Hey all - sorry for another short(er) chapter. I'm really hoping to be able to get you guys some more interesting content soon (I know it's been slow going lately), there's just a lot going on at home atm and I'm struggling with inspiration. I promise Zihrait WILL return in a future update - he started out as a background character but I obviously grew fond enough of him to give him a much larger part in this story (and a Jaele!)
Thank you all for the support/understanding and feedback! I'm so glad you enjoy reading my nonsense =)
"Hematology screening seems to indicate you're already aware of the healing properties of Yautja serum, Astridhe."
She'd been allowing the android's prattling about her defiant outburst having undesirable consequences - namely being tased, tackled, and separated from Riot once again - to roll over her unheeded, but glanced up from where she leaned in the corner at this new line of conversation. "I take it permission isn't required around here to take someone's blood. Who do I file a complaint with about that again?"
"Several newly healed fractures and contusions noted during examination suggest you were rather severely injured recently." The bland features, identical to that of the one Riot had dismembered, failed to reveal any particular interest despite this statement.
Pheist shrugged. "No need to worry, I'm all better now." Something had been bothering her on that front, however. "Why would you repair Riot's leg? Seems counterintuitive if you don't want him busting out of here."
"We have stringent holding protocols in place. Escape is not possible, despite your sloppy attempt."
"Good to know." She amiably flipped him the bird. "But there has to be a reason you fixed him up. Why are you so interested in Yautja?"
"Just as you seemingly benefited from a transfusion, it is widely accepted that as a species Yautja possess many genetic and physical attributes which might enhance the human body. Their vision, hearing, and olfactory receptors are highly superior - not to mention their overall hearty constitutions and resilience to pain."
More than a glowing review of Yautja characteristics, this veritable speech struck her as more of a grim check list of improvements which might somehow be available to the 'right' person. Her gut churned. "You're harvesting parts from them?" No, that couldn't be it. Why bother with Riot's leg in that case?
"The likelihood of capturing enough Yautja to make such an endeavour feasible is not high, as I'm sure you can appreciate. And then there are the complications associated with organ and tissue transplants to be contended with. Although you are a fairly compatible species, the procedures are intensive and not without risk of failure." The android regarded her just long enough to make her question if it meant to say more or leave it at that. "What we are offering instead is genetic material in the form of reproductive options."
Her eyes were surely bulging. "Come again?"
"Semen, Astridhe. For artificial insemination purposes. Our clientele are interested in producing robust and highly functioning individuals."
"You expect me to believe there's a line of women knocking down your doors to get shot full of alien jizz?"
She got the impression the android wanted to roll his eyes even though his expression never changed. "Surrogates have not proven as difficult to procure as the Yautja specimens themselves, fortunately. With your background in the UAA and a comparatively athletic build, you will likely prove a popular choice for producing combat prospects if the results of your fertility tests are favourable."
Straightening away from the padded wall, Pheist snapped her sagging jaw shut. It was stupid, but she lunged for the android nonetheless, the abrupt attack uncoordinated but effective. Her cybernetic arm shot forward, metal alloy fingers plunging into the synthetic flesh covering the android's presumably similarly comprised frame and curling around the hard substructure beneath. Indignation at their proposed intentions for her fueled her to inflict damage she logically knew would not change the situation.
Caught off guard, the android merely looked down to her hand - now fisted inside his chest cavity - then returned his unconcerned attention to her. "Behaviour modifying drugs will be required to ensure your future cooperation, I see."
"Fuck you," she snarled before viciously ripping her hand free and watching him collapse in a disjointed heap without the support of the section of artificial spinal column now dripping in her grasp. Anticipating further commentary from the thing, she gripped the metallic spine with both hands and brought it down onto the android's head, piercing the skull through the temple and then stomping on the rod to complete the improvised lobotomy.
Fuck this entire fucking situation.
Low groans interspersed with panting filtered through the usual din of the nursery. It was coming from a cubby on the far side where Jaele could see a lone female pacing in agitation behind the beaded curtain. Keeping her focus on the soiled linens she was gathering into her basket, she snuck surreptitious glances from behind her braids as she moved around the perimeter along with the other 'aseigan.
The female's robe stretched tautly over her swollen belly and her tubules swayed with each lumbering direction change as she made use of every square centimeter of available space within the semi-private area. None of the other Yautja, mothers or pups, paid any mind to the sounds of distress, which led Jaele to believe this was a normal occurrence and that all of the females likely laboured and birthed in the nursery. What happened if there were complications? Pheist had spoken briefly about Yautja derision for medical intervention when it came to injuries, but would assistance with delivery complications be shunned as well? It seemed hard to believe a species as advanced as them would lose females and offspring unnecessarily to labour. Maybe complications were rare in their kind? They still occurred fairly commonly in humans.
A particularly loud moan rent the air followed closely by a growl and the unmistakable squeal of talons against the metallic walls. The other 'aseigan had finished collecting the laundry and were heading carefully for the doors, so Jaele hurried to follow suit. It didn't seem that any aid would be provided to the labouring female, but then again from what she had observed of Yautja interactions thus far, Jaele didn't think any help would be welcomed even if it were offered. She scurried out into the hall as another equal parts pained and ferocious groan tore across the domed chamber, cut short by the doors sliding shut.
The other 'aseigan were already carrying their burdens around the bend ahead, so she trailed at a distance to avoid being jarred by malicious elbows. Pheist had also mentioned the servant caste wasn't permitted to reproduce, being considered unfit to pass on their genes. Jaele idly wondered whether nursery duty bothered any of them since it was a glimpse into an experience which they were denied for being inferior. She supposed that too would be her life if she couldn't prove herself to their leader. It had been five days since he'd returned her to the 'aseigan quarters without any clear indication of when he would require her to do just that.
She was still coming to terms with the fact he had not only understood her language, but spoken with her in it. The fact he'd donned his biomask to do so seemed to point to there being some device built into it which allowed for translation and communication. The intricacy of such a piece of equipment was mind boggling. How she was meant to impress a being who possessed that sort of technology, she couldn't even begin to fathom, and led to further questions instead - had Zihrait also been capable of communicating with her had he chosen to? And if so, why hadn't he? He'd only worn his armor during that first encounter in the mine, never afterwards. Each time he had visited her on the planet with the twin suns, he'd come without his biomask. But he'd clearly been frustrated with her inability to understand what it was he had expected from her, so why not use the biomask if it would have allowed them to communicate? Perhaps not all Hunters possessed the technology? She could see no reason for Zihrait not to make use of it had he the capability to do so.
Lola might have known more about it. Sadly, any knowledge the older woman had held was now lost.
In the time Pheist had been teaching Jaele the sign language, she'd never said anything about Riot communicating using his biomask, so this seemed to further solidify Jaele's theory that it was technology only some Hunters had access to. Perhaps it was owing to the large male's position of authority within the clan?
She spent the rest of her day contemplating this and her situation, knowing if she could not prove her worth to the leader that she probably wouldn't survive long amongst the 'aseigan. Already she was feeling the effects of being bullied out of her meals and some of the others were becoming increasingly aggressive towards her when the female Yautja who watched over them all was absent or preoccupied. Most treated her with ambivalence, but three in particular searched out opportunities to intimidate and harry her. As nervous as she was to be tested by the leader, she laid in her stark and empty cubby each night and listened for sounds of others approaching to do her harm, praying he would decide the following day was when she would be required to prove herself.