Dachande watched from the control panels set up in his room as Vk'leita's smaller ship left the docking bay and sped off into the vast expanse of space.

He wasn't sure it was smart of Vk'leita to leave his mate at this time, considering the state she was in. She was taking the loss of her chicken pretty hard. Vk'leita, however, after a day and a half of the creature's passing, had insisted that he had a personal mission he needed to fulfill and that he'd be back. Dachande didn't know what this personal mission was or why it took place over comforting his mate, but he didn't press for details and he gave Vk'leita his full pardon to leave on such short notice. Helena would probably be mad at him again for letting him leave, and mad at Vk'leita too for running away after they had just reached a fragile understanding of each other. It couldn't be helped though. Vk'leita was insistant that this task of his was important.

Dachande sighed deep in his throat and turned his mind to other issues.

The council of Ancients had apparently come to a decision in Dachande's absence. The final verdict for his application to lead a ship of blooded warriors only had been decided. Thanks to Kal'drag-ne's heavy intervention and explanation of how Dachande's decision with the oomans had all been part of Paya's plan, the ancients had pardoned his otherwise unorthodox decision and deemed him responsible enough to lead the ship. Even with his, now that he thought about it, foolish outburst of declaring that he wouldn't be leading a new ship either. He now had two months to come back to their home planet and fill out the necessary documents and contracts he'd need in order to take possession of a new ship and establish his new rank. After that he could take his time to send out the notices to the members of his clan that positions on his ship were open. He'd need yautja who knew how to work the finer details of a ship as well. Governing a mothership full of blooded hunters was not a task he could do alone.

On top of that fact, there was the issue of who the first hunters would be.

When a new mothership of blooded hunters is established, the leader of that ship must invite the blooded hunters to come and join the crew. The first ones invited received the highest honor of the invite, as it shows who the leader trusts the most out of all other hunters. Dachande had received this honor of being the first invited many times when he was younger and before he had become a teacher himself. He had turned them down in favor of his personal goal of being a leader of a ship himself.

Dachande clenched his mandibles together tightly.

He already knew who he was going to invite first. Three of them, anyway. Vk'leita was a trusted second in command. Despite his challenges of Dachande's authority in the past, he was still reliable to get the task done. Dachande also knew that Vk'leita was quickly tiring of dealing with unblooded students, just like he was. The urge to be with those of their own age and skill level was strong. It made dealing with the immature unbloodeds irritating most of the time.
With Vk'leita came Helena. Dachande knew he was going to bring her along the moment he had blooded her and she had accepted to be a part of his clan and ship crew. He had marked her when she was ooman and he had fully intended to take responsibility for her from that point onward. The fact that she was the intended mate of his second in command just made everything fall into place perfectly, despite their hard time of accepting their mate status to each other. . .well, Helena's hard time, anyway.

Machiko, on the other hand, was going to be a problem.

Dachande had fully intended to take her along, just like he had with Helena. Machiko's mate, however, was not yet blooded. Dachande could not take him along, despite his bhu'ja jehdin status with Machiko. He had to pass his Chiva above everything else. Courting his intended mate had to be second to proving his success at being an acknowledged adult, no matter how painful it was to put her behind. Lar'nix'va's small size made it doubly important that he prove himself to the clan and to his mate-to-be.
Dachande didn't know if the separation would be good for them. He knew he was taking Machiko along, no matter what. Despite the bond she and Lar'nix'va have to learn to build together, Dachande had seen that the bond already established between Machiko and Helena had to be maintained. Those two kept each other sane in a world that was not their own. Now their unique situation made them rely on each other even more. Dachande would not be so cruel to leave Machiko behind just so she could wait on Lar'nix'va to be ready for her.

But could they live with being separated? Dachande knew that Machiko could go on just fine, but Lar'nix'va. . .there was more at stake for him.

Dachande let out another aggravated sigh. He had to admit one stereotype about oomans was true, at least. They made everything more complicated than it needed to be. Apparently indirectly as well.

Dachande still cared for those two anyway.

Machiko watched from the corner of her eye as Helena stayed slumped against a wall, arms crossed and staring at the floor with a blank look in her eyes.

After Cluck's death, Helena had shut herself up in her room, not letting anyone in for over a day and a half. Machiko had stayed silently by her door the entire time, worried over her friend. Machiko had also noticed, with no small amount of personal amusement, how Topknot had stayed by her door as well. The yautja didn't seem to notice Machiko's presence as he paced back and forth in front of her door, looking back at it every now and then and opening his mandibles wide for several seconds before closing them and going back to pacing. Machiko had realized after the third time he had done this that Topknot was trying to catch Helena's scent through the door and gauge her physical wellbeing. Maybe her emotional wellbeing as well. It seemed that the door was too thick to let any of Helena's scent through, for he grew more agitated and worried with every failed attempt he made.

Machiko admitted that she found some sick pleasure at seeing this side of him. She hadn't fully forgiven him of his treatment towards her, especially his treatment towards Helena. She knew through secondhand sources that he was trying to repent of his wrongdoings towards Helena, but she had never seen it in action herself. Seeing Topknot this beat up and worried over Helena brought her some self satisfaction that he was finally getting his just desserts.

When Helena finally emerged, Topknot was the first to get to her, despite Machiko's attempts to get past him.

Machiko watched with shock as Topknot wrapped his arms around Helena's hips and held her close, despite his head only being level with her breasts. He looked up at her and the two shared a look before Helena looked past him and spotted Machiko. Helena sent her an apologetic frown before speaking. "Do you mind if I talk to him alone for a minute?" She gently asked. Machiko, despite wanting to talk to her friend first, nodded her head and turned around. "I'll go get you some breakfast." She declared and left.

When she next came back, Topknot was gone and Helena was waiting by the doorway, looking a little lost in thought.

Machiko approached her and Helena finally blinked herself out of her daze when her friend drew close. "I snuck you some of that fruit you like." Machiko declared, handing over a fruit shaped like a cartoonish spiked ball. Helena gave her a weak smile before taking the fruit. "Thanks." She quietly clicked before peeling the rind away and taking a bite. Machiko unpeeled her own as well and took a bite, both of them eating in silence and finishing before Machiko asked her question.

"How are you feeling?" She asked softly.

Helena sent her another weak smile in an attempt to reassure her before answering. "Well, honestly, not good. . .I know it probably seems stupid for me to react this strongly over a chicken, but well. . .I raised that chicken from an egg. It was also one of the only things I had left from my human life." Helena made a show of looking back into her room for emphasis before continuing. "I sort of, maybe, trashed everything else."

"Think Dachande will let you go back to earth to get another one?" Machiko asked out of curiosity.

Helena shrugged and looked at the floor. "I don't think I could handle another one at the moment. Especially not one that I didn't raise myself. And breaking into an IFA store just to get all of the supplies I would need to raise a chick to a full grown chicken would be more hassle than it's worth. . .I think I'll be staying away from pets for now. . ."

Machiko silently nodded, and quickly thought about something else to talk about.

"What were you and Topknot talking about?" She asked curiously. Helena shrugged and leaned against a wall as well. "The same thing really. He asked me the same things you did. He also asked me why I shut him out for so long. I told him that since males are physically affected by females crying, I didn't want him getting hurt around me." Helena rubbed the back of her neck sheepishly. "Sorry that I didn't let you in though. I didn't really want to talk with anyone." "That's alright." Machiko dismissed the apology. "Topknot was with me the entire time anyway. If you had opened the door for me, he would have come in as well." Helena rose an eyebrow at her. "You and Topknot. . .were outside my door this entire time?"
Now it was Machiko's turn to act sheepish as she nodded her head. "Sei-i, we were. Sorry If that sounds stalkerish, but I was kind of worried that you, well. . .that you might end up doing something stupid. . .you know, since a lot's been going on lately and I thought maybe this would have tipped you over the edge-" "It's alright." Helena interrupted her. "Thank you for caring Machiko, really. I understand where you're coming from. It's also not stalkerish at all, trust me. I'm glad you were looking out for me."

Helena opened her arms up for a hug and Machiko gladly embraced her. They remained in a hug for several minutes before Machiko finally broke away and looked sheepish again.

"Well, um, now that I know you're alright, I. . .the doctors told me that Shorty should be waking up any time soon, so I. . .Well I-" She paused her rambling as Helena grinned at her. "Want me to come with you?" She offered. Machiki took a sigh of relief and nodded. "Sei-i, please do! It gets so awkward in there on my own."

Helena let out a genuine chuckle before the pair of them left her doorway and made their way to the medic hall.

Dachande had intercepted them before they could get through the door to Shorty's room.

He looked like he had something urgent to tell them, so both stopped and waited for him to catch up. When he finally caught up, Dachande was relieved to find them both there. "I need to talk to you both." He announced right away. "One on one if you don't mind." Helena and Machiko shared a look before Machiko turned towards the door. "You first, I'm going to go see Shorty." Helena chuckled and waved her on before turning towards Dachande.

"What's up?" She asked.

Dachande ignored her weird choice of wording and decided to get straight to the point.

"I'm going to be leaving soon." He announced. At Helena's startled look, he continued on. "I am going to be the leader of a ship of blooded warriors. I would like you and Machiko to be the first ones to come with me."
Helena blinked in stunned shock several times before replying. "Wait, you're not going to be training students anymore?" Dachande shook his head at her before explaining. "In order to be the leader of a ship of blooded warriors, I needed to have several years of experience with training students first. The time has finally come for me to move on."

Helena frowned at him for a moment before asking her next question. ". . .Who else will be coming?"

Dachande didn't need to guess who else she wanted to know about. He smiled at her. "I will be inviting Vk'leita and Machiko as well." Dachande didn't miss the way her shoulders relaxed as soon as he said this. "They will have to accept the offer though." Helena nodded her head and squeezed her bottom mandibles together tightly before replying. "Well. . .if they accept it, then sei-i, I'll go with you."

Dachande gave her a knowing smile and rose an eyebrow at her teasingly. "They?" He asked. Dachande wanted to laugh at how her mandibles flushed green in a heated blush. "We're working things out between us. We're not mates yet." She replied defensively. Dachande shook his head and chuckled. "And yet, you already seek his presence for comfort." He softly said, not being harsh at all with this knowledge.

Helena's blush deepened and she looked away from him. "Like I said, we're working on it. We've made some progress already." Dachande simply laughed, mandibles clicking rapidly, and walked past her to get to Lar'nix'va's room. "I expect at least eight successful pups from you two!" He clicked over his shoulder at her and watched with amusement as her face took on a look of astonishment. "Hold on, when were we talking about having kids? And eight?! Dachande!"

Dachande refused to answer her and went into Lar'nix'va's room to talk to Machiko.

Machiko was sitting on the edge of Shorty's bed and watching him breath peacefully in his sleep when Dachande walked in.

Machiko had over-heard Dachande talking to Helena in the hallway and already knew what he was going to ask.
"Before you begin," Machiko started, stopping Dachande from opening his mouth. "When would we be leaving?"
Dachande's amused look returned as he took a seat opposite her and answered. "Not for a while. In two months, I will have to take this ship and return us all to our home world. Then I'll be finalizing all the things needed for my new ship. During that time, I will have to find a suitable replacement to take over this one for me. These pups will still need to have their training completed, and I cannot just drop them off at home for them to find a new tutor when I took on the responsibility for them in the first place. Finding someone who I will be proud to share the credit of training these pups with will take time."

Machiko nodded at this news and looked back at Shorty. Two months. Two months was plenty of time for him to wake up and for them to talk about things that needed to be discussed.

Machiko pierced her mandibles together and looked back at Dachande. "I noticed you didn't mention him when you were listing off who was coming along." She pointed out. Dachande nodded his head at her. "Sei-i, I didn't. I wouldn't be able to take him along even if I wanted to." Dachande leaned forward in his seat. "He is not yet blooded. He must complete his training here before I can invite him to join my ship of blooded hunters." He noticed the slightly sad look that Machiko's face had taken on and softly clicked at her. "I know you and him were just beginning to bond. . .Am I right to assume that you both have things to discuss with one another?" "Sei-i, we do. But the doctors told me that he'll be waking up soon. If we're not leaving for another two months, then him and I have time."

Dachande decided to ask what she meant by 'doctors' later and went on to a more pressing matter. "So. . .does that mean you'll join me on my ship?" Machiko looked down at Shorty one last time thoughtfully before looking back at Dachande.

"Sei-i. I'm coming with you."

Author's notes: Translation time!

-Ooman: Human

-Sei-i: Yes

-Bhu'ja Jehdin: Spirit Spar (Yautja equivalent of a 'soul mate'. It means "the one who will fight life by my side".)

-Chiva: Trial

(IMPORTANT NEWS!)

I have some announcements to make!

First off, Part two of this story is coming to a close soon. Maybe one or two more chapters left. Yes, there will be a part 3.

Second off, my life is about to get very busy in the next couple of weeks. Besides having work, I also start college soon. On top of that, I'm going to be taking dance classes outside of college. These things are definitely going to be taking up time, which will affect the rate I publish these chapters. I am going to try and make some sort of concrete schedule so I can make more consistent updates with this story while keeping up with everything else. I'm trying to get my life in order because honestly, it's kind of a wreck. It'll be hard to do since my work doesn't have a solid week to week schedule itself. So be fair warned, especially for the next couple of weeks, you might be getting slower chapter updates.

Third and final one. A friend and I have opened up a youtube channel and will be making content there fairly soon. We haven't posted anything yet, but when we do, I'll give you guys a link to the channel (Readers on Fanfiction. net, I'm just going to have to give you the channel name to look up since Fanfiction. net is a butt about posting links anywhere).
My friend and I plan to do the following:
-Read and Voice act fanfictions.
-Narrate our own written stories.
-Voice act webcomics.
-Whatever else we think we can squeeze in.

If any of these interest you, then consider checking us out when we finally have some content up for you to see. I should have more information for you all about this in the next chapter.

Bye for now!