Ah, what the hell.
Here's another one.
Enjoy.
Nova had been wrong.
Her body was so abused by the time she and Gaun stumbled into the eatery that night... she was actually numb. She feared sitting down to eat, because once her body had time to relax it would hurt all the more when she decided to move again.
In principle her first day of training was simple. Consisting of sit ups, push ups, and general exercising, but if you throw Duh into the mix you have hell. The crazed female had them do a hundred of every exercise, snarling and growling while they did it. The phrases 'feel it BURN!', 'show me some strength!','that was pathetic', and 'DO NOT WHINE!' were burned permanently into her mind.
Nova had been ruined after the six hours of all the hundreds, a hundred sit ups, a hundred crunches. It was only then (when Nova felt as stable as a new born kitten) that Duh dragged her and Gaun to an ocean sized swimming pool, threw both of them in, and told them to tread water for an hour. She went under the water several times, only to be pulled up by her oddly happy father. Who seemed to be dealing with the harsh treatment far better than she did.
He had only spoken to her once during their torture and it was when she was ready to give up entirely. Say 'fuck it' to her friendship with Duh and quit this training. The bitch was probably going to put them in a shark tank for their next lesson anyway. Her father must have picked up on her thoughts somehow, because he turned to her, bobbing up and down as they tread water.
"We will be truly be warriors when when come out of this training, Daughter. It has always been my goal in life to be an honored warrior, but my life goal has changed today..."
Nova thought for sure that he was going to say something about staying alive, or having more children, something that didn't involve this seven levels of hell training.
"Now it is to become an honored warrior beside you."
Nova probably would have gotten all teary if she wasn't so preoccupied in keeping her head above water. She didn't have the energy to respond to him either, but the sentimental bastard had done something with his confession, and that was make sure she would not be quitting this training.
Maybe Nova had a little bit of a daddy complex, because now she wanted him to be proud of her.
Quitting had just been made impossible.
"Stand straight, Daughter," her father whispered to her, bringing her thoughts back to the present, "If you can,... show no weakness to those you don't trust. This society is harsh, show weakness and you will be challenged."
It took control she didn't know she possessed to do as her father said. Standing straight, and not limping as she crossed the floor to the family table.
"Thanks for reminding me, Dad," she discreetly whispered back to Gaun as they found their seats.
She was pleased to find Ti'kon was waiting for her. He automatically drew his seat back from the table to make room for her on his lap when he saw her approach.
'Trained already, after one night of sex'
Nova smiled to herself and crawled onto the offered seat. Practically melting back into Ti'kon's hard body, as his body heat hit her abused muscles. She was half tempted to tell him to purr, then he could be her personal massage chair... with handy attachments.
Nova vaguely noted that Gaun also sat towards the head of the table without her having to ask him. Another victory in her fathers self-worth battle.
"How was your first day of training, Mate?"
"Talk later. Feed me," She grunted.
"I believe that was code for 'Excruciating', Brother," Kin'varn snickered, as he lent across the table. "You had to pick the hardest task master to train your Life-Mate didn't you?"
"I was under the impression that Thwei'duh and Little-Knife were friends, Brother. She was a logical choice of teacher," Ti'kon snarked back.
'Not so much friends after today. It's more of a slave and master relationship now'
"A 'logical choice' if you want an unconscious Mate every night after training. My Little Sister would have fared just as well under the normal training that Young-Bloods receive. But of course you can't handle the thought of her being around Males that aren't family members."
"Why is there no food in my mouth?" Nova said before Ti'kon could explode at his brother. She could feel him tensing behind her, a low growl forming in his chest.
Reminding him of his 'duties' worked. Ti'kon pulled his food laden plate closer to her so she didn't even have to reach for it. Nova selected something green that she was sure she had eaten before and found pleasant, but it never reach her mouth as a Hard-Meat's skull was suddenly slammed onto the table in front of her.
Nova startled dropping the green thing to the floor. All she could do was stare at the freakishly elongated skull, not entirely sure why it was in front of her. All gleaming white, and staring straight back at her with sightless eyes.
"As you are the first student I have ever taken on," Duh declared, breaking her staring contest with the dead thing to look at the towering female carrying a plate of food, "I have decided to honor the occasion by gifting you with one of my trophies to claim as your own."
'Oh, shit. I've read about trophy gifting. It's really important... what am supposed to say again?'
"Umm, I am honored by such a gift...and I am also honored that you think me worthy...of such a gift"
'That's close enough right?'
She realized that the table had gone silent, and everyone was looking at her and Duh. The problem was that Duh was still looking at her expectantly.
"You were supposed to clasp her shoulder as you said that, Mate," Ti'kon whispered, as the silence wore on.
Nova was out of his lap in seconds, only to encounter another problem. The other female's notable height, and the fact that her shoulder was not an easy thing to reach.
Duh snorted down at her as she awkwardly stood there.
"Do you honestly think that I care this much about ceremony, Sister? Although, I did enjoy the look on your face as you tried to recall the proper response. Sit back down on your worthless Male. A gift is a gift, no more, no less."
With that said Duh parked her ass on a chair right next to her and Ti'kon, and started to eat like she always sat there for dinner. Nova wearily crawled back into her husband's lap. The whole table was eyeballing its newest member.
"Um-," was all she could get out in question before the other female spoke.
"I have no family on this ship," Duh said like that explained everything to the silent table of aliens.
And it must have, because everyone started to relax and talk amongst themselves while Nova was still confused.
"Thwei'duh has decided to sit at our family table as she has none here," Ti'kon explained, "Normally one would have to ask for permission first, but seeing as Thwei'duh is an honored-warrior she is honoring us in her choosing to sit here."
"Oh," was all Nova could think to say.
Table arrangements had not been mentioned in the books she had read. Most of the stuff had been about hunting rights and not table etiquette. There really needed to be a book about this stuff. The only thing she didn't have to worry about was what fork to eat with as there were no forks, or spoons...there were knives, but none that you could really eat with unless you were willing to live with half a face.
With that thought Nova turned back to her plate of food, and selected a piece of meat this time.
"TWINS!"
Nova dropped the meat.
You would think that hearing English wouldn't shock her so much, but it really did. Her native language was foreign now, which was really saying something about her family ties these days.
Lex materialized out of throng of alien bodies and made her way towards Nova's table, a fully armored Yautja following closely on her heals. Nova didn't feel so jealous about Lex's alien cherry being popped first anymore, considering that the male glued to her was only the size of K'on. Of course it would be easier for those two to fit together. Nova had taken on something much larger then the other human.
'Wow, never thought I would be proud about being looser then another woman.'
"Twins. Two of them. Little, tiny, peanut sized, twins!"
Now Nova knew that the human custom of such news required squealing... and perhaps some jumping up and down as you held the others hands, but she was far too fucked for such enthusiasm so instead she said...
"Congratulations, have fun pushing both of them out when the time comes."
Lex snorted and smiled. Somehow managing to look less thrilled with her condition at the same time.
"Yeah, the doctor said I would need to be hospitalized towards the end of the pregnancy, and that they may have to operate. Did you know that a Yautja pregnancy lasts for sixteen months?...so they have no idea when I'll go into labor."
Nova assumed she wasn't meant to answer that question because Lex didn't wait for an answer.
"This is Yeyinde by the way," she indicated the Male trying to cage her in so that the rest of the room couldn't see his pregnant woman. Lex was frowning at the odd behavior, "He hasn't taken his mask off since I told him I was pregnant."
"You know I like to watch their progress, Mate," A deep voice came from behind the layer of shiny metal.
"Yeah, but you don't need to 'observe' every second of their 'progress'," Lex snapped.
"Hello Yeyinde," Nova cut in before an inter species domestic dispute could break out, "This is Ti'kon, Kin'varn, K'on, Gaun, Thewi-duh," Nova introduced all the aliens she actually knew who were present, "and I'm No-ah... Little Knife."
Yeyinde and Lex nodded to everyone she indicated.
"I have been meaning to introduce myself before now, considering our similar circumstances," Yeyinde offered in greeting to the table, mainly because she had no idea where the Male was actually looking, "But I have been quite busy of late," now he was definitely looking at Lex for that comment, "I would be honored if we could sit at your table and share a meal?"
Nova wondered why everyone was suddenly looking at her... again, she couldn't help rolling her eyes at the silence that was as pregnant as Lex.
"What am I not remembering now?"
This was exasperating.
"You are the only female at the head of this family, Mate. It is up to you who can sit at the table. If Kin'varn had a Mate you would have to share the decision with her, but he does not, so it is your choice," Ti'kon explained patiently.
"You need to write me a pamphlet or something about this stuff, Big Guy," she grouched, waving a hand at the expecting couple, "Yeah, whatever. Sit down. It would be an honor an' stuff."
Thewi-duh snorted into her meal, as Lex gave her a raised eyebrow.
"So eloquent," Lex dead-paned.
"You try being eloquent after doing a hundred sit ups. Sit your pregnant ass down, Bitch," Nova snapped, trying hard not to grin at the other human.
"Sit your ass down," Lex sniped back in the worst Australian accent Nova had ever been subjected to.
She ignored the jab at her nationality however, as Lex and her Male actually did what she told them to. Sitting down next to her father and opposite to Thwei'duh. With that done Nova grabbed her plate before anything else could be said, and stuffed her tired face full of the food Ti'kon offered her. She didn't know how it happened between handfuls of food, but soon her and Lex were having an in depth conversation about Yautja toilets, and how they both managed to come up with the same way of using them.
She was also told that Lex was causing quite a stir with her conception of twins. According to the Medics the possibility of a Yautja egg splitting was virtually zero, add to that the fact that a human was carrying them, and apparently the green robed aliens were crawling over themselves to get a look at Lex. It probably didn't help that all the Medics were only starting to understand the Human body with the clearance of the new law being passed. Apparently getting knocked up had given Lex a celebrity status on the ship... and according to gossip, the home world as well.
Nova was imagining the agony of giving birth to one Yautja sized baby when she caught a glimpse of gold and white, sitting by it's self over in the far corner of the dining hall.
"MOBY!," Nova called to him, not bothering to wave him down as her arms were too sore for that.
"MOBY, COME OVER HERE!"
That got the Male's attention, along with all of the table and most of the room. He was clearly stalling as he stood and moved over to her table, apprehension leaking from his every move. This must have been the night for uncomfortable silences, because Nova had just created a new one. She could feel Ti'kon tensing behind her, and suddenly his talons were gripping at her waist. Which wasn't a particularly good sign, but she had already called Moby over and she wasn't sending him away after that. It would be embarrassing for the Male, and it was clear he had pride issues like her Dad.
Upon reaching the table he simply stood there, moving his considerable weight from foot to foot.
"You wished for my presence, Little Knife," he said, breaking the deafening silence.
Ti'kon actually growled behind her, she elbowed him to stop the noise. She had a feeling that Moby addressing her so familiarly had set off the Big Guy's jealous streak.
"Yes!," Nova said a bit louder then necessary to cover up her husband's growl, "I was wondering if you would like to sit with us? The table you were at didn't look like much fun."
Nova had no idea what a panicked Yautja looked like until she had said that. Moby was officially freaking out, his skin looking more green and less white the it did before.
"It would not be wise-," was all he got out before a stern voice cut into the exchange.
"I Believe the Female just bestowed an honor onto you, U'darahje. I suggest you take it before I make you," Duh hissed.
The Male practically jackknifed at her voice, turning to face the female not with fear, like one would expect when being hissed at by Duh, but with surprise.
"Thwei'duh!," he exclaimed, "I had no,...it's been-"
"Several years since we last met. I am aware of this. Now sit down, or do you not want to hear the news I have about our son?"
'Fuckin' what?'
Nova was glad that everyone looked shocked at this little tid-bit and not just her. Had Duh just dropped a taboo bomb? Because all the slack mandibles at the table were indicating that something along those lines was happening.
"I thought-I thought we agreed that...," Moby stammered.
"That we would keep our son's parentage a secret, so as not to dishonor him," Duh looked as cool as a cucumber saying this, all Matter-of-fact, "Seeing as Mar'cte has recently become an Honored-Warrior, I think his reputation can more then take the blow of you being related to him."
Nova had to repress a snort as her translator turned Mar'cte into 'Killer'. Duh had definitely been the one to name the kid. She wondered if she should tell the female that it was a popular name for dogs on Earth... probably not.
"Male," Duh continued, "I strongly suggest that you thank my Sister, Little Knife, for just raising your status in the Clan with her offer to join us. I also suggest that you thank me for aiding her cause, because I was quite content with Mar'cte not knowing who his father was until now."
'Well fuck me, did Duh just out herself so that my reputation remained the same?'
"Yes, of course. Thank you, thank both of you for your generosity."
Moby looked dazed as he took a seat at the table next to Lex. Who was staring at him with undisguised awe, a lot like Nova had done when she had first seen him.
"I have to thank you as well, Sister," a voice whispered into her ear.
Nova turned to find Kin'varn only inches from her face.
"What the hell for?" Nova asked, already knowing that it was going to be some smart-ass comment.
"For providing me with entertainment to go with my meal."
Remember the code *ominous voice*