Thank you all again for your reviews. And if any of you feel I have missed out on an explanation as to the "Why is Melissa still alive?" The answer to that question will be answered in chapter 4. And, as to the whereabouts of our villain, he's still alive but I am not going to reveal anything more. It will ruin future chapters. As for the musical lyrics, I have borrowed them from Marc Anthony "Balimos", Rick Martin and Christina Aguilera "Nobody Wants to be Lonely", Shakira "Whenever, Wherever", Aliyah "Try Again", Celine Dion "Because You Loved Me", "That's the way it is", "Beauty and the Beast", "Gonna Make You Happy" "Love Doesn't Ask Why"

Chapter 3: Of Song and Dance

As Tanaka and Varick surveyed their surroundings, the club music played loudly and slightly vibrated the support beam where they were positioned. Tanaka noticed a front entrance, where two ooman males were checking people in. One was fairly short and stocky with a bald head and the other was very tall with coal black hair and piercing blue eyes. Tanaka could only assume that the dark haired male was the ooman female's brother. They looked too much alike to be anything else.

There was a massive open floor that had people dancing everywhere. At the opposite end of the dance floor was a long wooden bar that was approximately twenty feet in length and about two feet wide where two females were up on top of it, dancing (Think of the movie Coyote Ugly).

One of the females was an unknown to Tanaka. The other female was the one that he had been tracking for the last week. Tanaka could not help but be entranced by the fact that both girls were able to stay on the narrow bar while performing all of their stunts. Sometimes they slide from one end of the bar to the other and sometimes they danced quite close to the edge.

Tanaka had to laugh when one of the ooman males tried to get up on the bar. The black haired girl placed her foot on his chest and gave him a hard shove. The foolish male fell off of the bar with disastrous results, only to be lifted up by the tall dark haired ooman male and escorted out the front door.

That large male is impressive. He almost has a Yautja sense about him but, he's definitely human. Everything about him reads human except his size. He's a lot larger than any ooman male that I have ever seen.

"Father? Did you notice that large ooman male that just removed another male from the building?" Tanaka questioned his father only to see that he was focused on something else. Or should he say someone else and it wasn't the female of Tanaka's choosing. It was the one who looked exactly like her except for being a little bit older.

Could it be, after all these years I have finally found Lissa. She still looks as lovely as the first day I met her. Oh, to be able to say something to her. But what would I say. It's been twenty-five years since the last time we spoke to each other. Wait a moment! My son is interested in her daughter. Like father, like son. Or I should say, like mother, like daughter.

"Hey there you two! What are you hunting this time? Oomans?" another predator asked as he came down through the open rafter that was located just above them.

"Bashera! You're supposed to be guarding the ship, not down here making a nuisance of yourself" Varick scowled as he looked over at Tanaka's cousin. He had to shake his head at Bashera because, he was always a prankster. Bashera never took anything seriously especially when it came to anything work related, including the hunt. That's why Bashera's father sent him with Tanaka and Varick, to see if maybe they could knock some sense into him, which they doubted.

"Yeah, well, I can't let you two have all the fun. Besides, it looks to me like these oomans really know how to throw a party" Bashera was excited at the prospect of actually being able to watch a live action human party instead of getting the reviews on one from some of the elders.

"If you're here, then who's watching the ship in your absence?" Tanaka asked as he turned his head to face his younger cousin, his long dark dreadlocks swinging and the metal bands that were wrapped around each lock gently tapped against his back and arm.

"Uh, oh. You mean I was actually supposed to have someone fill in for me while I went looking for you two. Well…I sort of have someone filling in"

"Who would that be?" Varick asked.

"Zalmai" Bashera said just barely above a whisper.

"Ki'cte. You let a young blood…he's not even a young blood. Take the watch. Have you lost your mind?" Varick growled as he quickly turned his head, the metal bands on his dreadlocks made a "clinking" sound when they hit part of his armor.

"What? He's not that young. He just hasn't hit the age where he can go on a hunt" Bashera knew he had messed up but, he didn't want to be a babysitter.

He had never even been given the chance to go on a hunt and he knew he was past the age. Every time he asked about hunting, he was told that he needed to "Grow up" a bit more before asking. He was only about a hundred years younger than Tanaka and Tanaka went on his first real hunt when he was two hundred. Bashera had yet to even be given the chance to hunt humans for sport.

"By the way. Why are you two here?" Bashera asked, hoping to change the subject of his little mishap.

"Tanaka is interested in courting and this time it happens to be a little ooman female that has caught his eye" Varick stated, hating the fact that Bashera changed the subject.

"Oh! Which one? There must be over fifty females in here" Bashera questioned as he looked over the entire room. He had never seen so many females together in his life.

"The young dark haired female that is dancing on the bar with those two other females" Varick said as he pointed Bashera's head in the right direction.

"Wow! I have never seen that before" Bashera exclaimed as his eyes widened when he watched the light haired female do a split on the bar without even struggling.

One of the other two females, the dark haired one, was pouring alcohol over one end of the bar, while the other one bent over and retrieved a box of matches. The brunette that picked up the box of matches lit one and dropped it onto the alcohol wet bar. Bashera watched as the dark headed female jumped up and grabbed a hold of a pipe, that ran about six and half above the bar and pulled herself up.

The dark haired female crawled her way over to a water faucet and turned it on. Water sprayed everywhere, extinguishing the flames. She let herself down, allowing the smoke to envelope her and the water to drench her. After the flames were gone, she reached up and turned off the water. She closed her eyes, wiped off her face with her hands, and then shook her dark mane, splashing water everywhere. She threw her hair forward and then slung it back, allowing the wet tresses to flow down her back like a black wavy cape. She turned her head, smiled at the male crowd that had gathered around the bar, and then tossed her hair around, allowing them to look but not touch.

Tanaka could not believe his eyes. He had never seen anything more seductive than this female with her tease but don't please attitude. He watched the way her clothes stuck to her like a second skin. Her hair hung down her back in loose sultry waves. Her ruby red lips curved upwards in a delicate smile as she gazed at the crowd before looking briefly up in his direction. Her blue eyes grew wide for a moment and then she smiled at him, almost as though she sensed he was admiring her.

"That's one look that I have never seen before" Bashera stated as he watched his cousin's gaze follow the dark haired female.

"Don't you have something better to do with your time then be here" Tanaka asked, trying to keep his annoyance under wraps.

"Nope, actually I have nothing to do" Bashera stated.

"Then will you please find something to do" Varick stated, gruffly.

"Sure. I can…I can… I know I can go check out all the different kinds of male competition they have in this place" Bashera said as he made himself invisible and started to creep along the large metal support beam.

"Don't go hunting. Tonight is just for observation only!" Varick ordered, hoping that Bashera would not expose himself or get himself into any kind of trouble before the night was over with.

"Do think he'll listen?" Tanaka asked with a sigh of resignation as he looked towards his father for an answer.

"This is your cousin and my nephew that we are discussing, so…no" Varick stated, hoping for once that Bashera would prove him wrong, but he doubted it very seriously. Bashera was always getting into trouble with someone or something that was bigger and stronger than him.

"How true" Tanaka agreed as he focused his attention back on the female that he had been watching. As he watched, he noticed that she was picking up a headset that had a microphone attached to it. Is she going to make a speech?

"Hey everyone! I hope you all are having a good time tonight. My brother, Alex, has decided to sing tonight. So, let's give him a big round of applause" the female said as the large dark haired male climbed up onto the bar and grabbed a microphone. Tanaka could hear some music starting up and "Alex" began to sing from his heart.

(Marc Anthony----Balimos).

Tanaka listened as people began to cheer for more of his singing and he had to agree, the male was not a bad singer. His voice was soft and filled with emotion and it flowed into his song, which is something that he had never heard in any other ooman singer.

"Okay, alright. This time, my sister, Melody, will sing with me" Alex stated with a flashing smile.

"Okay, big brother, you win. This time" Melody said as she smiled at Alex.

(Ricky Martin and Christina Aguleira---Nobody wants to be loney)

The crowd was going crazy and screaming at the top of their lungs. Tanaka had never seen such a display of human emotion before. At least, not in a room this size with so many humans around.

"Father, is something wrong?" Tanaka asked as he watched his father watch the older dark haired female ooman that was still behind the bar serving drinks and smiling cheerfully, her blue eyes were sparkling just like Melody. Ah, at least now he had her first name to go on. Melody, it was as beautiful as her voice and her. Why hadn't I thought of that before? And what is father doing? Tanaka thought as he watched his father stay completely focused on the older dark haired female. He thought she was quite lovely but, he already made up his mind that Melody was the female that he wanted. He could understand his father's fascination with the older female but, what he couldn't understand was why he was looking at her as though he had known for a long time or he was remembering her from the past.

"Not really. I think I know her but, I'm not sure" Varick stated as he crept along several support beams until he rested on top of one that was located directly above the bar. Tanaka followed closely behind, watching carefully as the older female walked back and forth along the floor, refilling empty mugs and grabbing fresh bottles of malt liquor.

"Father, if you get to close, you're liable to be seen and cause a panic amongst these oomans" Tanaka stated but, he knew it was like talking to a brick wall. Just not working.

That's when Tanaka watched the female stop in her tracks and look up to where his father was positioned. He couldn't believe it; she actually smiled up at his father and whispered something to him. That's when heard his father ask her for a dance on the next slow song, during her break. He told he didn't care if it was in public or in private; he just wanted one dance with her. To Tanaka's amazement, she said yes and spoke his father's name.

How does she know my father? How did she know he was there? And, more importantly, why did she say yes? But, father doesn't know how to dance, at least not the ooman way or does he. I know there are many things that my father has never told me about, especially when it came to his last visit on this back-water planet that the oomans call "Earth".

POV:

I don't believe it, he's actually come back and he's here. I do hope my face isn't turning bright red. I can't believe that he actually wants to dance with me after all these years. It's obvious that he still cares about me and is still in love with me but, can he handle the truth that he has another son who looks human. Would Alex be able to handle the truth that his father has returned after all these years? Why is he here? It can't be time for the kv'var. That's not for another seventy-five years. Then what is the purpose that brings him back. How did he find me after all these years? Wait, of course, one of his clan members is interested in Melody! Now which one is it?

"Mom, why are your cheeks so pink?" Melody asked as she watched the color stain her mother's cheeks.

"Oh, that's nothing. Just feeling a little bit on the warm side" warm was a mild understatement for how Melissa was feeling at that very moment. She was surprised that her clothes weren't melting off of her.

"Uh, you did happen to notice that we have some unexpected visitors up on the support beams?" Melody asked as she pointed upwards.

"Yes, I am not senile. Not yet anyway" Melissa laughed as she began to juggle two beer bottles around before breaking the tops on each of them and pouring them into a couple of glass mugs.

"I never said that" Melody chuckled as she took two bottles of hard liquor, one scotch and the other one was vodka, and lined up ten shot glasses, two rows of five. Then she unscrewed the tops on both bottles and poured the both bottles at the same time, filling the shot glasses.

Melody could feel a set of eyes upon her. She had felt them all night. Especially when she was dancing on top of the bar. They were watching her every move and admiring her in every way. This made Melody feel warm and her body tingled at the thrill of this mysterious stranger who watched her very carefully.

"Let's see, it's almost time to start taking some breaks. We've been at this for almost four hours. Let's start with Carrie and Alex taking breaks first. After them, I want you and Rick to take your break. Then Mara and Bruno. Lastly, will be Bruno and Rick's two brothers. I will take mine after everyone else has taken there's. Breaks will last no more than thirty minutes. Agreed" Melissa stated to Melody and the other three girls behind the counter.

"Agreed" They said and unison. They all knew why they had to take breaks with at least one of the bouncers. Mara was almost accosted by a drunken patron about six months ago. If it hadn't been for Bruno coming at the time he did, then they wouldn't know what could have happened to her.

"Carrie, you go grab Alex and tell him it's time for break" Melissa stated as she continued to fill up more beer mugs.

"Ok" Carrie cheerfully stated as she walked across the floor, all the while setting her watch to go off in thirty minutes.

Two and a half hours later

"Okay mom. It's time for your break. Go relax before you put us all to shame" Melody stated as she shooed her mother out from behind the bar, knowing that she was going to be well protected by the large humanoid who was sticking to the rafters.

That was, until she looked up and only saw the one up there. He just shrugged his shoulders at her, basically saying "You're guess is as good as mine". Just then, that's when she turned her head and saw the other one. He was holding out his hand to her mother and she went straight to him.

Melody watched as he placed one hand around her mother's waist and took her other hand in his as she placed her hand on his shoulder. Melody had not realized how big he was until he stood there beside her mother. She guessed he had to be close to seven feet tall and weigh almost three hundred pounds of pure muscle. She had to admit, he was certainly light on his feet.

It amazed Melody that no one seemed to notice him. She had to laugh because he was probably the biggest man in this room and he was only wearing a metal loin cloth with some strange mesh shirt. On one hip, he carried what looked like a large golden club and on the other was some sort of Chinese looking weapon, which was also gold in color. Now, whether or not they were real gold, Melody had no idea and was not about to ask. She was just glad that her mom was happy being in his arms.

POV:

It had been such a long time since she had felt this wonderful. He was treating her as though she was fifteen again and she loved him more than anything for it. Melissa knew that now that Varick was here, she was going to have to tell him about Alex. His son. But how was she going to explain everything to Varick and make the introductions. She knew that they were going to be awkward at best.

"Such deep thoughts, my beautiful Lissa" Varick said as he held her close to him. He could smell the scent of her arousal and it was driving him crazy to be this close to her without being able to mate with her again. He knew she felt the same way just by the way her body scent was filling up his nostrils.

As Melissa felt Varick's hand pull her closer to him, she could smell the evidence of his desire for her. It was a scent that she could never forget. It was the scent of musk. Strong and intoxicating. That, along with the combination of a couple of drinks that some of the male clients had insisted on buying her.

Varick was trying to keep himself in check as he leaned over and buried his masked face into her dark hair, breathing in heavily. This wasn't his home planet where he could take Melissa away from here and show her how much he wanted her.

He could just barely hear the music, but to him it made sense. It was very true for the both of them. He still couldn't believe that it had been twenty-five years since the last time he held in his arms. Since he was able to touch her without worrying if what he was feeling was right or wrong.

"You could say that. Varick, I have missed you so much. How long are you in town for?" Melissa asked as she pulled herself closer to him, allowing her covered breasts to press into his massive chest.

"I'm here until the job is done" Varick stated as he groaned, inwardly, when he felt her nipples become hard and rub against him.

"What job would that be?" Melissa asked, trying to keep the conversation going for fear that this might be the last time she would ever see him again.

"Some ooman has found a nest of kainde amedha, hard meat. My crew and I have been sent here to make sure that they are not released upon the Earth" Varick stated.

"Do you know who found the nest?" Melissa asked.

"Not yet. We are still trying to find a possible trail and then when we find it, we plan on hunting" Varick said.

"Let me come along with you on the hunt" Melissa begged.

"I kind of figured that you would say something along those lines. Okay, you may come" Varick agreed, knowing that there was finally a possibility that they could be together.

"By the way. Where is Kareem at?" Varick finally asked.

"Not here. I left him after I took a baseball bat to him almost five years ago. I know he's still alive because no one has reported his body being dead… or alive for that matter. So, better to be safe than sorry, I assume he's alive and well and plotting his revenge against me" Melissa chuckled as she laid her head against Varick's shoulder, enjoying the feel of him.

"Why did you leave him?" Varick asked.

"I'll have to tell you later, when we have more time. It will be an all night story and possibly even more than a story" Melissa smiled up at him with a teasing look in her dark blue eyes.

"When and where?" Varick asked in a hushed voice.

"You remember where I used to live at with my parents. Same house, same room. Meet me just before sunrise. I'll leave the window open for you" Melissa grinned as she kissed the cheek of his metal mask.

"I wouldn't miss it" Varick stated as he stopped dancing and just held onto Melissa, hoping that this wasn't a dream. That he was finally going to get a second chance with the female who changed his life and made him feel what love was like. Made him want to finally have a monogamous relationship with a female.
(Celine Dion---Love doesn't ask why)

As the song ended, Melissa went back to work and Varick disappeared back up into the rafters. His eyes never leaving his beautiful Lissa. He felt like a young blood that had just discovered that females were different from males. His heart was racing as thought about meeting her in the early morning hours and being able to finally climb into her bed. That thought made him break out in a sweat.

"So, father, when did you learn how to dance like the oomans? And, do you know that female?" Tanaka asked.

"I'll tell you later. It's going to be a long night and an even longer morning" Varick stated as he smiled to himself. It was finally time for confessions of the past, present, and possible future.

Chapter four should be up by this weekend, as long as my inspiration for true love holds out.