodded in approval of the signs of him having taken a shower, and lead him over to take him seat. She served both of them the main helping of rice and curry, before replacing their lids and letting him serve his own bread and vegetables.

Curiously, Dekna crudely grasped his bread and set it on his plate, watching as Valentina took a slice of lime, squeezed it on her food and added a large spoonful of a grainy brown paste that said 'vermachili' on the jar. She ripped off a small piece of the bread and dipped it in the paste, and then the curry before popping ti in her mouth with a satisfied sigh.

Dekna ate a little of his own bread cautiously. When that proved to be tasty and warm, he proceeded to copy what Valentina had done. As he dipped his bread into his vermachilli and curry, he caught her amused, eyebrow raised gaze. "What?" he asked warily.

She shook her head with a smirk. "Nothing. It's just, I wouldn't eat too much in one go; I wasn't taught to use my spices half heartedly."

He growled at her doubtfulness. Now that his masculine pride was called to question, he shoved food into his mouth and lathered it in saliva with his tongue.

Mentally, in Valentina's head, she counted to three. Dekna's face turned several colours, metaphorical steam coming out of his ears. His eyes bulged and watered, the natural rumble of his breath stuttering from the force of the sensations in his mouth. He squeezed his eyes shut and swallowed deeply, breathing slowly. After a long pause, Valentina said, "Well?"

Dekna's mandibles pulled into his usual cocky grin. "Ooman food not so bad. Tingles."

Valentina gaped at him for a second, before throwing her head back in laughter. Soon Dekna chuckled as well, and they carried on with their meal.

A little while later, Valentina was back to asking her usual assortment of questions. "So, what's your job back home?"

Dekna swallowed the water in his mouth, nonchalantly cracking an ice cube on the way down. "Am hunter, like most Yautja males."

Valentina bit her lip in thought. "So, do you sell your kills for money?"

"Sei."

"What does that mark mean? It's the same as the one on your mask, isn't it?"

Dekna rubbed the 'T' mark on his forehead with pride and fondness, puffing out his chest in a way that made Valentina roll her eyes. "Means I am blooded, have passed my chiva."

"Yeah, you mentioned that before, like a right of passage. What sort of stuff do you have to do?"

"Hunt kiande amedhas [xenomorphs]. In my clan, must kill 3 to gain mark honourably. The blood of our kills is used to make the mark."

Valentina paused, a fork of chicken stopped halfway on its journey to her mouth. "Say what now?"

Dekna snorted, but humoured her as usual. "Blood of kiande amedhas is acidic. Armour and weapons must be specially made to withstand effects. Cauterises mark once it is done. Tradition."

"D-does it hurt? I mean…wow."

Dekna rolled his eyes.

"Dude…"

"Sei."

They sat in a comfortable silence until both were done. After some grumbling by Dekna and a couple of creative threats on Valentina's part, they worked together to clean away their plates and pack the leftover in the fridge for the next day. Valentina made a mental note that Dekna had extremely enjoyed the curry. She smirked in triumph; it was nice to have converted some to her way of eating. Tilly was a pure all American eater through and through, and Marcus hated anything that came from hot, sunny countries, due to his relationship with his sensitive skin cells and the sun.

A little while later, they found themselves in the living room, with the DAB radio crooning away some wispy old soul song. "Dekna?"

Grunt.

"Why do you hunt us?"

He popped his eyes open, stiffening at the sensitive subject. Resorting to his natural Yautja bluntness, he answered. "Oomans are cunning, cleverer than other prey. Good sport."

"Ok…" Valentina returned to doodling around her latest entry in the spook book. "Don't you find it weird how similar our races are?"

Dekna gave her an incredulous look, growling "Hardly! Yautja are stronger, faster-"

"Yeah, I get it, you can kick our asses blah blah blah! I only meant, I mean…" she groaned at her ineptitude with the words in her brain. Suddenly she jumped down her side of the couch and slide over to him. "Look at us! Legs, arms, a torso, face." Dekna stiffened, but resisted moving away as she prodded each part she named, only not making contact with the face. "It's just freaky! I'm by no means religious but…I wonder why."

Dekna paused for a second, clicking and tilting his head at the curious creature in front of him. While she did appear to him to look strange without a set of mandibles and tubes of fleshy hair, the ooman female had a point. He pondered her thoughts as they now became his own. "Yautja believe in the Black warrior, the dark hunter, Cetanu. We meet him when we die. The goddess Paya is our mother, life. We abandon them when we abandon our honour."

Valentina hummed contently, relaxing back. "That's very Japanese of you."

He huffed with indignation. "H'ko. [no.] very Yautja of me."

"How did you learn English?"

"Sire is fluent. Also pick up from oomans in hunts."

Valentina already had learnt that 'sire' meant father to Dekna. However she still gave him an incredulous look. "What, did you sit down at chat about the weather before killing them?"

A dark grin chilled her blood as he stared into his memories. "Something like that."

Valentina left it at that, letting the topic endless change like it did in all of there strange conversations. She absentmindedly twirled the end of her braid, until she noticed what she was doing and grimaced at the memory of her conversation with Jeanie. With a growl, she pulled at her braid and threw it over her shoulder.

Dekna trilled with amusement and gave a questioning look. Soon, she gave in and said "I need a hair cut apparently."

Much to her surprise, Dekna scowled. "Why think this, Val?"

"Well, this girl I know said that-"

She was cut off by Dekna raising his clawed hand and flicking her painfully in the forehead, like she often did to him when he took up too much of the way and wouldn't move. Valentina yelped and rubbed at the spot; while there was only a red mark, his claws had made it sting all the more. "What was that for?!" she whined.

"Hulij-bpe [crazy] Val! You listen to ooman advice?"

"Hey! I'm 'ooman' as well, and I once got called Yoda by this kid a babysitted!"

Dekna rolled his eyes, not believing that she could actually look after a pup and not mentally or physically scar it afterwards. "Length is sign of age, of maturity."

Valentina pouted and crossed her arms. "Yeah, for you guys! If you tried to cut your dreads, it would be bloody painful!"

"Why not cut before?"

She frowned in thought. "Well, I never wanted to but-"

"Like now?"

"Yeah but-"

"Then don't cut. Simple. You oomans always overcomplicate things."

Valentina let the racist comment slide, as she pondered Dekna's meaning. Eventually, she quietly said "So, you don't think I should cut it. Sorry, it's just…I don't know, it was rolling around my head. Thanks."

Dekna rumbled in approval, watching the cackling flames in the heath. "In Yautja culture, our elders and elite warriors have longer dreads, covered in trophies. Ancients even more." An youthful, ambitious gleam entered his eyes. "One day, so will I."

"What are you now?" Valentina asked inquisitively. She hadn't seen this almost dreaming side of him before.

"Young blood. Just been blooded, but have less experience and skill."

"How long was the longest you've ever seen?"

"Your length, Ancient from another clan."

Valentina grinned mischievously, "So, 'cause I have long hair, are you saying that I'd be revered in your culture?"

Dekna paused, stared at her for a few seconds, before rumbling into the Yautja's version of a laughing fit. He clutched the sides of his ribs, barely feeling the weak slaps Valentina was giving to his arms. Finally, Dekna calmed down with tears forming in his eyes. He hadn't laughed like that since he'd left the clan ship!

Eventually, after more of their usual banter, the pair relaxed back into silence. Valentina was still fuming silently, but the weight of her fatigue was pulling her eye lids down and slowing her breaths. Soon her muscles dropped and she ended up leaning against Dekna's burly arm. He stiffened in surprise, but let it go, as he noticed that her hair was surprisingly soft and fluffy. The natural instinct to purr rose up in him. As he too started to drift off, Valentina spoke again.

"Hey…Dekna? I can speak bits of languages too…you're not the only bilingual chick here…"

Ignoring the fact that she had just called him the spawn of a chicken, he rumbled for her to continue.

"Here's some Ugandan…hasa diga [fuck you] my friend…"

The hunter didn't really catch what she had said, and would've dismissed it anyway, since he had never hunted in Africa. All he care about was the warmth of the manor, the red fluffiness that served as a brilliant pillow, and the stretch feeling of his stomach that lulled him into a deep sleep.

Hello my followers!

I hope you enjoyed this chapter, you know the drill, please review and tell me what you think!

Sooooo, Dekna and Val get to know each other a bit better, and the former is one step closer to ordering a high tech taxi ride through the cosmos home. I wonder if anyone got the 'hasa diga' reference? Ehhheeeeeee.

Yours truly,

Renzin xo