A/N: yays another fast update. this one was a bit rushed, but still though, as i said before, all things that leave you questioning will be explained in later chapters, so don't think i'll leave them in the dark :) the next chapter might take a slight bit longer to finish, due to schoolwork catching me again, but we'll see what happens.

disclaimer: i own neither Predators nor Aliens, but most of the characters (except Wolf and Kelly) are mine.

'scuse any typos D:

Message Seven: Reunion

Heather wasn't sure how much longer she could take the anticipation. It had been almost an hour before they finally found the church Adamantine had spoken of. It was silent, too silent for Heather, as she went stuck her head out of one of the windows to listen to the bustle of downtown Neonopolis. The sun began to set, which gave her a beautiful view of the sea once it came in to view. She yanked herself back inside once she saw the church; pentagrams and voodoo writing spread throughout the walls in the area along with messy graffiti that had begun to wear off.

She'd been in this area plenty of times before when she would go out with her friends to certain clubs, for a friendly weekend drink. She never felt comfortable about being in the place with Serviteurs spread out like a swarm of insects, and could kidnap the girls to do whatever they wanted to without getting caught. Heather and her friends knew how to fight well, they had taken karate classes together when they were kids, and they all wound up in boxing, which they loved to do. They found it satisfying to beat the hell out of someone if they had a bad day.

Heather was usually the only one who would back down sometimes, since she got more intimidated than Sahara or Presea or Corona. At least she knew how to kick.

("Hey! Get the door ready, I see Adamantine's ship cloaked.") Neon announced.

Heather heaved a sigh and closed the window, making sure it was locked, and turned around to head back to the pilot's room.

As she entered, the room looked exactly the same as it did an hour or two ago, everyone back in their same positions; Razor relaxed on the dashboard, Neon at the pilot's seat, Bleeder sitting on the floor, leaning against a panel, and Grinder sitting atop the same dashboard as Razor (except he wasn't cowering in fear at the computer screen).

("Enjoy the air?") Grinder asked.

She smirked. "It'd smell better if there weren't any scum in this city."

("I agree.") Grinder replied, waving a hand as Razor and Bleeder nodded in agreement.

Heather peered over the panel and looked down to see...nothing. "What? I thought you said you saw--"

("Her ship is cloaked.") Neon replied, pointing to the top of a building.

Heather squinted, and as their ship shifted to the right slightly, she could see something bending...light? No, it was the sea behind the building, she could see it twisting and turning. Was that her ship?

"I see...something." She said.

("That's Adamantine.") Grinder said, nodding.

Heather stepped back and placed her hands together, looking down at the building. She took an anxious breath and heaved it out as quietly as she could. This was it. This is what she decided to do; free the Yautjas and she could go back to her normal life. Wait, scratch that last part. No, now things would be very different. She was homeless. Broke. Would be alone in a matter of minutes. No friends to help her out. Nothing. But in the end...she believed it would be worth it. She always felt good when she would help people, no matter the consequences. It was who she was, and she already knew one thing: she was selfless.

Knocked out of her thoughts as she felt and heard their ship vibrate slightly, she knew that they'd landed. She waited for the shaking to stop, so she could gather herself because she already felt her knees trembling badly. Finally, the vibrating stopped, and a hissing sound was heard from behind them, which she guessed was the door opening automatically. Neon punched a few buttons here and there before shifting the gear on the steering wheel, and stood up, facing the others.

("Let's go, guys.")

They all nodded.

They exited the ship to see that Adamantine's dropship was still cloaked, and Heather thought that was a good idea, because as she was walking down the ramp, she could see a few Ghosts on the street if she stared hard enough. Then out of the blue, she thought of something...

"Oh, my arm!" She looked at it and flailed it around, realizing finally that she could move it.

("Yeah, it's as good as new. I'm surprised you handled it so well, since we thought it might injure you even further.") Bleeder spoke, right behind her. She flinched.

"...Thanks..." She chuckled nervously. She rubbed her arm where a nasty scar was left, and her torn shirt sleeve, unable to believe that it healed so quickly.

("Hey! Adamantine! Are you in there or what?") She heard Grinder bark as he knocked heavily on what she imagined was the door to the ship.

In that second, the ramp flew open (nearly crushing Grinder in its wake), and out stomped a rather...tall white Yautja. So this was Adamantine in person. Heather's eyes widened; on the computer screen, she looked like she'd be about Bleeder's height. Hah, boy did she prove the human wrong.

("Of course I'm in here you metal-head. This is my ship, you know.") She spoke, placing her hands on her hips and glowering down on Grinder, who was on the ground cowering in fear of the female, as she gave off a rather dominating look over the bigger Yautja.

("Right, right. Sorry. Just didn't think you heard us.") He said, trying to get up without the white Yautja kicking him over the ass.

("Sure you didn't.") She rolled her blue eyes.

("Gkaun-yte, long time no see, mei-jadhi.") Heather heard Razor pipe from behind her, immediately causing her to blush, not realizing he was that close without her knowing it.

("Mei-hswei!") Adamantine trilled excitedly, running up to Razor and embracing him. ("I've missed you big brother, we all have.") She said, running her fingers through his rubbery hair.

("Likewise.")

Heather stared in disbelief. Razor came a little bit below the female Yautja's shoulders, and she was calling him 'big brother'? "...B-big brother?" She stammered out.

Adamantine cackled. ("Female Yautja are always taller than the males.") She said smugly.

("Don't get too cocky.") Razor grumbled.

("Hey! What about us?") Neon waved at them and Adamantine let out another laugh, as she approached them.

("Of course, I couldn't forget you two.") She said as she gave them a quick hug.

("And me?") Grinder coughed to try and grab her attention.

("Ah, yes.") She turned around to face him, giving him the sweetest expression she could without twisting it with irritation. She was failing badly. ("I don't think you're hard to forget.") She said. He grumbled back as she laughed again and slapped him on the shoulder.

Feeling left out, Heather shifted again in her place, but was enjoying the warm reuinion. She wished that she could have one all the same with her family but, well, that was a little impossible.

Almost as if they felt her thoughts, Razor was the first to turn and look at the human, and he nodded at her as if he was trying to say something. A thank you, maybe?

("Sister...") He whispered to the white Yautja as he held out a hand towards Heather's direction, which Adamantine quickly noticed.

("Oh, my.") She began, walking up to the girl. Once she approached her, she bowed as low as she could in front of Heather, and uncertain of what to do, she bowed back, but rose up to find Adamantine still bowed. ("You have my utmost gratitude, Kitten. I cannot thank you enough for what you have done.") She said softly.

She smiled. "Like I said, it's no problem. I was glad to have helped, it felt right." She said, nodding.

Adamantine rose back up. ("Yes, it is a problem.") She said, as Heather looked at her nervously. ("You are no doubt considered a dangerous criminal, now, that you've helped four male Yautjas escape from a high levelled security area.") Heather's face paled again.

She looked over at the four males, who all immediately took the 'guilty' expressions. ("C'jit...")

"You four!" She pointed at them as they jumped backwards, startled. "The hell did you tell her?! I've already helped you escape, I don't want people worrying about me now!" She demanded.

("We couldn't help it!") Bleeder defended.

("She would have skinned us if we didn't tell her what happened.") Grinder said, waving an arm.

("And I would have done it, too.") Adamantine stated coldly. They backed up further. ("But seriously, if there's any way we could help, then please let us know. We're forever in your debt, Kitten.") She pleaded. Heather's heart melted again.

"I-I don't want to trouble you. Really, just knowing you all are okay is good enough for me." She replied carefully.

("Give the female some weapons.")

They all flipped around quickly to see another figure exiting the cloaked ship. This one looked to be about in between Grinder and Adamantine's height, and as Heather could see, this was another male. His apparel looked more tribal, more around the rest of the clan's kind that Heather had seen. He had a slightly thinner build, but had fair muscles that would intimidate anyone. His skin was also a slight pale color, but it was a light greenish color, brown and black blurring around the edges of his skin, with a few spots here and there.

The cloth that was wrapped around his waist was brown, and had a deep gray plate over the front, discs were dangling from his belt as well as a very threatening whip on the right. He had armor on his shoulders, thighs, and the usual wrist computers that they all held, and his mask was slightly different from the others'; she could see spikes lining the ridges around the back of the front, and she could tell it had taken quite a beating, since she spotted a few claw marks on it.

One thing that caused her to shrink, was that his weapons looked far more threatening than the others'. He was sporting two of those plasmacasters, what the hell?

As soon as he came off the ship, he turned to them fully so she got a better view of him. Heather's eyes furrowed...he looked familiar to her.

("Father!") That was Razor.

("It's good to see you again after so long, my son.") The other said warmly.

Heather cocked her head slightly. This one sounded like a wise old man speaking, instead of the gruff and hyperactive voices the younger ones had. "So that's...?" She began. He did look familiar.

Wolf.

("Holy pauk, what mess has he been in since we last saw him?") Grinder blurted, eyeing the claw marks plastered on Wolf's mask.

("It is a long story.") Wolf spoke up, answering Grinder's question.

("Father?") He looked down to his son to see him looking at him questioningly, wondering about his previous statement.

Wolf looked up and saw Adamantine standing next to Heather, who was looking as nervous as ever, but managed to not lose herself too quickly. He took his hand and rested it on Razor's shoulder and patted it before walking past him and towards the young girl, her anxiousness rising with each footstep he took.

"Get a grip you block-head. You've been stuck with four boisterous male Yautjas and here you're tensing up over just one more? Well...the whip does look a little...intimidating...wait...I recognize that whip..." Heather thought. Something about that whip seemed familiar to her, though...almost like she'd seen it before.

As soon as he began to come into view, Heather could see him more clearly. This time, with each finishing step he took, she felt excitement rise up in her, her eyes growing wider by the second. Getting closer, she could see the details better: his skin, his outfit, and more importantly, that mask. She had seen him before, when she was just a kid. That whip, he was never without his whip. The clothing, back when she was little, he had on less armor, but this time there were a few more additions on said thighs and cloth around his waist. But the thing that struck her most was that mask; she could see a prayer engraved on the top of it. Actually, she never knew if it was a prayer or not, but she considered him a blessing back then in a terrible situation with her parents, and she always thought of him as that.

He'd saved her life once. How the hell could she have forgotten that?

She thought for a minute...either she had her brain wiped after the incident or she'd just forgotten. She thought harder, staring into the symbols on his mask. There was someone else with him, too. The girl was pale, short black hair with beads spread through it just like theirs, green eyes, and she wore the same type of Yautja armor that he had worn. She forgot her name, but she was there alright. She also remembered the older girl calling him something besides his own name, but she couldn't remember that either.

A pure coincidence, this was. Though...she thought of it as another word. One she couldn't quite put her finger on it.

("I see you've gone off into your own world again.") She heard Grinder smirk.

Heather shook her head and looked up at Wolf, who was now directly in front of her, his head tilted to the side and his arms dangling. Yep. This was her Wolf alright. That was his usual gesture.

("So, you're the one who rescued my son?") He asked curiously. It was more like a statement, to Heather's ears.

She nodded, but didn't answer verbally.

She then saw him jerk his head a bit, almost as if he came to realization with something, and he changed his position that showed he was slightly alarmed. He was staring directly at Heather, however. ("Don't I know you?") He asked. Another statement.

"Wolf? Is that really you?" She asked, her eyes were closed, now. Tears began to well up in her eyes, hoping that she wasn't dreaming, and if she was, she prayed it wouldn't turn into a nightmare.

She heard him chuckle. She refused to open her eyes just yet. What she couldn't see, though, was Wolf taking his hand and raising it to the tubes that connected to his mask, carefully yanking them from their sockets as a hissing sound spurted from them. He then placed his hands on each side of the mask and pulled forward, another hiss with a few beeping sounds came out, and he lowered it to reveal his face.

("Open your eyes, child, and then you'll remember.") He said, and that surprised her quickly.

His words caused her eyes to snap open, and she looked up at him to see the same face she saw all those years ago, except there was something new...half of the left side of his face seemed burned off, and it looked absolutely terrible. She gasped and held a hand to her mouth, shocked by the new mark.

"W-Wolf?" She tried to speak.

("Ah, so you remember.") He said, chuckling again. ("You've grown a lot since I last saw you, little one.") He said, looking at her with as much sincerity that he had.

"Oh, jeez..." She sobbed, lunging forward and latching her arms around his waist.

This time, he let out a full laugh and returned the gesture, rubbing the back of her head comfortingly. ("What a peculiar turn of events that brought you back here, little R'ka.")

R'ka. That, she remembered almost. She'd thought her father gave her that nickname, since he was always one to come up with odd little names for her, being the oddball that he was. But she'd forgotten about Wolf and the human girl around age nine, so she didn't think much of it. What did it mean, again? She pressed further into her memories, trying as hard as ever to push through the fog. Did it have something to do with elements? She knew that much, but which element was it? Fire, probably, since she was a hyperactive little twerp when she was little, and she loved playing with fire when her mother scolded her not to do so.

She started remembering it all. "How did--when did you--" She began, but simply couldn't find the words.

("A lot has happened since I last saw you, believe me.") He said.

Adamantine stared at the scene, and was quite confused, but she found it sweet, nonetheless. The four males, however, were quite taken aback, and like Adamantine, they were confused as hell. Grinder scratched his head, wondering what the pauk was going on, Bleeder curious as to why they were hugging, Neon questioning why Heather had acted like she'd known him forever, and Razor...who was slightly surprised...but not as much as the others.

Was this the girl that his father had told him and Adamantine about when he was out hunting on Earth? Razor was a youngling while Adamantine was only a pup, but he had mentioned once about him finding a young human child in the hands of that human warrior named Cassie, and he promptly took the girl into his own hands; the girl had been struck on her back, and she was bleeding to death. He'd saved the girl's life, but he said he'd had to leave her behind and return her to her own family.

He'd also mentioned that she didn't seem to be afraid of his face at all.

("Would anyone like to explain to me what the hell's going on, here?") Grinder muttered to them, knocking Razor from his thoughts.

("Wolf never mentioned being associated with an ooman before...let alone a female.") Bleeder replied. Razor shot him a look. ("Oh...well...except for--")

("He knew her when she was a child.") Razor quickly spoke, cutting Bleeder off.

("Oh.") Grinder chirped in realization. ("That explains the close proximity.") He said. Razor punched his arm.

"What happened to your face?" They began listening in again, hearing Heather speak up after catching her breath. She slammed a fist into her open hand and looked at him. "I swear I'll hunt down and kill whoever did that to you!" She snapped. The four jumped.

("No, no,") Wolf waved a hand. ("I was caught in battle with a few kainde amedhas, or as you oomans call them, Xenomorphs, and I got caught underneath an injured one, so the blood burned my face.") He said.

Heather's arms dropped, looking at him obliviously. "Xenomorphs?"

He laughed. ("I see you don't remember them quite yet.")

"And I've noticed you've been busy otherwise." She said, giving him that same annoying gesture of hers as she eyed Razor and turned back to Adamantine.

He then barked in laughter, harder than he did the few previous times. ("Yes. We're still searching for their mother, however...") He said, the last few words dying down to a nervous and worried tone.

"I heard." Heather replied, sadly. "If there's anything I can do to help, please let me know." She pleaded. Though, she paused when she realized what she said, Adamantine was grinning at her from behind.

Wolf snorted. ("Flip the words around and it just might work.")

Heather blushed and placed her hands behind her back, trailing her foot in circles shyly. "I'd just be a bother."

("You weren't a bother back then, and you won't be, now.") He said as he leaned in and formed his mandibles into a grin. ("I know you too well, R'ka. You need something, I can tell by just looking at your expression.")

She smiled, but bit her lip. "I need a goddamn place to run off to so my ass won't get shot." She thought bluntly. "Maybe I do..." She began, a spark of hope lighting up in each one of their eyes. "...but I can't think of a single thing right now." Then they rolled their eyes.

Knowing that the argument couldn't go on forever, Wolf nodded and placed a hand on his hip, looking down at the tense human. ("Alright.") He finally said. Heather squealed excitedly in her mind, thankful that they wouldn't try to burden themselves with her. ("But know this: you rescued my son and his comrades, if not for you, he would most possibly be dead by now.") He said. Heather already knew that. She was becoming overwhelmed with a soft feeling that these giant creatures could be so sincere and kind. ("If you ever need anything, no matter how stupid or urgent it may be, you may let us know and we will try to help you as best as we can. And I mean it.") He said, looking at her seriously with his last few words.

Heather nodded. "I may not have been happy to help at the time, but I just couldn't stand realizing that they were actually torturing your kind in there. It's inhuman to do such a thing." She said as they nodded, agreeing.

("Well, I suppose we should be getting ready to depart.") Adamantine spoke up. She walked up to Heather and placed her hands on her shoulders, looking at her warmly. ("As my father said, if you need anything, let us know. And thank you, again.") She said before bowing to her, which Heather replied to with the same gesture.

After that, the female Yautja waved to her and walked back to the ramp, growling at Grinder as she passed him, as he cowered over her. ("Say your goodbyes. Once we leave here we will continue our search for Kelly.") Wolf spoke up, regaining their attention.

Heather raised an eyebrow. Kelly? That was an odd name for one of their kind.

As Wolf turned back to Heather, he retrieved his mask and placed it back on his face, hooking the tubes back into their appropriate places, and looked down at her one final time. ("It was good to see you again after all these years.") He said.

She smiled. "Likewise. I have to admit...I slightly forgot everything...but then you..." She bit her lip while receiving a comforting pat on the cheek.

("You were young. I'm not surprised that you forgot.") He said. ("And take this. Use it to contact us if you need to.") He said, handing her a small device that looked like a metal wristband. She took it and thanked him, pressing it onto her wrist and looked back up. ("We will meet again, young one.")

She locked her arms around his waist once more and hugged him tightly, to which he responded in the same once again, and pulled away to step back. "I hope so." She said. "Take care, and I hope you find her..." She said. "Let me know if I can help you on your search."

He nodded. ("We will. Farewell, R'ka.") He saluted her.

Another gesture she loved when she was little. No one ever knew why she liked it, but she used it all the time.

She smiled widely and saluted back. "Goodbye."

He left and followed his daughter into the ship, which left her with the four brutes she'd given up everything for. She sighed and walked over to them, and they all gave her approving pats on the back and shoulder.

("We owe you one, kid.") Grinder said.

("Better make it four.") Neon said. ("She saved all four of our asses.") Grinder shrugged.

"You're welcome." She laughed. "Just one thing..." She said, and they listened eagerly. "...try not to get your stupid asses caught again, or next time it won't be me experimenting on you and you'll be screwed, understand?" She said and they chuckled, understanding completely.

The last thing they wanted was to get caught in that place again. She was nice enough to even speak a single word to them. Everyone else cursed and taunted them, let alone asked questions that they wouldn't dare answer.

"Oh...and thank you for taking care of my arm." She laughed nervously.

("You would've died if we didn't. But you're welcome anyway.") Grinder said.

"You guys take care, you hear? And let me know when you find your mother. I'd like to know if you're doing alright." Heather looked over to Razor this time, who, surprisingly, didn't have his gaze averted from hers.

("We will. You let us know if you get your own rear in trouble.") Grinder snorted.

("GRINDER! NEON!") They all jumped at the shout, turning to see Adamantine glaring at them. ("Get your big asses in here! We're heading back to the mother ship!")

("Gotta go. See ya!") Grinder and Neon said and waved at her, scampering over to the ramp and avoiding the raging female as they entered the ship.

("I think I'll follow suit so she doesn't crush me like a bug.") Bleeder laughed nervously and waved to Heather before running off to follow the two.

Which left her alone with Razor. Which, as he had stated earlier, made her insides churn. Not out of disgust, no. This time she was nervous. She hadn't wondered how she'd act if they tried interacting with each other directly again. Growing uncomfortable of the usual silence, she was the first to speak.

"Who in the world would've thought that Wolf would be your father." She stated.

("He's mentioned you before.") He replied. Heather looked at him. ("When I was a youngling, he mentioned that he'd rescued a young ooman child from death, but left her in the care of her parents in the end.")

Heather's eyes softened and she hugged herself. "Ironic, huh?" She said, but didn't see him nod. "Look...I'm sorry about earlier...I was just concerned." She said carefully and quietly.

("I already told you not to be sorry. I shouldn't have exploded like that. I'm just not used to speaking so openly about events such as those. They were painful memories.") He said.

"It's alright, I understand." She said, looking up at him this time.

("...I should go before Adamantine tramples me, too.") He said rather calmly.

Heather nodded. "You take care of yourself."

("You too.")

Silence stretched again, and Heather broke it by holding out her arms and looking at him shyly. "A goodbye hug?" She said.

He stared at her for a minute, but laughed and shook his head, accepting her offer. ("You're still an--")

"--An idiot, I know. I've known that for years, now." She smirked.

Again, Heather felt that irritating silence stretch on as she stood there cradling his waist in her arms, while he patted her back as the others did. She really wished they wouldn't leave...but that wasn't an option, to her.

("Thank you, again.") He said, she was thankful that he broke the silence.

"Yes. You're all welcome." She snorted. "I wish we had time to set the others free..." She said sadly, thinking of all the other Yautjas that they'd left behind in that horrid building.

("You were curious about my mother...") He said, and she became curious about his comment. ("...she was ooman.")

Heather's eyes snapped open and she pulled away to look at him, trying her best to see his eyes through that mask of his. Before she realized it, the two of them had stopped embracing and he saluted her as his father did a few moments ago.

("Goodbye.") And he walked off.

"Goodbye." She murmured.

The ship was still cloaked, but she managed to see the door slide up and lock, while she heard the engines start up, as she backed up and gave them room for liftoff. The rocketing sound of the engines bursting out was heard, while she saw the ship reposition itself, and with that, they blasted off. Heather was left alone on the building, watching them vanish into the sky until she couldn't see them any further.

Wondering what she should do now, she heaved a sigh and began walking over to the ship she'd been left with, stopping midway to look down at the streets below her. Thankfully, the Serviteurs and Dead Men had been taken down by the Riot Squad a few hours ago, and the streets were returning to normal. She looked up at the sky and saw that in another hour or two, it would be dark, and she decided that she would most likely not want to be out in the open while it was dark.

Neonopolis was just as dangerous at night as it was during the day. Heather just had to find a safe place to stay to prevent herself from getting killed. She also wondered how long it would be before she'd get caught. No...she paused. Wolf had given her a smaller wrist computer that could give her access to help at any time; they said they'd help her at any moment, right? She kept that in mind. She would need all the help she could get if she were to get in trouble.

She had to think of a plan now, or she'll be screwed. Heaving another sigh, she left the rooftop and entered the ship, to think of a place to go. She knew of one place, but she still remembered to keep herself ready.

And with that, Heather flew off.

A/N: geez. the last bit was hard to do, for some reason lol. anyhow, what's gonna happen to Heather? o.o and before you all throw stones at me, this is NOT how it's going to end, okays? keep your fingers crossed XD most of you are probably weirded out at the new pairing mentioned in this chapter. while watching AVPR, i thought 'meh. Kelly's husband sucked anyway.' and my mind turned into a whirlwind. that's me for you, really weird pairings. (t'was funny 'cause Wolf and Kelly didn't even interact with each other) anyhow, i'm off to work on a few of my other fanfictions, since they need some severe updating. 'till next time!

translations:

pauk: expletive; fuck.

R'ka: fire element

Gkaun-yte: greeting; hello

mei-jadhi: sister

Mei-hswei: brother