xXx

Xerxes stood on his bridge yet again. He still though about the female. She took care of the Kainde Amedha so easily. She did her part and now he had to keep his end of the deal. But maybe it wasn't as bad as he thought. He could use her to train his scientists and unblooded warriors. She could also give them a look into the daily lives of the Pyode Amedha and explain the many aspects of their life which the Yautja did not fully understand.

But she was a Hybrid herself. She was the first and only one of her kind. She was not at place anywhere. His blooded warriors may want to kill her, wanting to add another trophy to their belt or just because she is not one of them. It would be interesting to see how daily life on the ship would change with her among them.

A sharp beeping brought Xerxes out of his thoughts. A Yautja typed in a few things into one of the computers and spun around his chair so he was facing Xerxes.

"Sir. We are receiving a Yautja distress signal"

"From where?"

"It's from the Triple Moon Clan. They crash landed on a planet infested with Kainde Amedha that is only a few thousands miles away. Only two are left and they are requesting immediate rescue"

"Do it"

The Yautja turned back around and went back to typing on a computer. Xerxes walked to a communication device and pressed a button, opening a channel to another device elsewhere on the ship.

xXx

Hiram sat in his sleeping quarters. At some point of time, when he was taking the female to her sleeping quarters, they got separated. All he knew was that she was behind him when he turned a corner then was gone. He figured that sooner or later the female would turn up and he could go get her out of a fight with another Yautja or fetch her out of the ventilation system.

He chuckled to himself. Being so small, the female could fit where the grown Yautja couldn't, making it very easy for her to slip into the vents or some unknown crack and disappear until they used their heat sensors to find her. But even then she could slip away, being as quick and agile as a Kainde Amedha. Given the proper training and she could probably take down a full grown Yautja. It helps to be of mixed blood. Well, for her anyway. Once she becomes more confident, she'll be hell on wheels.

A beeping sound filled the room. Hiram hit a button on the wall next to his bed. It opened the link to the bridge.

"Hiram. We're heading out to help some fallen Warriors from the Triple Moon Clan. We're going to need the female for this mission. Get into some sort of armor that fits her and equip her with some weapons which she can use" Xerxes said

"I'll be happy to once I find her" Hiram said with a chuckle

"You don't have the female!" Xerxes was both surprised and angry

"No. I was taking her to her sleeping quarters and then she was gone. She's bound to show up sooner or later" Hiram tried to reassure Xerxes

"If one of the other Yautja doesn't get a hold of her first. They could kill her!"

"I have confidence that she can stay alive"

"Get out there and look for her!" Xerxes shouted before closing the channel

xXx

Aleris walked down a dark hallway alone. She had been busy looking at things on the walls when her friend was taking her somewhere, but she had lost him. She walked around aimlessly, trying to find someone to help her. She came up to a hallway intersection. She looked down both hallways.

No sign of any life. This was just great. Now she was lost and couldn't find anyone to ask directions from. She could just hop into the vent shafts again and just crawl around until she found another Jamaican, but for some reason that seemed unwise.

On this ship, she sensed a some what testosterone environment. That meant that this place was full of men. Now, they are alien men. Alien men that have too many hormones raging through their bodies and would probably love to kill her for one reason or another. It may not be wise for her to ask for directions from one of the men.

She couldn't double back either, because she didn't know where to double back to. All the hallways looked the same. Aleris put her back to one of the walls and slid down to the floor. What the hell was she supposed to do now? She was lost and couldn't ask for directions in fear of death.

She could just set off some sort of alarm. That would get some Jamaicans here. But for the wrong reason. They would probably kill her for disturbing some bizarre ritual knighting ceremony or something like that.

What to do…what to do…

She stood up again. She was getting kind of scared on this alien ship now. So many subtle sounds all around her. She really did hate that. That always meant that the killer was near by. Just waiting for their victims to walk by them or turn their back to them.

Whoa. Aleris had obviously seen one too many horror movies in her time. Oh yeah, she was going to scare the shit out of herself before she found her friend again.

She turned and faced the wall, putting both hands flat against it and leaning into it. She had to keep her mind focused and her thoughts straight. No thinking about the boogieman and wondering if he tastes like cotton candy.

She looked at the wall in front carefully. There was some language written on it. Strange, Aleris thought. It was nothing more than a bunch of lines pointed in various directions. Aleris remembered seeing something like this somewhere before. But where…

Oh yes, now she remembered. She saw it on one of her numerous video games. Video game designers would always create a language to fit the story line. The players would have to learn it to understand fully what was going on.

If Aleris could just find her friend, and maybe a piece of paper and a pen, she could create a legend of what each symbol meant. Then there would be no stopping her from knowing what it said. But she would have to find her friend first.

Damn! She was stuck. She hit the wall, right next to where the lettering was, hard. It hurt her fist, but it was a good hurt. A little red light flashed on not soon after Aleris had exerted her anger at the wall. She thought it would send a signal to one of the Jamaicans. That would be bad. She took a step back, looking all around her for something to move.

Nothing did. In front of her though, a piece of the wall fell slowly down, exposing a square hole. Inside, a motorized tray moved outward towards Aleris. She stared at it, not sure of what it was doing. Then it stopped when fully extended and the little red light turned off. Aleris took a step closer to the tray.

On it laid a knife. It was a good size dagger that was serrated at the base. The knife, including the handle, was probably a good foot long. Below the knife was a little plaque that stated "Da'dtou-di". Now if only Aleris could understand what that meant.

Aleris just couldn't bear it. She picked the knife up. It wasn't proportional to the rest of her, but she didn't care. It was a knife!

A roar echoing through the hallways took Aleris' attention from the knife. A Jamaican was somewhere close by. She looked down all of the hallways. Nothing…yet. She put the knife in the back of her pants, not having anywhere else to put it. She jumped up on to the tray that was still out and jumped up, hitting a ventilation shaft cover and knocking out.

It made a loud metal bang when it hit the floor. Aleris jumped onto the tray again and grabbed onto the edge of the hole. She swung her feet up and slid into the shaft. She quickly began to crawl down the shaft.

She was going to learn these shafts better than the hallways. Oh well. Maybe if she followed the shafts far enough, she'd find her friend or the really ugly Jamaican. But, if she just so happen to stumble upon a nice chicken dinner, she wouldn't mind stopping for a few minutes.

xXx

Hiram still lay in his sleeping quarters. He wasn't going to go out into the ship and look for the female. No, he felt that if he stayed stationary, she would find him.

Hiram exhaled slowly. This female defied everything he had learned. She wasn't afraid of the Yautja. Ok, well, maybe she was afraid them, but she wasn't afraid of him. He liked that thought. He had his own personal specimen to study and train. It was quiet in his quarters. All he could hear was the slight hum of the computer sensors and a faint thumping sound.

Hiram sat up on his bed. A thumping sound? It stopped shortly after he sat up.

A slight squeak sound was heard. Then it happened. All Hiram saw was a blur of blue falling out of the ventilation shaft. Hiram shot up from his bed and pulled out a knife from his waist. He relaxed quickly once he realized who it was. The female decided to drop in on him.

She flipped her long brown hair behind her shoulder. She looked up at Hiram with some panic, until she realized who it was.

"Friend!" She said with much happiness

She jumped up and ran to him, wrapping her arms around his waist. He put his blade away, knowing she was no serious threat. He put his hands on his her shoulders, slowly applying pressure in an effort to get her off of him without hurting her. She held on strong, but she lost her grip on him and fell back onto the floor.

She looked up to him and began to laugh. Hiram was confused by this. Why would she be laughing? He just pushed her to the floor. He certainly wouldn't be laughing. He'd be killing whoever did it. The female stood up again. She reached behind her and retrieved a Da'dtou-di.

"I borrowed this Da-tow-die"

Hiram chuckled to himself. The female was trying to talk in their tongue. It wasn't even close to the actual word, but a valiant effort nonetheless. He took the knife from her carefully.

Time was running out. It was going to take a while to get the female suited up with some sort of body armor and get her a weapon that could be used to kill Kainde Amedha effectively. He grabbed her arm and tugged her harshly out of his room.

xXx

Xerxes stood in front of a large window that let him see out into the great emptiness of space. He was waiting for word from Hiram. He knew Hiram had the female now. He also knew it would be awhile for Hiram to fit the female with some sort of body armor. Then he would have to find a weapon for her. Yeah, it would take forever most likely.

The automatic door behind Xerxes opened and appeared Hiram. Xerxes gave him a look, asking him if he had the female. Hiram didn't have to answer him. A unfamiliar clicking sound followed Hiram as he walked towards Xerxes. He noticed black boots following Hiram.

It was none other than Aleris. She stood behind her friend, not wanting to tick off one of the Jamaicans for being there. Her friend had given her different clothes to wear. For some reason, Aleris got the distinct feeling that he was preparing her. She had on a black corset that had red embroidered designs all over it. She also has on a black skirt. Not quiet her size, but close enough. She also had killer black boots that went up to her knees on. They had a slight heal to them. Aleris was now Xena: Warrior Princess!

Xerxes eyed the female. She looked like she was ready for a battle in such an Ooman fashion. Xerxes looked back to Hiram.

"Does she have a weapon?" Xerxes asked calmly

"Not yet. I brought her here so you could approve her outfit" Hiram said, pointing to the female

Aleris had walked over to one of the Jamaicans that was busy typing on a computer. She noticed to computerized language from on the wall. The Jamaican looked over to Aleris, who was leaning over his shoulder, and hissed loudly. Aleris took the hint and backed off.

Hiram watched the female, chuckling to himself. This female was a very humorous character.

"Take her to the weapon room and fit her with a spear or something of some use to her. We can't have her be defenseless on the infested planet," Xerxes paused. He looked over to the female who had moved to another Yautja. "We don't know if her power to persuade the Kainde Amedha works outside her bloodline"

Hiram nodded. He understood it was a very real possibility that the female could die while saving the stranded Yautja. He thought for a moment. He could equip her with one of the firing weapons they took from a dead Pyode Amedha some years ago. That may be helpful. Xerxes saw Hiram thinking deeply.

"What are you thinking about?"

Hiram looked up to his Leader. The female moved on to another Yautja to pester.

"What if we gave the female one of the firing weapons we took form a dead Pyode Amedha?"

"Do you think that would help her survive?" Xerxes spoke like a father, questioning his child to better himself

"Perhaps. I should find out if she even knows how to work it. If she doesn't I may have to give her a simple spear since we don't know the complete workings of the weapon"

"Then do it" Xerxes turned around and went back to staring out the window

Hiram nodded, knowing he had won some respect from the Clan. He looked for the female. She was on a different Yautja, not so much bothering him, but hovering.

Aleris looked over the shoulder of yet another Jamaican. She wanted to know what was on the screen. It was the language with the lines that she wanted to know desperately. The Jamaican quickly stood up and spun around to face her, startling Aleris out of her skin. The Jamaican reached out and grabbed her arm, pulling her harshly towards him.

He clicked something to her. She figured he was either warning her to back off or giving off a one liner before he killed her. He slowly lifted her off the floor with her one arm. He brought her head level with his. He looked into her eyes. Aleris could feel her shoulder slowly starting slide out of place and it was becoming painful. She grabbed his wrist and pulled her body up in an effort to keep her shoulder in place.

Aleris realized the guy wasn't going to let her go. She had to fight her way out. She brought both of her feet up and held up her body with her feet around the top of his arm.

The Yautja watched the Pyode Amedha female closely. He had no idea what she was doing. It's not like she was anywhere near strong enough to fight off his grip on her arm. Hiram also watched. He was curious to see what the female would do.

Aleris wasn't sure if this would do anything, but it was worth a shot. She brought up one foot and, with all the strength in her leg, she rammed her metal heel into the Jamaicans third eye. The Jamaican was knocked out cold and fell to the floor. Aleris landed on her feet and took several steps back. All the Jamaicans in the room stopped doing what they were doing and stared at her. She looked around the room liked a scared cat.

She decided to cover herself quickly. "He started it!" She pointed to him

Xerxes gave Hiram a look. "I think the female can handle herself well. Just make sure she has a weapon with her at all times" Xerxes went back to the window

Hiram nodded and looked back to the female. She wasn't scared of the other Yautja, but rather, of what might happen to her for defending herself. Hiram only hoped that she would figure out that they reward such acts of bravery.

xXx

This was heaven. Aleris looked at several models of guns laid out before her. She looked them over again and again, trying to pick the right one for her. She couldn't believe it. Her friend was just going to let her pick one out for her to use.

Hiram stood by the automatic door, studying the female as she went over the weapons again and again. He clicked at her. The room's translator picked it up and the British man said what Hiram clicked.

"Do you know how to use these weapons?" He asked

"Yes!" Aleris said as she grabbed a gun and spun around to meet him. "This is where I tie my shirt around my head and shoot from the waist!"

Aleris smiled at her remark. Her friend could only cock his head at her. She knew he didn't get it, being an alien and all. She turned around and put the gun back. She picked up another gun after not too long. It was a sleek Uzi. She also picked up the harness that came with it and quickly put it on.

Hiram marveled at how much she knew. She could really clue them into her specie. Well, one of them anyway.

The female slid the gun into the black harness and looked to him. She smiled at him. He walked up to her, placing his clawed hand on her shoulder. She had to crank her neck to look up at him.

"What's your name? I'm really getting tired of calling you 'my friend' all the time" She said flatly

Hiram chuckled at her. That was true. Neither of them had had time to ask the other's name. How informal of them.

"Hiram," he paused a second, then continued. "And yours?"

Aleris laughed at the British guy. He was going to start getting annoying here really quick.

"It's Aleris. Don't ask, please. My parents were stoned when they named me"

Hiram cocked his head. She used the adjective 'stoned'. He had no idea what that meant.

"Stoned?" He asked

"Oh, um…they had been using drugs"

Hiram nodded. He pondered her name for a second. Aleris. It sounded almost Yautja. She may have been named that if the Pyode Amedha had engineered her. Xerxes called out over the intercom.

"Attention warriors. We will be landing on the infested planet in not too long. Prepare yourselves accordingly. Bring the Female, Hiram" The link was closed

Hiram looked down at the female. She wasn't scared, but stood bravely. She knew her time in the spotlight was coming. She had already proven herself somewhat to Hiram's Clan, but this could cement her position of honor among them. If she helped the fallen Yautja and made it out alive, she would never be second guessed again. She would be a blooded warrior.

But she would have to survive the mission first.