Jennifer's Diary

June 5, 2621.

It was the middle of my final week of training when I started getting friendly with Jon again. His reaction was what I expected it would be. "No."

"But, you're struggling Jon. You want to kill yourself, because you don't have anyone who cares about you. Can't you see that?" I exposited to him with concern in my voice, as I helped him work on fixing up one of the APCs, which miraculously was still in working condition.

"Tell me something I don't know." He responded straightly.

"Do you just not care?" I asked stupidly.

Jon gave me a short growl as a response. I always got irritated whenever he did that to me.

"Why do you want to this so badly?" I asked frustrated."Do I need to explain it to you again ,Jennifer?""Jenny, I want you to call me Jenny." I requested.

"Fine, Jenny. Do I need to tell you why I don't want to have anyone else close to me again?" He asked."Because you don't want to lose anybody else. Because you feel responsible for Richard, Michelle, Taylor and William, I know that. But look at yourself. You have have guilt complex and you need help."

"Look ,Jenny you have no idea what I've been through for the past seven years. You weren't there." Jon told me.

"You've made that very clear yes. But still." I attempted to hold my ground in the argument.

"But still what?" He held his ground firmly.

"You want to kill yourself. I understand I'll never feel the pain you've felt, but is all of this really enough to make you want to commit suicide?" I exposited trying to sway him with my compassion, and empathy. "You've given so much for me and so many other lives with your sacrifice. Can I not even give anything to you?"

"You are, you're training to become a hunter so you can help me kill the shadows. Not only that but you've also helped me track these things." Jon explained before asking me to hand him a torque wrench. "As far as I'm concerned, you have been helping me."

"That's not what I meant ,Jon." I told him.

"I still don't want anyone else ,Jennifer." He called me by mistake.

"Jenny!" I corrected him.

"Sorry, Jenny." He apologized.

I had to think of another way to make him see that he was making a mistake. "Are you so sure that this is the way though. I know you want peace in the worst way. I'm just trying to make you think before you make another mistake."

"Screwdriver please." Jon requested. I handed the tool to him irritated.

The time for compassion, was over. I had to show some force. "Is this just a other part of your society's sick ways? Honor kill yourself because you feel responsible for a mistake." That didn't trigger him.

"I'm not a World War Two Jap. Jenny," He responded. "Yes I hold true to some of my society's rules, but not all of them."

"Then what is it really then? I can't help you if you don't talk to me." I exposited aggressively.

"Number one, don't raise your voice to me. Number two, hand me the torque converter. And Three, I don't want emotional support." He snapped.

"It doesn't matter that you want it. It matters that you need it." I told him.

Jon just laughed at my remark. "You've been spending to much time around my sarcastic self." That response just got me angrier. I held my temper though an tried to focus.

"What about your mother and your friends?! What would they think about you if they heard you were just giving up like this?!" That time I made irritated.

"Don't you dare throw them in my face like that! Here me?!" He bellowed as he crawled out from under the hood to look me in the face.

"I just did, so what of it?" I remarked in a very smart-assed tone.

"I want fifty from you now young lady! Count em out!" Jon ordered for me to start doing push-ups. I obediently did as he commanded, not because I was afraid of him, nor because I was afraid to go to far about that topic, but just so I wouldn't kick him in the groin.

He began to explain himself as I counted up my push-ups. "I'm coming what I'm doing for them, I don't just hold myself responsible, but I also hold those fcks out there responsible. I want to kill them all, so I can at least finish what we all started together, and make sure no one else on this planet has to deal with what they dealt with. With what I'm dealing with."

"Than why does it look like you're beating yourself up more than, the xenomorphs out there?" I asked after I asked for his permission to "pop tall" after finishing my exercises.

Jon made a frustrated growl. "I am. That's what we're preparing for, and once I'm finished, I'll continue to live with my guilt, does that sound like fun to you?!"

"For a mistake?!" I interjected to him. He just clicked at me.

"What about your beliefs? I know I have very little room to talk about it, but isn't suicide punishable by damnation? So it sounds to me like you aren't going after that heavenly peace you're after." That got Jon to stop working and think for a moment, but he shrugged it off.

"What about Jesus, and the sacrifice he made for you? Didn't he suffer in Gethsemane and on the Cross for everyone's sins and afflictions. Did he not do that for you freely. Did God just send his only begotten down to do that for nothing?!" That argument had some validity to it. I could see it in his face, even with the mask on.

"I'm still of use to him that's the only reason I'm continuing to do this. So I can protect his sheep." That argument wasn't solid enough to hold up to mine, and was actually pretty contradicting.

"So you don't believe he died for you because he loved you, but because you were useful to his cause?" I remarked.

"I'm not a Ooman being like you are. I'm not a member of the favored people, like you Oomans are." His comments began faltering to mine and he knew it.

"So the great and merciful Creator himself, made everything in the universe just for us 'Oomans' and not for everyone who believes in him? Oh! Praise the Lord I don't believe in him, but I'll be saved at the day of judgment, because I'm an 'Ooman,' but Uh oh! Sucks to be you. you aren't a 'Ooman' so you don't get a peace of the heavenly pie we 'Oomans do! What kind of a loving God would do that?!" I said dramatically tearing down his argument. Then Jon exploded.

"Alright you want to know why I want to die so badly?! Fine! I'll tell you! And yes, I recognize you're argument, and you're right, I am using stupid ass excuses just to talk you down! I admit it, you have a point! But just because you're right doesn't mean you're not wrong about something either!"

"What is it?" I asked.

"Do you know what it's like to be alone all the time with no one but a bunch of strangers who hate your guts, even when you did nothing to deserve such treatment?! Do you know what it's like to sleep having constant nightmares about the most traumatic, and painful moments of your life?! To constantly be reminded of your family's death, and wonder if it's really all your fault for why they died?! It doesn't matter if the reason is bullsht or not! but that you believe it's true! That, and to have to wake up knowing that the people who they loved and died to protect are being spoon fed bullsht lies about them, and don't give a fck about them anymore?! To wake and think that their is no one left alive for you to even care about, because you know they're dead or they've been excommunicated from you for so long you think they're dead?! To know that you will never be able to share moments with them like you used to ever again? Do you understand how it feels to wake up screaming, and you don't remember where you even are anymore, and those strangers around you don't give a damn, and tell you to shut the hell up, because they're trying to get their sleep? I haven't even brought up the trouble of hunting xenomorphs, or the thought that others just like the friends and family you loved are going through the same thing you are, or the conscientious thought that any moment your PTSD will trigger and you'll hurt someone else." He explained with pain in his voice. It sounded like he was tearing up inside that mask.

"No. I don't, and I never will." I replied truthfully.

"That's what I've been going through for the past seven years.some of those things I've had to endure since birth. I just want it to stop. And you're right about what you said earlier, I'll give you that, but you don't know everything. No one does. The last person that did died on Calvary." He said more calmed. He was hissing, a sound he only made when he felt threatened or emotional.

We stood in silence for a moment, that in my mind lasted hours of painful pondering. "I'm going to do my yoga, and take a bath ,Jon. I think we both need some time to ourselves." I said, almost requesting it.

"I think you are right ,Jennifer." He hissed a sigh.

"Would you like anymore of my help before I go?" I asked him.

"No. No I've got it. You may go." He dismissed me.

"Jennifer," Jon called me before I exited the building, "You've been very helpful to me. Really you have. You've done good work on your training, and I'm impressed with the progress you've made thus far. And please understand I'm not being ungrateful, I just don't want anymore pain." He told me with sincerity. "Once this is over I will take you straight home. Just as I promised." He assured me. I didn't want to go home though. As amazing as it seemed, with everything I endured the past three months, I wanted to stay with him. I was actually beginning to enjoy this. I was doing something helpful. I was being useful. Forget starring at plants under a microscope all day this was real living.

I was working for what I earned, instead of being given it, and I was doing well. Who knew that risking life and limb to save billions of lives, from creatures you used to study about in a lab could be such a life changing experience, and you could enjoy some of it. I'm being sarcastic yes, but I'm also stating the honest truth to. Yes things were hard and there was no guarantee you'd make it back alive, but the work you do, the people you come to know, and the pride of overcoming adversity with them through hard work was, in a way, liberating. I was helping someone who needed more than just my help, but my affection to, even though he was still refusing to accept it.

"Yes sir." I replied."Jon," I called him as he was about to go back to work. "I just want you to know that you're also right in what you said earlier. I'll never know how you feel. But I just want you to understand that I was just trying to help you. I was just trying to give you a reason for why your life is still worth living. I know you may not see it, but you are more human than you think you are. You're kind, compassionate, caring, and most of all selfless. I can see you haven't been given any affection by anyone in a very long time, and I feel ashamednow that I realize that. It's just after everything we've been through; how much you, and so many others have sacrificed for people like me, who take everything for granted, I felt it would be right if I said I was sorry, and gave something back. Some extra strength to keep you going at the least. I may not be your friend, but you have been a great friend to me. And if there is a God in Heaven like you say there is, than I know for a fact, that he has a place for you in his kingdom. Even if you think you don't deserve it. I just wanted to tell you that." I said to him with a light smile.

Jon looked down, and then back up at me. I was correct. He knew I was. Jon nodded as he gave me a sincere and respectful thank you."Also ,Jon. Please stop calling me ,Jennifer. I prefer to be... just called Jenny." I requested.

"Yes... Jenny." He said, "I'll try to remember that."

I left him to his work, and went to my leisure. I heard him say "pyode/kha'bj-te tarei'hsan" softly as I exited

There were some hot springs located a couple miles from our camp that also sat right at the base of the mountain range. Jon and I had went there many times to bath and refresh, especially on Sundays, which we reserved ourselves from most training exercises. We'd traveled to the hot springs so many times that I practically had the path memorized in my brain. I brought the SW 4506, as well as a pair of small wristblades, Jon had made out of some of the scrap in the storage house, just in case our 'friends' sitting just on the other side of the ridge got smart. I ran to the hot springs on all fours, just to help keep my cardio up. It was actually pretty fun when I pounced from tree top to tree top, and skittered across the rainforest floor.

As I too, my warm bath, I also took the opportunity to wash my clothing, which ironically were still my panties and bra. Jon had helped to add some extra material to it so I wasn't walking around scantily clad all the time, but there wasn't much for us to do with besides add some thin strips to it. I looked like Princess Leia from Return of the Jedi. Jon was a pretty good sewer though. If he decided he wouldn't kill himself, and actually found a woman of his own who cared for him, he'd be the perfect husband. I actually thought about the idea of being his girlfriend from time to time. Kind of ironic now that I look back at it, but in a good way. I wasn't thinking humorously like this at the time though. I was thinking about our siege on the hive, which was only a few days upon us. We'd been preparing for this for months now, and although our chances of success were high, I was terrified. Who wouldn't be. I'd never been in a battle like the one we were about to face. Sure I'd killed xenomorphs before, but some of them were accidental. Jon had most likely been the same on his first mission on Talco though, so that made me feel a little less uneasy. Besides he was the one who was orchestrating this entire operation. He had years of experience doing stuff like this. Not only that but he was passing down some of his experience to me, so I could defend myself. Still I wasn't feeling this.

I was also concerned about what happened when I got home, to the facility. Obviously I was curious about what Weyland Yutani and supposedly my dad was doing. I was going to look into it and make it public once I got home, I was also nervous about that. What if Jon was right, and Dad was part of this. what would he do if I found out. What would he think. How would everybody else think, and react to this. How would my sister Beth take this. The last thing I wanted to do was hurt my family, but I couldn't let this go. I had to make this known to the colonies. But this would come latter on. I just wanted to be done with one nightmare, before I began another one.

I also thought about Jon to. What would he do once we were finished with the mission. Of course we were going to go our own separate ways. Jon would continue to do his work, until there were no more xenomorphs to deal with, and then he would end himself. Of course that didn't mean Weyland Yutani would stop what it was doing. They still had plenty of planets with xenomorphs infesting them, BG386 and LV426 most notably. Although their are laws against transporting xenomorphs to other planets given how dangerous they were, that wouldn't stop Weyland Yutani, which practically was our government. But I didn't think that mattered to Jon. He just seemed concerned with the ones on world. The ones the marines had been tasked with completely eradicating, but never could because of Weyland Yutani. That's why I made it my intent to stop them. Maybe, if I was successful this would not only help Jon but all of the marines, not just on this planet but on all the others that had Weyland Yutani's name on it.

I was suddenly pulled away from my thoughts as four xenomorphs attacked me. The xenomorphs had made quite a few attempts to attack us every now and then, whenever Jon and I were training, preparing, eating, and even sleeping. thankfully Jon was a very light sleeper. Now they'd taken the opportunity to attack while I was separated from him.

I muttered under my breath, cursing myself for not paying attention like Jon had taught me to. That was a stupid mistake. Thankfully I lived to learn from it. I quickly hopped out of the warm bubbly pool, and grabbed my weapons. My wrist blades had an extended strap, and glove piece that enveloped my entire arm. The material this strap was made from was resistant to the acidic blood, as I was not, except for my tail though.

One of the creatures came pouncing out of the treeline at me. I managed to put five shots into the first one with my 4506, killing it. The second one came at me from the brush. I only managed to graze the side of it's skull before it tackled me. Thankfully we landed in the warm hot spring. I grappled fiercely with the monster, kicking and swiping it with my tail and my wristblades. The creature tried nailing me with it's own tail and claws. It even tried going for me with it's inner jaw. The creature had me by the throat with it's hands as it snapped it's inner jaw at my face. I brought my wristblades and managed to cut the creature's tongue off. It recoiled off of me and went to stab me with it's tail but I managed to stab it in the brain with mine before it could. I pulled myself out of the water in time to see the third one running after me. I rolled under neath it as it dived into the hot spring, and went for my 4506 which I'd dropped when the other one tackled me, but the fourth one blocked me from it. The two creatures surrounded me, circling around me trying to get a good angle for them to attack. I was afraid, but I didn't show it. This wasn't going to be like what happened three months ago, where I ran like a scared brat. I was going to stand my ground, and fight. One of them lunged at me and tried to take a swip with it's claws but I managed to block the blow with my wirstblades. It did tackle me, and I got my feet underneath it's torso, and used the momentum to shove it away. The other came at me and I swiftly swipped at it's torso with my tail. The blow wasn't fatal, and only managed to piss the thing off. The other one took the opportunity to pounce on my back and claw at me, and tried to puncture my head with it's tongue. I managed to cut it's leg with my wristblades and throw it off, bur I also got mildly hit with some of the acid blood. I weakly feel to the ground grabbing at my leg as the acid ate at it. The one I'd swipped in the chest was now on top of me and took a shot with it's tongue. I shielded the blow with my wristblades, and impaled it with my tail, before tossing it over me. The straps and glove on the wrist blades helped shield me from the acid spray. The last remaining xenomorph recovered just as I did and charged after me. It managed to scratch my torso leaving three bloody claw marks that stung. They weren't fatal though and only hurt. I once again blocked another series of fatal blows with the wristblades as the creature tried to tear at my face. The straps weren't very resistant to the xenomorph's claws though and they ended up tearing, the creature even got my arm a few times. I managed to swip back at the creature's arm cutting deeply into it. The monster made an elephant screech as it saw its limb dangled at the elbow. It then gave me a angry glare and charged. I ducked under it, and made it to my pistol. I shot the fcker with the remaining four rounds crippling it. The thing was still alive, but weak. It tried to jab me with the tail but I cut that off as it swung at me. I then ran my wristblades through it's torso killing it.

I then howled in the air triumphantly, as Jon would do, and assessed my wounds. I rested my self in the warm water for a little to dilute the acid, and to let my wounds soak. I didn't bring a med kit with me stupidly, but thankfully I could use the sewn strips on my revealing garments as bandages for my arm and leg. I carefully wandered back to camp, not letting my gaurd down for even so much as a second. Thankfully I wasn't set upon during my journey back.

"What happened to you ,Jenny?" Jon said concerned as he saw me limp back to camp.

"I got ambushed by four of them while I was taking a bath. They nicked me pretty good, but I got them." I explained with a little pride in my voice.

Jon pulled out his medicomp and some bandages, and began treating my wounds. He soaked them in disinfectants, before rebandaging them. He also assessed the damage to my leg, which is what I was most worried about. "You're lucky you only got spritzed, and not soaked or else you're leg would be gone, thankfully it only scrapped the muscle tissue. It will heal back completely ,though, plus you heal pretty quickly so you should be able to take this off in a couple days at most. We just need to keep an eye on it to make sure it doesn't get infected." He said dabbing more disinfectant on my leg, before wrapping it. "You will need to take it easy on it though for the time being, so we won't be doing as much cardio as we normally do, alright?" He said in a caring tone.

"Yes sir. Thank you." I replied, appreciative.

"You say four attacked you, and you managed to take them all down?" He asked. I gave him a affirmative nod that that was true. "That's impressive. Especially with so little protection on. You really are very lucky ,pyode/kha'bj-te tarei'hsan." I still had no idea what that meant.

Our final day of training and heavy preparation had finally come, and while I wasn't excited about it my adrenaline was pumping me up for it. I passed everything. I did my PT, my martial arts training, which on that day involved me fighting Jon to which we tied, and my hunting practice. I actually managed to thwart Jon in that test, and win despite the fact he wasn't taking it easy on me. Then again he never took it easy on me during training, except for when he mentored me, so I had an idea of what to expect from him. Our last preparations were small, simply gather up our munitions into the working APC, fuel the vehicle up with some gasoline, which was in the storage house with us, and rest ourselves for the next day.

Most of the afternoon I spent reading Jon's Bible. I was actually beginning to believe everything in this book was true. I felt an uplifting presence each time I read it. The feeling was much stronger whenever I came upon a parable that made me ponder and ever time I received an answer to it. The Bible actually gave plenty of very good moral questions I also ended up asking myself. It also gave alot of very revelating answers to those questions. I always wanted to be the best I could morally and the Bible had a certain wisdom to it. 2 Nephi chapter two was especially revelating, as it gives an explanation to why God gave us free agency to choose what we do in this life, as well as a reason for why we face situations that make us unhappy. Think about it, what would life really be like if everything was all good or all bad. Really what is happiness really worth if there is nothing negative to take away from it. Something must have an opposite to make it meaningful. Good and Evil, Right and Wrong, Light and Dark. I especially love that passage of the Scriptures. Even moreover because it's the one that made be believe the Gospel was true.

That evening, Jon gave me a marking ceremony. He insisted upon the ritual because of my ability to kill four xenomorphs on my own, even without him being present. I joined Jon in prayer (because I told him about my spiritual revelation, and was now a believer of his faith so I prayed with him) before the ceremony began. He knelt down, took out a xenomorph's finger claw, and gently pressed it against my right arm. The acid stung my arm as he made the same symbol he'd made on his mask. It was a little uncomfortable and kind of worrying, but it wasn't to bad, it was like getting a tattoo. Jon also had a few gifts for me. Jon had taken a trip to the hot springs and retrieved on of the bodies, which he used to craft together a suit with the armor and fish net mesh he also had, for me. The suit was kind of revealing but it was much more protecting than what I'd been wearing for the past three months, and I wouldn't have to worry as much about acid damage. He also used the tails to make a combi-stick, and used one of the elongated heads for part of my bio-mask. The jaw had been removed from the rest of the head, which had been hollowed out, and made for my head to fit inside. I got a feel for how to switch the vision modes, and how the targeting system worked. Jon also gave me his wristbracer and plasma caster. For as powerful and destructive as they were he didn't want them. He also showed me how to activate the camoflauge, and self destruction sequence on them as well as how to regulate the explosive force, and how to deactivate it. Even with that calming bit of news I was still very concerned about having a high explosive devise strapped to my arm.

I have to admit I looked very cool with my armor and weapons. I was decked out, armed to the teeth. Although given what we were about to go up against the next day there was a good reason for it.

After I was marked and suited up, I knelt down as Jon bestowed the honorable nickname he had for me, "Pyode/Kha'bj-te Tarei'hsan." Jon explained that it meant "Soft and Reckless Scorpion." Since I was part human, I was given the designation 'soft' because the Yautja commonly calls us humans "pyode amedha" or "soft meat." It was also used as a respectful description of my kindness, and willingness to help out. That last part though I feel was a little sarcastic. "Kha'bj-te" was meant to extenuate my reckless behavior, as the word literally meant 'reckless,' and how lucky I am all the time. The last word ",Tarei'hsan," meant scorpion, which was given to me because I reminded Jon in some way of a scorpion. Jon bowed to me, as did I to him, and the ceremony ended.

I enjoyed freshly picked gwevle berries, and vergle fruit. This was a very nice change of pace from what I normally ate since Jon and I commonly snacked on the wildlife around the area, which I still despised, but tolerated.

We went to bed early that evening. Although Jon wouldn't be waking me up super early like normal, because we wanted to attack during the day when they were more inactive, we needed as much rest as we could get before we engaged in an all-out-attack.

That night as I sat in my tent I thought about Jon. I thought about him quite alot those three months. I had grown to care for him quite a bit. No I wouldn't give up on him until he truely understood how much he was worth to me. He was my friend, and I loved him. Yes, loved. I wasn't going to hide my feelings. I loved Jon. I would make him see that sooner or later.

I was ripped out of my peaceful sleep when the jungle erupted with screaming and roaring. It was still dark out, but I had Jon's bio-mask with me to see what was going on. Although, since seen this multiple times before, especially during the night I didn't need to see to know what was going on. Jon was having yet another traumatic episode. You could say I lost my senses, and was incredibly foolish for doing this, but I just couldn't help myself. I had to calm Jon down. I couldn't spend another night hearing him struggle like this.

"Jon!" I called him. He turned his head sharply and looked at me with predatory intent. He roared intimidating, as I cautiously approached him. "Jon, it's me. Remember me? Jenny?" I asked him softly. Jon was still out of control an took a swipe at me with his claws. "Jon, please stop! It's me Jenny! I'm not going to hur-" I almost finished before I was backhanded into a tree. My armor absorbed some of the impact for me, so it didn't hurt as much as it could have.

Jon ran towards me and I rolled away, dodging a blow from his foot. "Jon! Stop it please! I won't hurt you!" My words still didn't get through to him and he clawed at me some more. One of his blows connected and I fell backwards. He then grabbed ahold of my foot and threw me at another tree. That time it really hurt. "Jon, please don't make me do this. Please." I pleaded with him one last time. Jon roared defensively. That wasn't going to end up happening. I charged the same time he did. I jumped over him and wrapped my tail around his throat. I didn't want to have to do this, but given how he was reacting, I had little choice. He grabbed my tail and swung me around before I lost my hold on him and I was thrown into my tent. I untangled myself in time to avoid another attack. I ran around him trying to get a good angle on him, dodging his attacks as I ran. I managed to leap on his back and ride him like a jockey. I still refused to hurt him. I just needed to wait until his episode was over, and I could talk him down. That was easier said than done though.

He managed to rip me off his back and throw me away again. He threw his fist at me, which I blocked it with my arms. That was a mistake, he hit with the force of a dump truck and I ended up being flung into the air again. I was tossed around like a rag doll in that fight. That blow left a bruise on my arm. I scrapped his leg with my tail and tackled him to the ground. I left him no room to recover, swiftly running and pounced around him hitting him as I went. Eventually though he did recover and grabbed me by the tail. Jon swung me to the ground hard over and over again. Thankfully this time he didn't throw me away. I let him come closer to me, making him think he was about to deliver a death blow, but I brought my foot into his crotch. Even he wasn't immune to that kind of punishment. He lowered his head allowing me to kick him in the face. "I'm so sorry Jon." I apologized sincerely for that.

Jon slowly recovered, grunting and clicking his mandibles in pain as he did. For a moment I thought he was coming out of it. "Jon? Are you alright now?" I asked stupidly. He back handed me in the face hard, this time drawing blood. He also managed to knock my mask off with that blow. I touched my nose and felt it run wet with blood.

I heard Jon approaching from behind, and I turned to face him. "Please! Jon! Stop it!" I begged him tearfully. He stopped his approach, and suddenly fell weakly to his knees as he grasped at his head. He was finally coming out of his episode. He grunted weakly as he looked around himself. "Jenny?" He said concerned as he saw me.

"Jon!" I called as I ran to him. He saw the blood on my nose and immediately began chastising himself.

"I did it again, didn't I? And I hurt you."

"No it's fine it's just a nose bleed." I assured him.

"Yeah and I could've done worse to you too." His voice said concerned.

"Jon you weren't in control it's not your fault." I tried to calm him.

"Yes but I could've killed you and then what would've happened ,Jenny!" He responded. I could see he was looking out for my safety, but I could've cared less about my well-being. I wrapped my arms around him in a hug. "What are you doing?"

I made no response, an simply kept myself attached to him. Jon understood my gesture and immediately began trying to force me off. "No no no no no."

I slapped him as hard as I could and erupted. "No, I'm not going to go away. You may not want this but I know you need it. I can't sleep another night seeing you like this!"

"I could've killed you!" He proclaimed.

"Jon you didn't mean to do it and I know you didn't! But I don't care if you could've or not! I love you ,Jon!" I told him.

Jon remained motionless for a moment. "What?"

"You heard me! I love you!" I spoke with tears in my eyes. "I know you don't want this, but I'm not going to see you spend another night like this! I can't stand to see you like this anymore! I love you!" I told him. He could see the look of desperate concern and care on my face. I only cared about him, and I wasn't going to quit showing my affection for him. Jon knew this, and he couldn't stop me.

"Fine." Jon gave up. "You win."

I forced him to sleep in the tent with me that night. He made some argument, but I assured him we were only sleeping together. I wasn't going to see him spend another night out on the cold hard ground. I at least wanted him to be warm. We set back up the tent and we both went inside. Jon was a little big for the tent had to rest at an angle. He wanted to dress my injuries first, and I agreed. We turned on our flash light and he fixed my bruises and cuts. "Please take of your mask ,Jon." I asked from him

"What, No-" He tried to protest.

"Just do it! I don't want to talk to you through that stupid mask! I want to see you!" I screamed at him. Jon could understand I wasn't in a mood to take anything from him, nor did he have the energy to do or say anything. He made a clicked sigh, and reached for two small tubes that affixed his mask to his chest armor. They began releasing pressurized air as he pulled them out. He then took the mask off and I finally saw him. His face was exactly what I thought he did, mandibles, sharp teeth, and all. Only he didn't have the same look as they normally were presented as looking like. Jon kept his mandibles covering his exposed mouth, His entire face was a light brown color, and his eyes... He had heterochromia so his eyes were two different colors. One of them his was a light cyan blue, and the other one was a firey red. They were beautiful. I stared at them intently. Jon mistook my starring for disgusted awe.

"Yes I know I'm an ugly mother fker." I could finally hear his voice past the echo of his bio-mask. His voice had a perfect human accent. "You don't need to hide it I know what you're thinking. I won't be offended if you say it. I've been through worse." He moved his mandibles in resonance with his voice.

"I'm lookig at your eyes ,Jon." I told him.

"What about them?" He questioned me, confused.

"They're beautiful." I told him truthfully.

"They're just my eyes. What about them or anything makes me beautiful?" He couldn't understand.

"You mean no one has ever told you that you even look handsome, or beautiful before? Your friends or family?" I asked him.

"Not that I can recall, No. I never cared what they thought about my appearance. I didn't matter." He was still confused by my questions but made no move to protest. "Why do you ask?"

"Because I think you are." I replied. He scoffed a little, thinking I was joking. "I mean it ,Jon, look at you. You aren't ugly. Yes you have a crab like face, but have you ever taken a look at yourself. You're character is beautiful. I've told you this numerous times now, I can see it in your eyes, in your actions. Not just that but you yourself, are beautiful, just for who and what you are. Besides, I think your pretty hot to be honest." Jon made a short smile with his mandiles, but he still had a hard time believing me.

"Why do you care so much about this ,Jenny? Forgive me for asking, but why does this seem so important to you?" He questioned me.

"Because after all you've done for me, I believe you are handsome and beautiful in your own way, and that is why I love you." I said wrapping him in a firm hug.

I could feel his arms slowly warp around me. He was unsure of what was going on. Yes he understood I was giving him my affection, but it'd been so long since he'd been given any kind of endearment he almost forgot how to show it. He did it though and he kept his arms wrapped around me.

I released my hold on him for a short moment and kissed him on the face. I could see the surprised look on his face as I did it. He'd never been shown this kind of tenderness before in his life. Even after I stopped and returned to hugging him. I could still see he had no idea what had just happened. He eventually did though, and we kept ourselves wrapped together lovingly even as we slept that night.

That had done it. I could feel it as he held me close to him that evening. I had given him a reason to live. Somebody he could care for. He was finally happy. He had something to live for.

I heard Jon's mandibles click softly next to my ear as he quietly whispered. "Thank-you ,Jenny. Thank-you so so much. I love you too." I could tell he had tears I. his eyes. Only these were joyful. I said my first real prayer that evening. I thanked God for allowing me to for everything he had done for me, and I graciously thanked him for allowing me to help Jon. I asked that he'd continue to keep us safe, and that our mission tomorrow be successful. I continued asking that my family would stay safe and more importantly that he would keep the rest of the colonies, marines, and especially Jon safe. I ended with a reverent Amen, and drifted peacefully to sleep.

And I am done with yet another chapter. So I wanted to grow Jon and Jenny's relationship further, since this 8s part romance, and I really hope I succeeded in doing so without making it to cringy and awkward. I also tried to further the story a little since it's kind of been on hold for the characters development and all. Also speaking of the story I plan on making the story a lot more detailed. It's going to be in three or four main parts and this is the ending of the first part. I plan on introducing more characters in the future, and I hope that the next parts will not take nearly as long as this one was. I hope you are all enjoying the story so far and I'll keep posting them on this story. Thanks for reading guys, especially you NeverNeverGirl and I'll be ready with the next chapter as soon as possible.