Jennifer's Diary

June 4, 2621

My trial had gone pretty crappily as did Ch'ris' and Rachelle's. The Grand Council hadn't been very understanding to us, as you could've guessed. They didn't believe much of what we had to testify to them. I knew it was because they hated us. I could see some understanding for why they despised us so much. Ch'ris and Rachelle were dishonorable outcasts, and once they discovered I was a "member of the Weyland Oomans," as they put it, they learned really quickly to despise me just as much. It may also not have helped that I was part xenomorph. Although because I was not one of them they did not see me as an Abomination, unlike Jon. I'd spent enough time with him to know enough about Yautja society and it's views on those they consider Abominations, and what they most commonly do to them. Thankfully however the council needed the verdict of the "Grand Leader" before they could do anything to us, which meant we all still had some chance. Although if the Grand Leader was anything like the rest of the council, we were screwed. We weren't able to meet the Grand Leader during our trial. Ch'ris and Rachelle explained that the Grand Leader was very rarely ever seen by other Yautja, with the exception of the other members of his council. They explained this as well as a bunch of other interesting things about the Grand Leader and the Grand Council like the significance of the statues around the courtyard, and that the Grand Council also served as the Grand Leader's home. Ch'ris and Rachelle had never been among Yautja Prime's society to know any of these specifics, however Ch'ris had found some of his grandfather's old writings which went into detail about his place as a member of the Grand Council before his and the rest of the clan's banishment, which he shared some knowledge to me about.

Reo'am-oir, Ch'ris' grandfather, had once been an honorable member of the Grand Council, who's clan served closely with the enforcers in destroying bad blood insurgents. Over time though, Reo'am-oir learned more of the bad bloods and their values, which made him question his own societies codes and rituals. This continued on until eventually he and certain other high ranking members of the Vall-kcor'sta clan had became corrupt by these dishonorable concepts, and began a killing spree. The incident that had gotten them caught by the rest of the Grand Council was when they slaughtered a small town of farmers. They killed them all, not just the men, but the women, and the children. They weren't worthy prey, they were just peaceful farmers, but Reo'am-oir and the elders of his clan didn't care. Thankfully the Grand Council learned of this and punished them. Ch'ris' father Va-saka, was not like Reo'am-oir, and did what he could to bring the clan back. He also taught Ch'ris to do the same, which he did.

We were kept in a confined, but comfortable, and spacious room. The walls were bare, but they needed no decorations. The furniture was also subpar, but they weren't made to be pretty, and they served their purpose. The cushioning was also pretty tolerable, and we received decent meals everyday we spent together in that room. The only thing that made us uncomfortable, aside from the short feelings of anxiety and occasionally mild claustrophobia, was the thought about what they were going to do to Jon. This wasn't anything like KJ147 and the bad bloods. We were now up against honorable Yautja on their home territory. We weren't trying to pick a fight with these guys, if anything we were trying to be nice and respectful to them. They hadn't done anything to deliberately antagonize us, but were simply following the rules of their society. I really couldn't blame them for that or their paranoia about what we were up to. But that didn't mean we would just let them harm us without defending ourselves. Ch'ris and Rachelle agreed with my notion, which I brought up to them, and we all agreed that if it came to it, we would only do what was necessary. Ch'ris and Rachelle were more hesitant about it than I was, and I could understand why. They were trying to seek forgiveness for themselves and their clan. They didn't want to fight or kill any honorable Yautja, but they still had a clan to care for with many problems of it's own. They had little choice. We figured Jon was of the same idea.

I felt most sorry for him in this circumstance. Not just because he was being treated worse than the rest of us, but because he was in a similar position as Ch'ris and Rachelle were. He was trying to restore his mother's honor. He never spoke much about her. I'd asked him a few times, but he'd always shrug it off just as he would with his marine friends who he saw as siblings. Although I didn't know very much I could tell his experiences had been traumatic and very challenging to him. I did know he and his mother had been kept by my dad's company as science experiments, and that his mother had died when he was only seven, and from what I'd learned about the Yautja's code of honor and it's rules since I'd met him, I could also understand why it was such a lasting burden to him. I'd never understand that, and it made me feel more sorry for him that he was being treated and regarded as a dangerous animal, especially since the three of us felt it was he who allowed us to beat Zell-oah and her band of bad bloods. I'd noticed how the other Yautja had called Jon "it, the blight, the stain," or simply "the Abomination." Had they known who he was, or if they would ever even accept him for who he was rather than what he was, I'm sure things would be much different. But this was their society and it was their rules. They were taught differently, and they were just following those rules.

After three long days of waiting since our trial, we finally got confirmation of our fate. We'd all managed to fashion a few knives from the wood furniture in the room when none of the guards were watching. They were very small and lacking, but they were at least sharp enough to cut, and they were better than nothing. Although now that I think about it, we were all better off without them since we were all fairly skilled fighters, and I had my tail as a weapon. Still they may have served some good. We stashed them in small pouches in our garments. I'd had to wear some of Rachelle's clothing as she was the shortest Yautja, and the only other female in our group. Although she was shorter than most male Yautja since the females of the species normally grow to be taller than the males, I was still dwarfed by her size. Jon had managed to sew them in such a way that they would fit me. Ch'ris and Rachelle didn't mind us ruining them, and gladly let us keep the garments we were given. I bet they'd saved the ones they actually wanted to keep and just gave us whatever else they could spare when they did so, but on to the point.

Our readiness, wise as it was, was thankfully needless. The enforcer elder who'd met us during our arrival had came with his enforcers and explained that the Grand Leader had met with Jon and purposefully sided with him. The elder seemed a little surprised, as were the rest of us, although Ch'ris and Rachelle's shock came more from the fact that Jon had met with the Grand Leader. All I cared about though was that we were okay, although that's what I thought at the time. The elder told Ch'ris and Rachelle that the Grand Leader would let them go, and would gladly see that they and the rest of their clan were restored to honorable society. I saw Ch'ris and Rachelle's faces light up gleefully as they heard that. I gave a supporting smile to them as I heard it too.

The elder then told me that Jon and I would be going to the Schroalatic clan-which apparently was the clan that Jon had originally come from-to be tested. I didn't understand, what he meant, but I didn't like the sound of it. Hopefully Jon would understand what was going on. I slept alone that evening, although I did feel comforted. I had said a prayer as I always had thanking God for blessing us and keeping us all safe, and asking that he would continue to bless us as we moved forward in our journey. As always I received the little voice from the Holy Ghost that whispered to me in my head, assuring me we'd continue to be alright.

I was woken up early the next morning to the sound of my room's cell door opening. It was the enforcer elder. My ship had arrived and was ready to receive Jon and I. The council had seen the uproar we'd caused amongst the rest of the city's inhabitants, and thought it best to make our leave early when most of the other Yautja were still asleep. It was a good idea, and I appreciated their decision. There were a few Yautja who'd glared at me, some of the early rising, hard working laborers that Rachelle had told me about. Thankfully aside from a few dirty looks they gave, that's all they did. I met Jon on the ship. His escort had been earlier than mine.

"Jenny." He called me with a smile wrapped around his mandibles.

"Jon." I called happily as I noticed him on the ship. I heard a couple of the enforcers growl in mild annoyance as we embraced each other in a warm and loving hug. I just ignored them and blissfully wrapped my self around my Fire Angel.

"I missed you Pyode Tarei'hsan." He said lovingly to me purring his mandibles.

"I missed you too my Fire Angel." I told him.

"Do you and your Ooman have everything that belongs to you ,Abomination?" The enforcer elder asked Jon. They were still calling him that, but I noticed that his tone had changed, and had become more respectful. That made me wonder what had happened during Jon's trial.

"Yes, we do." Jon answered the elder. Looking over at our bags. The enforcers had given us back our things and Jon had whittled down what we may have needed and may have not needed for this trip.

"Are you positive ,Abomination?" The elder addressed questioningly.

"Yes ,Sir." Jon answered. Knowing him, he'd probably checked it over four times just to be sure.

"Very well. Ready the ship. Our guests are ready for their leave." The elder told some of his enforcers, who would be partaking in the flight with us, as the he prepared himself for take off. We fastened ourselves into the ship's seats, which I didn't understand the purpose of since we didn't need to on Ch'ris' ship when we lifted off then. My question was answered immediately as we rocketed into the sky shortly after we were buckled in. The force and speed of the ascension was far greater then that of Ch'ris'. I could feel the confusing impact shoot up my body which caused me to puke a little when we took off. I apologized to an enforcer, who was seated next to me, as some of it splattered onto her leg. The female Yautja shook her leg and growled at me in irritation.

"Close your eyes and breath slowly, count each breath as you do so." Jon told me as we continued to levitate into the air. I took his advice and it made me fell better.

"Thank-you." I told him once my motion sickness had passed, which was around the same time we left the planet's atmosphere. Jon had been in many combat drops that were much more grueling, and FAR more shaky than this, so he wasn't at all uncomfortable.

"Don't mention it ,babe. Also when you get the chance to, when we get back on solid ground, roll your toes and make some fists with your feet. It works, believe me." He told me. I raised an eyebrow and gave him a look that said "Yeah. Right. Like that's really gonna work." "I'm serious. It works." he assured me

"I've seen Die Hard ,Jon." I told him with that same straight smirk. "So what happened during the trial? I heard you met the Grand Leader?" I asked.

"You know of him?" He asked, wondering how I knew about the Grand Leader.

"Ch'ris and Rachelle filled me in." I explained.

"Oh, well, the Grand Leader was interested with me, and wanted to see me personally, and ask me a few personal questions." He answered. "He was also very easy with me. I couldn't believe it. He saw that my actions were noble, and decided to let us have a chance." He answered with a weird smile on his face as he explained.

"So what is our challenge? I heard we're supposed to do a challenge or something."

"I don't know yet, the clan will decide that once we get there."

"So how does it feel to know your going to be seeing your clan?"

Jon's face dropped in a look of timid worry, and excitement after I asked. "I... I'm... I'm nervous, babe. This will be the first time I have ever even seen my own clan. I am a little curious, but I'm still concerned more than anything."

"For what?"

"I'm worried for you and Mom." He answered. I could understand his worry, not just for myself, but for his mother also, even though she'd been dead for twenty years. He was afraid he wouldn't succeed and that his mother's sacrifice would still be stained in dishonor. I could feel just how much this was weighing down on him. I felt a little bit of the same feeling with my mom, since she'd died giving birth to me. But this was much different. Like I said before I didn't know much about Jon's relationship with his mother, but from his reactions every time I asked, I could tell they'd been very close. I rested my hand on his thigh and wrapped my tail around his ankle.

He looked down at me as he felt me comforting him. "Don't worry ,Fire Angel. I promise I'll help you earn your mother's honor back." I told him with a soft smile. That made his mandibles perk up a smile.

"Thank-you ,Pyode Tarei'hsan." He said taking my hand tenderly in his.

We sat through the rest of our flight mostly in silence. We occasionally tried to make some small talk, but the enforcers made it difficult, since they would always growl at us whenever our banter annoyed them. We also took a moment to pray silently to our Heavenly Father asking him for strength, and patience for the challenge ahead of us. We knew this summons Jon's clan would present us with would be difficult and physically demanding. As such we felt it wise to pray for it, which had always worked before. I didn't doubt it would help us out this time, and I knew Jon felt the same way. Once more I could here the friendly voice inside my head whisper, "It'll be alright. You and Jon will be fine. You will know what you have to do. Just do it. We will keep you safe." I felt Jon's hand tighten on mine as the voice whispered to me.