Hidden lights on the floor and ceiling came to life, illuminating the interior of the ship. The slanted walls, grated floor, and arched ceiling were just as sleek and silver as the hull, not a blemish, smudge, or scratch in sight. Kara followed as the alien walked towards an open doorway just a few feet ahead of where the ramp closed, the patter of her shoes swallowed by the heavy thunk of his footsteps. They met a wall as they passed through, two halls curving out of sight on the left and right. Dhi'ki-de pressed a hidden panel in the center and the wall slid open, revealing a pedestal with a bunch of wires and tubes coming out of it. His helm hissed as he removed it, setting it in its place and painstakingly attaching all the cables for the homeostasis system. As he finished, multiple little rectangles began to jut out of the wall behind the pedestal. Kara watched in utter fascination as the alien removed all of his weapons (combi stick, shurikens, smart disk, net gun, whip, and plasmacaster) and placed them on the rectangles, the metal reforming to hold them properly with some mechanical magic she'd probably never understand. With everything stowed away, Dhi'ki-de turned and headed down the left hall, the weapons hold closing automatically behind them. Kara noticed only one door on their short walk around felt like the edge of the ship; she figured the center part must be where they slept or something, maybe more storage. At its end, the hall widened and morphed into the cockpit.
A huge, high-backed metal chair sat in front of the curved window she had noted earlier and a wide control panel covered in numerous red symbols, glowing pads with squiggly lines, buttons, and a semi-raised dome in the center. She glanced around the room and saw that there was nothing else exciting, just a little alcove off to the right that held a smaller control panel and chair. Distracted, Kara nearly ran into the alien when he stopped abruptly. She looked up to see him pointing at the smaller chair and inclining his head in its direction. Ok, I guess that's where I sit. Without waiting for her acknowledgment, Dhi'ki-de strode across the room and sat in the pilot seat, leaving her to scurry over and plop herself down in her little corner. She tucked her skulls and guitar case beneath the control panel as best as she could; hopefully, they wouldn't slide around on takeoff. With a wave of his hand, Dhi'ki-de brought the ship to life, sending a surge of red and blue light across the panels that made Kara gasp. The air around her was suddenly filled with floating schematics, symbols, shapes, diagrams, and other things she couldn't name. It was actually quite a beautiful sight. His species had obviously mastered haptic technology; his fingers swiped through images and fluttered over commands, everything controlled by the slightest of touch. She watched as he homed in on the dome, pushing a few floating buttons and sliding a few things around. Must be the steering wheel, she thought as the ship began to rumble beneath her. A quick check of her seat revealed that, to her horror, there were no seatbelts. Her grip around the Xeno tightened as she braced herself against the cool metal.
Fuck.
Dhi'ki-de finalized the launch sequence and pulled up a full-room scan of the area as the ship began to lift off the ground. Kara watched in frightened amazement as they rose above the red 3D trees surrounding the Colonial Marine's headquarters, feeling the rumbling increase as the thrusters rotated and began to propel them forwards. Everything was a blur of crimson as the ship began to pick up speed, the images beginning to shrink as they angled further up into the sky. Once they were clear of the landscape, Dhi'ki-de shut off the scanner, activated the ship's cloak, and prepared for the final push through the atmosphere. The rumbling turned into quaking as he increased the thrust. Kara's body clenched as she felt the g-force trying to meld her into her chair; it was like the most intense rollercoaster ride of her life. But then, almost as if someone flipped a switch, everything was still. The ship purred contently as it flew through the vast emptiness of space, away from Earth and its restricting law of gravity. Even though all she'd see is a wall, Kara looked behind her. She could see it in her mind's eye; a blue and green orb with swirling clouds and twinkling cities, gradually growing smaller and smaller as she sailed away on this alien ship. A fucked up world that was always on the brink of tearing itself apart. Her home. Or, at least, it used to be.
As soon as he had put some distance between him and the Ooman planet, the communicator began to beep incessantly with an emergency transmission request. Growling in annoyance, he patched through to the mothership.
"Dhi'ki-de, by the Gods, I have been attempting to reach you for days!" Kjuhte sounded about as relieved as he was furious. Dhi'ki-de's father must have been breathing down the poor hunter's neck.
"My apologies for the concern," he responded. "My helm was damaged in a kiande amedha hive purge and I was unable to repair the transponder myself."
He heard an inquisitive clicking on the other end. "Kiande amdeha… they were supposed to be removed from that world cycles ago. I presume you were successful in disposing them all?"
"Yes," he said, boring a reproachful glare at the pup the lou-dte kale clutched to her chest like a babe. "All threats were eliminated."
"Very good. I shall see you once you board." With that, Kjuhte disconnected, most likely going to hail his father to tell him that Dhi'ki-de was very much alive.
Tracing the transmission, he saw that the mothership wasn't too far off; one quick jump and they'd be there. His eyes scanned the air until he found what he needed, plucking the group of symbols from where they hovered and bringing them to the primary control hud. They spread out over the dome and automatically aligned themselves into the proper sequence; four rows of symbols that, once in place, split horizontally and separated. Outside, a glowing halo of energy formed beneath the ship's nose and shot forward into the oblivion. Where the halo disappeared, a seam flashed into existence, and it was as if a giant celestial hand reached through and literally tore apart the fabric of space. On the other side of the tear sat the Yautja mothership, slowly plodding along as she waited for her children to return. Their flying fortress. Their home away from home.
Through the gap their ship flew, the rift closing behind them with a rumble so gentle it would have barely caused a ripple on the surface of a stagnant lake. The docking sequence began automatically as they neared the underbelly of the mothership; their speed slowed, the ship spun itself around, and the thrusters angled them into the launch portal. Once inside, clamp-like mechanisms latched themselves onto the ship and started pulling them up through the launch passage, the quick increase of speed jarring Kara forward in her seat. Their ascension was quick; the deep mechanical whirring that had accompanied them faded as she both heard and felt them lock into place. A cold sweat encased her small body as Dhi'ki-de powered the ship down, making those stunning red and blue haptics blink out of existence.
Shit. We're here.
For a moment, she had the urge to curl into a ball and hide beneath the control panel. She was about to waltz into a ship full of monstrous, crab-faced alien warriors that seemed to enjoy killing a bit too much with a baby Xenomorph. Pretty sure not many would be too fond of her for that; if she wanted a chance of them both surviving this trip, she'd have to stick with this alien like a fly on shit. She hoped and prayed that this wouldn't turn out to be some horrid plan that involved cooking her and eating her for dinner… or worse.
For a split second, that same sensation she had experienced in Bedford's lab returned to her. It was ever so subtle, just a brief state of calm trickling through her veins, but it was enough to ease her increasing anxiety. The Xeno in her lap sat up straight and extended its neck, nuzzling her chin with its dome as it chose a word.
Protect.
Kara smirked at it and patted its head. "Alright little guy. You've got my back, I've got yours."
She bent down and gathered her things from beneath the control panel, boosting the Xeno up onto her shoulder as she stood so she could better carry the skulls. When she turned around, she ran face-first into her alien companion, a surprised yelp escaping from her.
Sheesh, he's quiet for a big guy.
Dhi'ki-de churred in amusement at the lou-dte kale's reactions, watching as her fright swiftly turned to mild annoyance. He extended his hand towards her, beckoning for the skulls. She gratefully handed them over, relieved to not have to lug them around the ship. She looked up at him, expectantly waiting for him to move, but he didn't budge. Instead, he grunted and pointed to the guitar case that was slung over her shoulder. Kara furrowed her brows in confusion but complied with his demands, shouldering off the case and placing the strap in his hand. With a twinkling of his dreadlocks, Dhi'ki-de spun and strode over to the back wall of the cockpit. Unlike the previous hold, this one automatically slid open when it sensed his approach. The sight of its contents stole Kara's breath and made her blood run cold.
An old familiar face was smiling at her from the depths of what was apparently a trophy display; those transparent teeth flashed menacingly beneath her regal dome as the socketless skull of the Queen was bathed in fluorescent white light. It bounced off of her now ivory exterior, creating a halo that gave her an almost angelic appearance. But Kara was not deceived; she knew how black and ruthless her majesty's soul was. Her fingers twitched as the icy fear in her veins turned to burning hatred. The Xeno on her shoulder shifted its weight as it prodded her subconscious.
Bad? It asked as they watched Dhi'ki-de place the two skulls on either side of the Queen, arranging it so that they were facing her with their heads slightly downturned. Bowing to their matriarch, ever loyal even in death. Kara gritted her teeth and sneered.
Yes. Very bad. Evil.
It seemed to understand, baring its teeth and hissing at the skulls, arching its tail defensively. Dhi'ki-de turned his head at the sound, seeing the lou-dte kale stiff with hatred and her pup snarling on her shoulder. Ah, perhaps he should have warned her somehow about the trophy she had yet to claim. It was apparent she wasn't expecting to see it. He would have given it to her back on the Ooman world, but, obviously, the plan had changed. No matter, she had seen it now, and it was hers. She will just have to get used to it.
After hanging her belongings below the Queen, he moved away from the hold, allowing it to close and tuck the skulls away out of sight, much to Kara's relief.
"Come," he growled, beckoning for Kara to follow as he headed for the exit. She quickly scampered up behind him, nearly losing the Xeno off her shoulder. She caught its ass in her hand behind her back, wincing slightly as its claws dug into her skin.
Here. She lifted one of its claws and pulled it around her head, placing it on her other shoulder.
Its tail looped itself around her waist twice, giving its back feet something to rest on. With its dome poking around her head, it looked like she had on a Xenomorph backpack.
Hold on tight. Stay low.
They made their way to the back of the ship, pausing for a moment at the archway before the onramp. Dhi'ki-de turned and held his hand up, palm facing her. The message was clear: stay here. You bet.
Leaving her behind, Dhi'ki-de walked forward, triggering the ramp and filling the ship with the hiss of fresh, filtered air. As the ramp landed on the floor with a thunk, Kara tried to peer over the lip as her alien friend descended into the mothership. All she saw was a grated grey floor with a long solid section in the middle and the top of another alien's head. She perked her ears, trying to hear their conversation, but all she could pick up was a mixture of guttural grumbling and clicking.
"Dhi'ki-de. I am thankful for your swift return," Kjuhte said, bowing his head in greeting.
The older hunter was without his armor, instead sporting more casual garments and decorative trophies around his neck. "Your hunt went quite well, yes?"
"Indeed. Much more eventful than I had expected."
Kjuhte chuckled to himself. "I would say so. It must have been a shock to find a kiande amedha hive on that planet. You returned with the spoils of the purge, yes?"
Dhi'ki-de winced slightly, still sore that none of the trophies in the hold were his. He turned his gaze back to the ship, barely catching eyes of the lou-dte kale peering over the head of the ramp.
"Not exactly."
Kara saw her companion jerk his head to the side, signaling for her to finally exit that damn ship. She straightened her back and rolled her shoulders, standing up as tall as she could; no better time to make an excellent first impression. With a deep breath, she walked down that ramp with as much confidence as she could, willing her legs to stop shaking. Entering the larger ship, she took a quick moment to glance around. The sleek metal walls and ceiling slanted upwards in a semi-trapezoid shape, and the room was filled with about twenty other ships sticking their asses out of the wall. Besides her, the Xeno, and the two other aliens, the hangar was void of life.
Speaking of the other alien, she got a closer look at him and saw that he was definitely older than her companion. Though his skin had once held patterns of deep greens and black, it was faded and dull, now the hue of a murky green-blue lake on a cloudy, grey day. The hairs on his face and brows were long and almost a dark, silvery grey, as were his dreadlocks, which were sporting bronze bands and small strands of ivory beads. His loincloth was much longer than her friend's, a darker brown, and it had a gold tribal-esk triangle design around the edge. No netting or armor, but he had lots of small bird and animal skulls strung into a belt and necklaces that hung low on his bare chest. Kara also noticed a marking on his large forehead. The skin was pale and faded with age, but it still stood out; an arch with three lines, short-long-short, descending beneath it like streams of rain. It almost looked like the alien had taken a knife or hot object and carved the symbol into its head. She glanced at her companion and saw that he had a marking on his head as well that she had not noticed previously. Not as nearly as faded as the other alien, but not fresh either. It was like a vertical eye; one large curve on the right, a smaller one on the left connected to the larger curve at the top and nearly connected at the bottom, and a little downward slash in the middle of them. She figured it must be another cultural thing.
As she approached the two, Dhi'ki-de felt the other male tense. He sighed quietly, steeling himself for the questions and looks he knew would follow him for the rest of the day. Perhaps for the rest of his life… if the lou-dte kale lasted that long.
"Dhi'ki-de," Kjuhte spoke evenly, but Dhi'ki-de could sense that he was debating ripping the female's head off as she stopped and stood before them. But, he slowly folded his hands behind his back, inclining his head to peer down at her. Kara felt the intensity of his judgment as he leaned over to speak to her companion.
"What is this?"
"A worthy Ooman warrior," he said, ignoring Kjuhte's raised brow. "She and Ooman males were attempting to purge the kiande amedha hive as well. Only three survived, her among them. She performed most admirably, earned her scars honorably, and has gained my reverence."
The other male chuckled. "And what was it that she did to impress you enough that you decided to return with her?"
"She is the one who killed the Brood Mother."
The shock on Kjuhte's face was palpable. As his eyes flew back to the female, the Xeno poked its head over her shoulder, sending the hunter reeling. Dhi'ki-de put his hand on his shoulder to calm the Yautja as his mandibles flared and he growled aggressively. Kara tensed, ready to bolt back to the ship if he decided to attack.
"Be still, Kjuhte. She has somehow bonded with the kiande amedha pup. It poses no threat to anyone."
The Xeno hissed inquisitively, quickly retracting its head when the older Yautja hissed back. Though she was tempted, she fought the urge to sneer at him; her attitude would probably not be tolerated here like it was with her companion on Earth. She'd have to behave herself. Not like her life depended on it or anything.
"Dhi'ki-de. Have you gone mad?" Kjuhte snapped, shrugging his hand off of his shoulder. "Did you even consider the ramifications it could have on your honor and reputation? Your father's? You could bring shame to your clan and lineage."
"Yes, Kjuhte," he said, keeping his voice level. "That has weighed heavily on my mind. Despite how she may appear, this Ooman lou-dte kale has strong promise. I will train her well, and she will become a worthy member of the clan."
The older Yautja sighed and shook his head, scratching his brow. "While your optimism is admirable, how do you expect to keep her alive when we return to Yautja Prime, let alone on the journey there? Every hunter will be tempted to tear out her throat and eradicate her pup."
The hunter huffed, wondering that himself. "I am her n'yaka-de, she is my paya. Anyone who would dare challenge me or question my decision is a fool."
With one last glare at Kara, Kjuhte bowed his head to Dhi'ki-de and turned his back to them, rolling his shoulders and regaining his calm demeanor. He glanced at Dhi'ki-de briefly.
"I hope you know what you are doing," he said before striding away and out of the hangar.
After a moment of rather tense silence, Dhi'ki-de and Kara looked at each other simultaneously. Judging by the taunt apprehension and mild fear visible on their faces, it was apparent that both of them were thinking the same thing.
How the hell are we going to do this?
Well, first things first, she needed something to hold her own and protect herself from anyone who might harbor ill-will against her. Reaching down to his lower leg, Dhi'ki-de unsheathed a small hidden blade from the inside of his shin armor. To him, it was only a small hunting knife, but as he passed it to Kara, it looked more like a decent-sized combat knife in her hands.
Damn, these guys know how to make a blade, she thought to herself as she bowed her head in thanks and slid the knife into her back pocket.
Well, from here, the only path is forwards. Dtai'k-dte sa-de nav'g-kon dtain'aun bpide. The fight that began would not end until the end. Their fight was just beginning.
Staying close together but not walking completely side by side, Kara and Dhi'ki-de steadily made their way towards the massive open doorway that led to the rest of the ship. Even from afar, she could tell that it was at least nine feet tall. The metallic ringing of their footsteps reverberated through the grates, the echoes flowing around them like a billowing transparent cloak. As they got closer to the doorway, other noises began to slowly invade the quiet soundscape. The fall of multiple heavy footsteps, the clanking and shuffling of things being moved around, and the animalistic clicking and growling of alien conversations grew increasingly louder as they made their way closer to the main interior of the ship. Kara could see a few shapes milling about, passing to and fro beyond the doorway, but beyond that, all she saw was sleek metal walls. When they finally passed through, she looked up and nearly fell on her ass.
Holly fuck this place was big.
Beyond the doorway was essentially a city street. Balconies, gangways, and skybridges stretched far above her, crisscrossing the expanse between the two sides of this seemingly endless city block. Further down, she could see small crafts gently weaving between the skybridges. They seemed to be open-platform crafts with waist-high railings around the edge, each one holding about three to four aliens at a time. Hidden white lights illuminated the space from the floor and long panels on the walls, and small red rectangular lights framed doorways. Some even ran in long lines up to the far-away ceiling. Large skulls of unknown beasts adorned the walls here and there, above doorways and filling up empty space. From the railings and banisters hung banners. Many were a single solid color, mostly varying shades of browns, greens, reds, and blues. Among them were banners of multiple colors; some were streaked, some were splattered, some had circles or swirls, some had symbols at the center, and some contained shapes that resembled skulls or silhouettes of creatures. None of them seemed to follow any coherent pattern or appealing pallet. One deep purple banner with a bright blue symbol and vertical burnt orange streaks was a prime example.
Everywhere around her was teeming with extraterrestrial life. There were aliens of varying massive sizes milling about on all levels of the ship she could see. If there were any females, she couldn't tell, but based on their overall physic and armor style, they all appeared to be male. Some carried weapons or were transporting metal crates, others held large silver cups, transparent pads with haptics floating above them, and some were exchanging or showing off small skulls and trinkets. Despite their faces being nearly identical and equally disconcerting, each alien around her was unique in their own way. Be it their skin patterns and shades, armor color and design, scars, jewelry or lack of, or how they tied their dreadlocks, there was no mistaking one for another. Even the symbols on their heads were different. However, she did notice that some aliens seemed to have identical or very similar symbols to others.
And then, of course, there was her.
Though she did her best to shrink and hide behind her companion, she stuck out like a sore thumb. The clicking conversations hushed, mandibles flared, and bodies tensed, either out shock, fury, or a mix of both, as the crowd watched as Dhi'ki-de and Kara pass by. Despite the immenseness of the space around her, Kara was beginning to feel claustrophobic. The burning sensation of all those alien eyes surrounding her, boring into her, it almost felt like she was suffocating under their reproachful gaze. Glancing up at her companion, she saw that he had his head held high, his shoulders were back, and his stride held a certain air of power. Despite being unaware that, beneath the façade, he was having a similar experience of internal turmoil, Kara felt invigorated.
If they're not getting to him, then I can't let them get to me.
With a new, albeit cautious, surge of confidence, she straightened her shoulders and walked with a more affirmative step. She was here, and they would just have to get used to it. None of them would accept her immediately, and some might never accept her. She knew that there were going to be many unpleasant encounters in her future and that she would need to prove herself over and over again. With time, she prayed that they would allow her a place amongst them. Right now, she and her Xeno just needed to make it the rest of the trip without dying, which was probably a solid 60/40 chance… not in their favor.
In an attempt to calm his nerves, Dhi'ki-de decided to make his first stop the mess area.
Concentrating on tearing a piece of meat into edible chunks was an efficient way to slow down his thoughts and refocus on the more pressing of them. Thankfully, the mess area wasn't too far from the hangar. With careful maneuvering and avoiding all eye contact, the two made it to their destination without bumping shoulders, stepping on toes, or rubbing anyone the wrong way. Along the way, Kara noticed small stands built into the walls along either side of the walkway, almost like street vendors. The sliding metal panels that acted like concession stand windows of some were closed. Others were open, displaying weapons hung on wall racks, pieces of technology set up on shelves and on counters, and even some with jewelry and accessories hanging from tree-like stands. Some of these stands had aliens behind the counters, bartering with interested customers, but others were just alcoves and had no vendors behind them. Aliens just walked up and took whatever they needed. The mess area was small; the only thing distinguishing it from the rest of the stands were the few metal tables and benches sparsely placed around. Some aliens were sitting, but many more were standing around, either alone or in groups of two or more. There was a large open stand, but no one was staffing it. Instead, several chunks of meat were dangling from hooks and little racks of jerky set up across the countertop. There seemed to be varying types of meat. Each slab was at a different level of cooked; some were extremely raw to the point of almost being alive, some were lightly seared, and some were a slight medium-rare. None were fully cooked. To the left of the counter was a built-in drink dispenser with three separate nozzles to set a cup under.
All those congregated in the mess area paused their eating and discussing to stare as she followed her companion to the counter. Thinking that none of the patrons would be happy if she "tainted" their food and drink, Kara decided to not take anything. Besides, her adrenaline and high stress had erased her appetite for the time being. Dhi'ki-de, on the other hand, was salivating. He perused the selections and saw that they had a freshly butchered, lightly seared blood-pig available. Not always his first choice, but better than the rest. He pulled his knife out, pinched the meat between his thumb and the blade, and cut himself a decent slice off the carcass. Not really feeling parched, he bypassed the drink dispenser and left the mess area, still using all of his effort to ignore the heated stares and glances. He brought the meat to his mouth, biting down and using his mandibles to tear off a piece with surgical precision, pulling it into his mouth. As he walked, he thought about where he should put the lou-dte kale for the remainder of the trip. It would not be smart to give her her own berth room since she would most likely receive a few unwelcomed visitors. His berth room wouldn't be ideal since some of the other hunters might decide to pay him a visit. A storeroom seemed like the best option; smaller space, more secluded from active parts of the ship, and he could seal and override the door controls. She and her kiande amedha pup would be locked up safe and sound.
Yes, storeroom it was.
Thankfully, there was one close by his berth room, so he would be able to monitor her as well as go about his personal business. They walked a bit further down, then Dhi'ki-de suddenly took a sharp right, making Kara nearly trip over herself. He approached a barren spot, stopping before it and hitting two buttons on a glass pad protruding slightly from the wall. There was a soft whirring, and then a door split in two and slid apart diagonally with a hiss, revealing an elevator. Luckily, there were no passengers. The two stepped inside, turning around to see a small crowd beginning to congregate outside the elevator. Some aliens began to inch closer, leaning around others and craning their heads to get a better look. When those doors finally closed and they began to ascend, both slumped their shoulders and breathed a heavy sigh of relief. Kara wiped away the sweat that had started to accumulate on her temples, feeling the Xenomorph shift on her back. The damn thing had stayed so still that she actually forgot it was there.
"Hey," she said, looking at it over her shoulder. Smiling wearily, she gave its head a gentle pat. "We've made it this far. Just keep doing what you're doing, and I think we'll be okay."
It whined quietly, pressing its dome into her hand before returning to its original position. Though she assumed that his nerves were not nearly as frazzled as hers, Kara turned her head to check on her companion to find him already looking at her. No, not at her. Glancing down, she noticed that her other hand had subconsciously pulled one of the lockets out of her shirt and was fiddling with it. She quickly tucked it back into her shirt, doing her best to make it not seem like she was trying to smuggle contraband onto an alien ship. Yes, it was just a locket, but he didn't know that. For all she knew, her companion might think it's a small bomb or something. Dhi'ki-de did, in fact, grow suspicious of the trinket she hid beneath her garments. Though he eyed her questioningly, he let it slide for now. The time for interrogating about such things would come later. They had reached their stop.
Kara was a bit confused when her companion turned around and faced the other way, but then she heard the door open behind her and felt a bit silly. Of course it was one of those elevators. She stepped out into the empty hall on an unknown upper level of the ship. She saw no one, no skulls, and no banners of any kind, just flat metal walls with decorative groves and clumps of small red dashes carved into them.
Sensing the absence of a large presence beside her, Kara looked around and saw that her companion had picked up the pace and was nearly halfway down the left hall.
"Fucking hell," she muttered to herself as she ran to catch up with him.
When she reached him, she needed to maintain a causal jog just to keep up with his strides. Jeez, wherever he was going, he wanted to get there.
Fast.
Indeed, Dhi'ki-de was feeling a bit pressed for time. He had heard the conversation behind them when they first exited the elevator, and now he was beginning to hear the echoes of footsteps ahead of them. In more closed quarters, away from so many eyes, Yautja might feel more inclined to express their opinions, verbally or physically. He just wanted to get the lou-dte kale in that storeroom, locked up, and out of the way for a while. Soon, their destination was finally in sight. With a slightly quicker step, Dhi'ki-de cleared the distance between him and the door, leaving poor Kara running to catch back up. He punched in the code and the small door slid open, and not a moment too soon. Grabbing Kara by the arm, he practically threw her ahead of him, swiftly entering the storeroom himself and shutting the door behind them. Outside, footsteps approached, passed, and then faded away. He breathed a sigh of relief and leaned his back against the door. Finally, the lou-dte kale was relatively safe, and his mind could rest more at ease.
While her companion regained his composure, Kara shook off her nerves and slightly hurt pride from being tossed like a sack into a small room. Taking in her new surroundings, it wasn't hard for her to figure out that she was in a sort of alien storage closet. There were metal crates of multiple sizes stacked against the walls, nearly floor to ceiling. Some appeared to have labels made up of dashes similar to those she had seen out in the hall. Must be the aliens' written language, she thought to herself. Despite how much stuff was crammed into the space, it didn't feel very cramped; she figured that without all the boxes in there, this place was at least as big as her room at the Colonial Marine headquarters.
Hearing movement behind her, she turned to see her companion straightening himself up. By the way he was messing with his netting and readjusting his armor, it seemed like he was trying to put on a good face and pretend that this whole thing was completely normal. When Dhi'ki-de was satisfied that his appearance was that of a sane and rational Yautja, he inclined his head and looked down at Kara with narrow eyes. Pointing his finger at her, he spoke with the best commanding voice he could muster.
"You stay here. Sit." He jabbed the same finger at one of the crates, and Kara swiftly sat her ass down right where he told her. Definitely didn't feel like the right time to mess around and piss him off. Dhi'ki-de turned and exited the storeroom with a satisfied grunt, pausing only for a brief moment to listen and make sure there was no one in the hall. With the push of a button and a quick override code, the door sealed and locked with a heavy clank.
Kara heard his footsteps recede, then she was alone in silence. Well, not completely alone. Carefully, she grabbed the Xeno by the hands and lifted it up and over her head, setting it down on the floor. It wriggled its tail and stretched its body out like a cat, hissing to itself as it scuttled around the room.
"Feels good to get those joints moving again, huh?" She said, smiling as it disappeared behind some crates, popping its head up every so often to regain its bearings.
The small space, and locked door, helped give her a slight sense of security, and the solitude allowed her to collect her thoughts. How they had made it this far, she had no fucking clue. Maybe they were too distracted by a human that they overlooked the Xenomorph attached to her back, or perhaps they thought it was dead and she was wearing it like a trophy. That seemed to be the thing around here. Trophies. Yeah, the latter scenario seemed more reasonable. Fuck, she was not looking forward to the moment someone realized the fucker wasn't dead. Oh well, she thought, running her hand through her hair. We'll just deal with that when we get there.
Despite the cool metal surrounding her, the lockets on her chest felt like they were burning against her skin. She slid her fingers beneath the chains and pulled the necklaces out of her shirt, leaning forward on her elbows as she cradled the pendants in her palm. Kara pursed her lips, running her thumb over their ivory faces. Her nail found its way to the clasp of the rose-etched locket, picking at it anxiously. Though she nearly popped it open, she pulled her finger away at the last second. She enclosed the lockets in a fist, running her other hand over her face with a shaky breath. Just the thought of seeing their faces made her throat clench and limbs tremble with restrained rage and grief. Now was not the time for a breakdown. She'd find the time to remember and mourn later. Bringing the knuckles of the fist to her lips, Kara closed her eyes and swallowed the tears, returning to a relatively calm state. Something nudged her knee, and she opened her eyes to see that the Xeno had ceased its exploring to come sit beside her. It rested its head on her leg, almost like a dog who sensed that his owner had had a rough day. She chuckled to herself, stifling a yawn as she placed her hand on its dome.
The events of the past few hours began to take their toll; her eyelids drooped, and she felt her limbs enter that state of fuzzy numbness before sleep. She stretched out her limbs, leaning back and adjusting her posture, trying to find the best position possible. As soon as she did, the Xeno jumped up onto her lap, causing her to exhale and grimace in both pain and exasperation. She glared down at the damn thing while it settled itself, circling around a few times, curling its tail around its body, and then laying down with its head on its hands.
"Comfy?" she asked it sarcastically. Rolling her eyes, she leaned her head back and folded her arms.
"You know, I still don't particularly like you." There was a quiet hiss in response, which made a smile tug at the corner of her lips. "But," she sighed. "It's nice to not be alone."
Soon enough, the knock he had been waiting for came. Three loud raps echoed through the room, setting Dhi'ki-de's nerves afire. Though he didn't know who it was or what it was they wanted, he anticipated an aggressive conversation and physical altercation. He was prepared, knives sharpened, hand poised over the one on his hip as he approached the door. Muscles tensed, he unlocked the entrance to his berth room and stepped back, calling for those on the other side to enter. The door slid open as the sensor was triggered. He crouched into a defensive stance, hand gripping the handle, ready to fight whoever came charging in. Instead, much to his relief, a passive, albeit slightly startled Kjuhte entered the room.
"I take it you were expecting different company," the older hunter said with an amused expression.
Dhi'ki-de relaxed, releasing his grip on the knife and stepping aside to allow Kjuhte full access to the room. He shut and sealed the door once more, releasing a haggard breath and clicking to himself.
"Forgive me, Kjuhte. This ordeal has put me on edge."
Kjuhte meandered around the chamber, hands folded behind his back.
It was larger than the typical berth chamber. A worktable sat at the center with tools and disassembled weapons scattered across its surface, a bed layered in furs and cushions was off in the back right corner, numerous trophies were displayed on the far back wall, the left wall held some blades, handheld blasters, and additional weaponry. Small bangers hung from the ceiling here and there, dangling low enough to just brush the top of Kjuhte's head as he passed beneath them. They were made of a solid ebony fabric with the same symbol that adorned Dhi'ki-de's forehead painted at the center. The eye-shape's outer curves were emerald green, and the inner dash was bright metallic gold. Having taken in all the room had to offer, Kjuhte settled himself on the edge of the worktable, crossing his arms and laying his bright, old eyes upon the young hunter.
"Word has spread fast, Dhi'ki-de. They are whispering about a battle-scarred Ooman begin brought aboard the ship." He sighed, shaking his head. "I have even heard some talk about finding it and killing it themselves."
"I knew they would," Dhi'ki-de growled. "But, I have taken a necessary precaution and locked her in the storeroom just down the hall. No one can reach her."
He walked up to the table and stood beside Kjuhte, fiddling with one of the weapons on the table. For a while, they stayed there, Kjuhte trying to read Dhi'ki-de and Dhi'ki-de trying to avoid eye contact, doing his best to appear unperturbed by the situation he had put himself in. The silence hung heavily in the air, broken only by their breathing, the metallic rustling of tools, and the low humming ambiance of the ship.
"Dhi'ki-de."
No response.
"Dhi'ki-de."
Still, he was ignored. Seeing that he would get nothing out of the young hunter without a little prompting, Kjuhte released a deep growl and laid a firm hand on Dhi'ki-de's shoulder. He paused his work, but he would not raise his head.
"Dhi'ki-de, I do not believe you see how much is at stake here."
Without waiting for a reply, he continued.
"While I would not usually care if that Ooman lives or dies, I pray to the gods that she does. For your sake alone. There is too much riding on you as it is, and then you go and pull a stunt like this."
Dhi'ki-de snarled, flinching away from Kjuhte. He did not care for lectures.
"Do not speak to me as if you are my father," he said, his fists clenched on the table.
"I shall speak to you as I please!" Kjuhte barked, flaring his mandibles. "Because I seem to be the only one truly thinking of your father.
Think, Dhi'ki-de. What would happen to you if you failed to train this Ooman properly? What would happen if it perished?"
Though he didn't respond, Dhi'ki-de knew what he was going to say next.
"You could be exiled. Stripped of your title, your honor, your power. You could even be killed. What would that mean for your father? For your clan?"
Kjuhte saw the young hunter's defenses drop as he released a massive sigh, admitting defeat. Dhi'ki-de folded forward onto the worktable, propping himself up with his elbows and rubbing his temples.
"I know, Kjuhte," he said, sounding exhausted. "That is why I cannot fail. Right now, I am focusing on getting her to Yautja Prime alive. I will figure it out from there."
"Yautja Prime is not a ship. You cannot just lock it away."
"She is surprisingly resourceful," he said. Dhi'ki-de pushed himself back into a standing position, shaking his tresses. "However, if there is a moment where she and her kiande amedha pup cannot hold their own, I will step in. For the time being, at least. Eventually she will need to fend for herself completely."
Kjuhte grumbled to himself, getting up from the table and stretching. He gave Dhi'ki-de a somber look. "I pray that the gods smile upon you and your Ooman. The best help I can offer you is my protection while aboard this ship. Once you return, I will no longer aid you."
To Dhi'ki-de, that was a reasonable offer; Kjuhte did not want to mar his reputation by being continuously seen alongside him and the Ooman female. He bowed his head to the older hunter, placing his fist upon his chest.
"Thank you, Kjuhte. I am deeply humbled."
Kjuhte bowed his head in return. "I am honored to offer any assistance I can while I can. I just hope that this ordeal ends how you believe it will."
"I do as well," he sighed. "I do as well."
A loud knock came at the door, jolting Kara out of the sound sleep she had drifted into. Her hand flew to the knife at her side, where she placed it before falling asleep, so she didn't slice her ass open if she turned the wrong way. In her panicked state, she actually ended up flinging the Xenomorph off of her lap. It gave a surprised cry as it fell to the floor, regaining its feet instantly, ready to attack whoever and whatever came near it. Eyes wide and bleary, Kara prepared herself for a fight, brandishing the knife before her. However, she relaxed as soon as she saw who was behind the door.
Seeing the lou-dte kale poised and ready to fight made Dhi'ki-de feel immense relief.
See, Kjuhte, he thought. Perfectly fine and capable of fending for herself. Would not go down without causing a bit of havoc.
He beckoned for Kara to follow him, glancing down the hallway cautiously. They had been on Yautja Prime for about an hour, but they had only made it to his clan a short time ago. They had made numerous stops already, dropping off members of other clans at their respected ports; since this ship belonged to his clan, this was the last stop. Kjuhte had remained behind with Dhi'ki-de, scouting out the lower halls, helping to make sure that no one else was left on the ship beside them. Now, it was time to go.
Kara hoisted the Xeno onto her back, following her companion out into the hall, down the elevator, and into the ship's massive main corridor.
Seeing it completely void of life, no crafts filling the airspace and no aliens milling about, was incredibly eerie. She could hear their footsteps ricocheting off of the sleek metal walls, echoing for what felt like miles behind them. When they entered the hanger, all of the smaller ships were gone save for one; its ramp was already down, and that older alien from before was standing in front of it waiting for them. He had a long metal table, about six feet long, three or four inches thick, and two-and-a-half feet wide, hovering beside him.
When they reached the ship, Kjuhte passed the transportation slab over to Dhi'ki-de, bowing and moving aside. Following her companion into the vessel, Kara glanced over at the older alien as they passed and saw him staring down at her with mildly less hostility. Oh, he still didn't like her, but, on the surface, it seemed like he was willing to tolerate her presence. She hoped at least a few of the other aliens would be the same way.
Once inside the ship, they stopped at the weapons hold first. Dhi'ki-de gathered up his helm and just a few of his weapons, namely his combi stick and plasmacaster, since he already had plenty down there. Moving on, they stopped in front of the trophy hold, Kara watching it slide open and illuminate her spoils with gritted teeth. She fucking hated those fucking things. Gingerly, Dhi'ki-de lifted the Queen's heavy skull off of its supports, holding its jaw in one hand and letting the dome fall across the opposite arm. As he lowered it to the table, the metal began to rise in cubed columns, cradling most of it and propping it up to a nearly upright position. How that floating table could handle its size, Kara didn't know. He repeated the process with the two remaining skulls, setting them up side-by-side in front of the Queen.
Sheesh, this guy is treating them like a fucking art exhibit, Kara thought to herself.
Satisfied, Dhi'ki-de grunted and gestured at her to grab her guitar case. She did so, snatching it away quickly as the hold doors, sensing that there was nothing left inside, shut automatically. She laid it down flat on the back of the table behind the Queen's skull, watching in amazement as the table molded itself around the case. She wanted to play around with this thing later if she got the chance.
Upon exiting the ship, there was a loud mechanical clanking and a whoosh of air. Kara turned to see that the ship had disappeared down the launch passage, assuming that it had had some sort of automated programming in it for docking at the home base. Shaking off the mounting fear and anticipation, she followed her companion and the older alien to the center of the hanger, stopping when they reached a circular pattern etched into the floor. With a heavy exhale, Kjuhte faced Dhi'ki-de and placed a hand upon his shoulder.
"N'dhi-ja, Dhi'ki-de," he said. "I hope we will cross paths again soon."
Dhi'ki-de nodded, returning the gesture. "I as well, Kjuhte. Thank you for all you have done."
"Ah," the older hunter shrugged. "I could not let you return completely empty handed. Good luck with this Ooman. Now, make haste. I'm sure your father is down their waiting as we speak."
Groaning inwardly, Dhi'ki-de grasped the edge of the transportation slab, beckoning his hand for Kara to follow him. Not wanting to appear rude or indifferent, she stopped before the older hunter, placing her hand across her chest and bowing her head as she had seen them do before. She silently thanked him for not killing her on sight. Kjuhte chuckled to himself, slightly surprised but grateful for the gesture. She was learning fast. Perhaps there was hope for her after all.
"M-di h'dlak. No fear, little Ooman. No fear."
Catching up quickly, Kara followed her companion to the middle of the circle. She stood on the opposite side of the table from him, anxiously wondering what would come next. Feeling movement, she glanced down and saw a hiss of air burst from the edges of the circle. With a gentle jerk, they began to descend, the floor rising up almost as if to swallow them. She watched the head of the older hunter disappear over the lip of the newly formed hole, slowly sinking deeper and deeper into the undercarriage of the ship. There was a buildup of pressure in her ears that popped as soon as a yellow light appeared around the base of their platform. That light grew larger and brighter, and as the fresh, humid air hit her nostrils, she realized that they were actually descending out of the ship and into the sky. She couldn't gauge how high up they were by feeling alone, but she was certain that she would get one hell of a view of her new home. The light continued to grow, rising above her knees, over her torso, past her shoulders, and right into her damn eyes. The warm breeze hit her instantly, causing droplets of sweat to break out on her skin. Shielding her face from the blinding sunlight, Kara blinked away the haze and tried to get a good look at her surroundings.
"Holly shit…"
AN: Happy 2021 everyone! Chapter is complete and the next one is in the works. I'm moving back up to college for Spring semester on Thursday, so I'll try to give y'all a lil something before I head back. In the meantime, y'all should go checkout my brother's original fiction on FictionPress. I think he's got a pretty cool concept going, but he's just been too swamped with work to do much with it. I think he's got one big chapter done, so if y'all wanna go see what it's about and give him some support, it's called "The Fateful Rift" by SergeantNiner. Have a safe and wonderful start to the new year! Hopefully this one is better than the last *fingers crossed*!