Chapter 13
Chasing UFO's
Oh shit.
Shit.
That's one ugly son of a bitch, ya know what I'm saying?
Actually, you probably don't. You're not seeing what I'm seeing. We're all gathered around Aunt Lex and her spiky friend, Scar. She's got a laptop open and running, which she claims belonged to that last dude that Psycho skinned and trophied.
Atrophied, I mean.
Heh, anyways, um…
There are four more of these underground labs. One of them is smack in the middle of New York.
Wouldn't you know it?
The other three are more sensibly placed.
One in the plains of Texas, one in the middle of Louisiana, and the third is… in the Antarctic. South pole.
Damn it. Terrific.
But that's not the best part.
Apparently, the lab I ended up in was just the tip of the iceberg. They hadn't intended to keep me there forever… and it's now obvious, judging from the information that's on the screen, that the DNA sample they took from me wasn't the only sample of dragon they've ever taken.
Pretty chilling, that last thought. It means that more then one of my own kind has been brought in and… well, probably killed. I swallow hard, feeling a knot in my stomach, and realizing more and more just how much Psycho the Perv means to me. I never would have gotten out without him.
I mean, think about it. I was trapped. Couldn't get out on my own. I had that collar that would shock me every time I touched it. But it didn't react to anyone else's touch. Therefore, he was able to cut it off me.
He still deserved the ass kicking we gave him.
But there I go rambling. The point… is that they've made these little baby monsters that are actually not babies. More monsters. Remember that black thing I faced off with? The thing with the acidic blood and a secondary pair of choppers?
Right.
It turns out that there are MORE of these things… and they're being enhanced.
Enhanced with…. something. It won't say, but the laptop IS calling these things hybrids.
There's several X-rays, showing these things, as well as a brief summary of their purpose. To become weapons of mass destruction, in a nutshell.
Ah hell…
Let me stop right here to give you the understatement of the year right now:
This is not good.
I've got so many feelings running through my head right now, I'm getting dizzy...
Sir Spiky Pants (aka Pimp-ass, like my creative mother called him) is getting angrier and angrier, growling in an agitated manner. I'm counting down the seconds before he hits something.
3…2…-
-WHAM!
Ouch.
It turns out Psycho was in the wrong place at the wrong time.
As Spiky swung his arm back, he struck Psycho, sending the smaller Hunter flying into the wall.
Ha. Serves you right, ya Perv.
Sir Spiky roars as he does this, making me wince as he stomps his foot and clatters angrily, gesturing in the air dramatically and croaking a load of noises I can't understand.
Scar, sitting back with Aunt Lex, looks at Big Guy with a raised brow and makes this inquiring trill.
It's kinda cute. Made me want to pet him like a damn kitty.
To avoid the temptation, I walk over to Psycho (who's still not quite recovered from the hit he received and) give him a hand. He huffs in an irritated manner at me but takes my offered help, nearly pulling me down on top of him.
Probably did it on purpose, too, the sneaky bastard…
I look at the others as Lex talks.
"So, this is just perfect, right?"
"I wanna know how you managed to open up all the data?" Mom frowns suspiciously.
Lex shrugged as she looked down on the laptop screen.
"I guess he wasn't very smart. He left all these programs running. The laptop wasn't turned off. It was on standby."
I blew out my breath before growling. "Tell you what, we're going to destroy all those facilities. I swore they would pay. I meant all of them. Not just the bastard who called me a freak. Every single son of a bitch that let me get captured. We can't allow them to keep playing God."
My mom's grinning. "Yeah, I already tried it and look what I got."
I scowl. "Hey, don't blame me for being born."
Aunt Lex takes in a breath as she looks up at Spiky.
He growls. "Dragon is correct. Must destroy facilities. Keep order."
Psycho stands and growls something. Spiky is seriously thinking about what his younger counterpart has just said.
"You three will help. I will arm you. We will bring down Ooman abominations. Destroy them without mercy."
I grinned and couldn't help chiming in with a deadpan voice. "It will be done, milord. We shall execute order 66. The Jedi shall be destroyed."
Mom and Lex both snicker evilly.
So does Psycho, to my amusement. I guess I'm not the only Star Wars nerd here.
Sir Spiky Pants is not amused.
Crepes...
8~8~8~8~8~8~8
I can hardly believe what I'm seeing. Weariness and rage blend within my body, making me feel weak and strangely helpless.
Lex's hand in mine is the one tie to reality that keeps me from feeling crushing despair.
More labs, more Hard Meat… More work to be done. And I'm not even completely recovered. Shame floods my soul as I muse on everything that has happened to me.
I feel as though I have failed, though it is true that I struggled with everything I am to escape that place… for an eternity, it seemed.
Paya, I do not even know how many years have gone by. Lex does look as though she is older. There are lines on her face that I did not remember… but she's no less ugly then she was before. And obviously, she's as strong as ever.
And now, I cannot even go home. Not until these facilities have been destroyed.
R'ka Thwei glowers at the Llonng for her impudence, before speaking to me. "Do you understand what must be done, Setg'in?"
"Yes." I replied with as much strength as I could. "My wounds are healing, and it won't be long before I can fight again."
He nods as Kha'bj-te growls. "What are we waiting for?"
R'ka replies, with some annoyance. "The oomans need armor. I have no armor that can fit them. Not without tinkering. I am going to attend to that right now. If they are going to survive, they will need their own awu'asa. AND I can install translators into the masks, which we desperately need. I will NOT play the interpreter for the duration of this entire encounter!"
Kha'bj-te looks confused, tilting his head. "Since when do our masks translate for us?"
Unlike Kha'bj-te, I knew that such technology existed in our culture… but Unblooded and Young bloods alike are not permitted to own such advanced masks.
Obviously, R'ka Thwei is neither unblooded, nor young.
And R'ka simply tells Kha'bj-te to grow some manhood before whirling to the three females, growling. "I must find armor for you. While I do this, you will eat and rest. Prepare for fight."
The Llonng perked up and growls. "Fooood…"
Lex stands up, looks down at me and asks a question. R'ka only growls at her as he looks down at me.
"YOU stay here. Do NOT injure yourself further."
"Of that, you need not worry." I respond, unwilling to let Lex leave, but knowing it's for the best, as she and her kin follow R'ka .
Lex… I wonder what her strange name means…
If I were to name her, I would call her Yeyinde.
Brave One.
For that is exactly what she is.
Or she may be crazy…
But it takes courage to be her kind of crazy.
8~8~8~8~8~8~
We follow Sir Spiky down the corridor. I try not to think about the incident earlier. It's not leaving my mind though. Bugging the hell out of me, in fact.
I mean, I fell right on top of him… in such a vulnerable position.
In front of Kanani. And Lex saw it too.
Gods, and he was hot… literally.
Don't be so perverted.
His skin temperature was steaming hot. Thought I would burn myself on him
I guess I'm having trouble getting over it. But I have to.
C'mon, Rosy, get your rear in gear. Stop acting like an effin' teenager. This ship doesn't need TWO PMS'ers on deck…
Spiky opens a door and enters it. We follow him into a… well, it looks like a…
A kitchenette.
And Kanani voices this opinion in loud, clipped tones of disgust.
"Nani, honey, don't complain." I tell her evenly as I look around with interest.
Spiky rummages through a drawer before pulling out a container, opening it, he places it on a table, growling. "Eat. And if you have a need… do without."
"Look, just do us a favor and tell us where your little E.T. room is before you leave." I said, scowling at his brusque attitude.
He cocks his head to the side, obviously confused.
Kanani translates. "What my eloquent mother means, my good sir, is that we need to know where the, er, cleanser is. Ya know; the necessary facilities?"
I stare at Kanani for a moment, as Spiky suddenly understands, pointing down the hall.
"It is down that hall, three doors to the right. Do not break ANYthing."
"Thank you." She flashes him a smile as she peers into the container that he's placed on the table.
Lex and I both see her face perk up as she exclaims. "Hey! It smells like dried fruit!"
She pulls out what looks like… a half of a huge prune.
I'm thinking, Prunes? On an alien starship?
Palm… Meet… Face.
Lex strides over and sits on the table itself, plucking up a piece of the prune-like objects, she takes a bite.
"Not bad." She's now munching happily away.
I sigh in defeat as I walk over to where they're standing. The smell is pretty sweet, like cinnamon and raisins.
I pull out a wrinkly brown piece of fruity flesh and bite into it.
Hmm…
Not bad at all. Very sweet, if a little chewy. It's good.
Kanani's already wolfed down 8 pieces, her cheeks bulging as she talks with her mouth full.
She adds in a musing manner. "I wonder what the plan is."
"Well, obviously," Lex replies with a chuckle, "We will be kicking butt, and more butt."
"But we may not get out of it alive this time." I growl quietly. The odds are against us. They always were, but even with Spiky and his minions, we're still outnumbered.
Kanani shrugs nonchalantly. Her amber eyes glitter as she looks down at her dress. "I need to wear something that will allow for my transitioning. My third form may just have to be a last ditch occurrence. But in this dress, no offense ma, I'd rip through it."
"What do you have in mind?"
I'm very wary as I look at her sharply. She grins.
"Well... If I had my old cargo pants, and my… my sports bra, the one I wear when I, ah, go out-"
"You mean the ones with the tears in the back?"
She shrugs. Kanani likes to pretend I don't know about her going out in her transitional form. When she does, since no one's going to be seeing her anyways, she put together an outfit that allowed for some modesty, but mostly for movement.
"Yes. Those. But we don't. So, the alternative is something that's… well, not very modest. Mom, I know you're not crazy about my style of clothes-"
"You like to advertise, that's for sure."
"Hey, hey, I don't have MUCH to advertise."
I just give her a look. With her figure? Not MUCH to advertise? Sure, she's on the heavier side of the feminine gene pool, but "not much to advertise" is a poor choice of words to describe her.
She scowls. "Look, It doesn't matter much, does it? Besides, I'd take survival over modesty ANYDAY."
Lex sighs as she looks between the two of us.
"You guys argue way more then me and Rosy ever did."
I roll my eyes. "Kanani, unless you want them to look, you shouldn't give them anything to look at."
"Mom… have you ever taken your own advice?"
I'm tempted to smack her across the face. I take deep breaths instead. And I also call her a strumpet.
She only laughs. "Ma, you know I'm just like you. And besides… Think about it. Psycho bumped into you AND me, but I'm the one who got the worse end that of that deal, wearing your dress. And besides, you're telling me that I'm going to be giving them something to stare at… have you see the way THEY dress? It's very highly likely that their females aren't much more modest then they are."
"You don't know that!"
"BESIDES, mom… I don't think it matters because I honestly don't think any sort of guy is going to be interested in getting serious about me."
Her bass voice is slightly flat, with a dismissive tone. But I can tell she's bothered by her own verdict.
Lex snorts. "I dunno… guys can be such deviants."
"I drool venom. I breathe fire. I can break through wood with my fingernails. I'm rough, foul-mouthed, and ugly." Kanani scowls. "What's to like about that? What sort of guy wants an effin' amazon virago?"
I sigh as I look at her. She's never really talked about this before. "Nani, if it bothers you that much, why are you bringing it up now?"
"I don't know." She replies darkly. "Maybe cause you're accusing me of trying to attract guys when I don't stand a chance anyways!"
Lex frowns as she holds up a hand. "Yelling will get you nowhere with this subject."
I shake my head. "Nani, you're 18. Not totally mature, but you're old enough to make your own decisions. I won't argue about what you decide to utilize as your attire… but don't expect me to be very happy with you if your friend, Spiky Junior, decides to feel you up cause his imagination's turned on."
"He'll have to catch me first," Kanani grins evilly.
I stare at her a moment.
"You're not serious are you?"
"…No…" She replies, her amber eyes leaving me as she sighs in frustration. "Right… well, I'm done eating. So, I'm going back to the medical room, grab that roll of cloth… and I'm going to do some tailoring. You two discuss battle tactics… or ice-climbing tactics. See ya."
Kanani left. Very abruptly.
I take in a breath, feeling both ashamed of my sharp tongue and worried for her well-being.
Lex speaks.
"She's just like you."
"You didn't know Malachi. I think she's more like him then you can imagine. He felt the same way about clothes, music, and other things."
Lex chuckles. "He must have been some guy."
"He was, Lex, he was."
Lex looks at me suddenly, a strange expression on her face.
"Rosy… you married someone who wasn't human. How would… would you be mad at me if I did the same?"
I look at her, feeling a bit scared as the next words spill out of my mouth.
"You're pregnant with Scar's baby, aren't you?"
"Oh yes, cause his bun's been in the oven for nine years now. Rosy, are you daft?" Lex dead pans.
"I… sorry. I'm sorry." I groan, banging my head on the table. Where the heck had that come from anyways…
"Rosy, I'm 41. I'm very close to hitting menopause. Why would you think I'm pregnant?"
"I honestly don't know why I said that."
"Eh, you're crazy, little sister. However… I think I'm in love with Scar." She adds quietly.
I stare.
"Why?"
Lex shrugs, smiling at me.
"I've never been able to forget him. I tried so hard to forget him. I did what I thought I had to do to stop thinking about him. But it's all come to this."
Lex looks me in the eye and I feel a slight chill as her next words vibrate through my head.
"I never want to leave his side. Ever."
"Lex, you've lost it… But then again, so have I." I sighed. "What are we going to do?"
"Kick mucho butt, fight alongside giant, intergalactic hunters, and perhaps get taken to their planet."
"Lex, you're a riot." I rolled my eyes as she grins at me.
8~8~8~8~8~8~8
I walked to the clinic room, taking in a breath. Man, I felt upset. Why on earth was mom giving me SUCH A HARD TIME with this?
I grumbled as I looked down at my ipod and talked to it as I stalked down the halls.
"It's really not fair, Raph. I dress modest, I stay at home, I don't get into… typical, average trouble, what more does she want?"
My ipod gave no answer. I sighed in slight frustration, though deep down, I know she just wants me to be cautious. Well…
What kind of clothing can I wear that won't give me trouble, but that I can be modest in? I really don't have much to show off. Sure, I have a smaller waist then most, since I'm physically active. Doesn't mean I have NO fat whatsoever on my body. My thighs have always been really big, but they aren't the only things that are huge on me...
I scowl as I look down. And then over my shoulder.
Yup. Lady lumps. Great big ones.
With a snort, I decide to let Raphael do his job and cheer me up.
I play my ipod, leaving it on shuffle as I set it down on a table.
I grab the bolt of the material. It feels a lot like leather. I can only assume it's some sort of skin.
Huh…
I think about the way my body changes when I morph and then grab a knife that's lying on the counter top.
Time to tailor.
One thing for sure…
I'm going to have to very, very creative.
Going to have to go for a two-piece outfit, that's for sure. Something with holes in the back, so my wings can get out.
My skirt's going to have to allow for a tail. In some way or other.
Huhn. This is going to be hard. I mean, if I'm going to try for modesty.
As I work, I listen to Linkin Park, Rihanna, Mary J Blige, Muse and a few others…
"Uh HUH!" I grin in my work as "Like A G6" starts to play. Great song, love this song, oh yea!
My hips start to sway, as I listen, my head bobbing.
The knife goes slice, slice, my hips pop, and my mind is soothed.
I fit the cloth around my waist, shoulders, measuring and cutting as I spin and twirl.
Feelin' so fly…
UH hmm!
I grin as I get a flurry of ideas for my outfit.
YES… that oughtta work!
8~8~8~8~8~8~8
I finished cleaning the kehrite. As fast as I could.
Polished all the weapons, placed them back, I even swept the floor. That should ease my brother's anger…
Then again, maybe not. I growl in frustration. The Llonng Sain'ja is still on my mind. Setg'in is right, I still do not know her name. I heard her mother and Aunt call her…
"Kah..Kah'Nawn'ee..." I try her name out on my tongue, and wonder what it means.
"Kahn'ahnee. Kahnani. Kah..Kanani," a grin split my face as I succeeded, but my victory was interrupted by a peculiar sound. It was an ooman voice, singing to a symphony of sounds I could only classify as music...
I followed the almost hypnotic sound, walking till I was back at the infirmary, peering through the doorway. The Llonng… was dancing. She was cutting materiel for a new outfit and moving in a way I've never seen; popping her hips, spinning and gyrating like a mad thing…
Paya…
That SCENT!
I remain still, absolutely still, as she struts, her eyes closed, her hips in motion as she spins through my line of vision…
8~8~8~8~8~8~8
Spin Me Round!
Geez, this song is HORRIBLE… But I love it!
I popped my hips, and gyrated my lower body as I danced.
Oorah!
I grinned as I finished the outfit. Nothing to do but try it…
Waving my arms, I shook myself, chuckling slightly. I don't know how to dance professionally, but I sure like attempting it anyways…
I froze, in the middle of my dancing, as I smelt something really, really strong. Earthy and… painfully male.
I whipped around, my heart thudding. It smelled like Psycho on steroids…
Sure enough…
"The HELL do you want?" I growled at him, my cheeks burning with embarrassment. How long had he been watching me? And WHY had his scent increased?
He only stared at me before letting loose this bass purr that rattled the air.
Oh gods, that sound. It went right through me, vibrating my ears like a drum. I felt like I had grown roots, 'cause I could only stand there and stare at him, my heart feeling like it might fly out of my chest from beating so fast.
He's not wearing his mask, and his green eyes are raking over me in a way I've never seen him look at me before. I swallow hard as he starts forward, his steps measured and precise...
"Psycho, what the hell do you want?" I growl, puffing out my frame.
I'm not… THAT scared of him…
He gets closer, finally only about 5 inches from me.
How the heck did he move so fast?
I can't move… barely even breathe as he bends forward, his mandibles brushing the top of my head as he breathes in deeply.
Huh?
The hell is he do-WHOA...
I feel a shiver run down my spine as I feel the air sucked out from around me… and something bubbles up from my belly.
Hope?
It sure feels like it.
The HELL?
He stumbles backwards as I push him away. I guess he wasn't expecting that, 'cause I grab my new clothes and get out of there, confused, embarrassed… and totally giddy.
Sometimes, I really hate myself.
8~8~8~8~8~8~8
As I tinker with the armor I have collected over the years, I reflect on my situation. There's four ooman bases that must be taken out. We do not know what kind of creature we will be going up against. All I can tell at this point is that they are abominations, freaks of nature that should never see the light of day.
The oomans must be punished, for attempting to harness technology they cannot understand. They have created beings that are nothing more than monsters.
I growl in the midst of my work. This armor I have collected, most of it is from Bad Bloods. While most Arbitrators only take the bones from their quarry as trophies, I enjoy taking weaponry as well. It helps me to understand my targets better, and not to mention the fact that I have a thing for repairing helmets. Sometimes, I like to believe that I am repurposing what was once used dishonorably.
Reluctantly, I begin to think seriously on the matter of the oomans, for whom I am going through all this trouble.
I do not want to take them back to my homeworld. I do not want to have anything else to do with them. At all.
Especially not Rosy.
Pauk, I have NEVER been so humiliated in my life. When she pitched forward, I didn't expect her to wrap her arms around my waist… and the feel of her face against my skin was uncomfortable.
Her cheeks were so soft…
Paya, I didn't think it could get worse, as I tried to get away from her. I reacted like a pup, when I should have stood my ground and just put her back on her feet.
No, I had to fall over backward, with her small frame draped over me. Paya…
She's so small. Tiny. Weightless even. Like one of the small flying animals that inhabits her planet… Sparrows, I believe they are called. Her size makes her courage all the more admirable… but Paya, what a scene we must have made.
When she finally did get off me, I was only too glad to get out of her sight. Setg'in did not say a word, though I suspect he was holding back laughter. The pauk-head…
As I finish off the masks, melding them so that they will fit the females, adding translators into the programming, I make sure that the recorders are blank.
Grumbling to myself, I think seriously about the matter that occurred before my humiliation. Kha'bj-te had a guilty expression on his face. He is up to something. And I suspect it may have something to do with Kanani. Yes, I have finally learned to pronounce her name. Lex's name was the hardest to learn.
Setg'in troubles me. No, check that, his concern and obvious affection for Lex troubles me. Where is the attraction? Yes, she is brave, truly a huntress in her own rights, but she is an ooman. Not yautja. He could not possibly hope to sire any pups with her.
Paya, what an image...
I get the haunting feeling I am being watched.
With a growl, I look up at the wall of masks and snarl at them.
"What are you looking at?"
Ugh, Paya, I need a hot shower…
Being around these female oomans is not good for my sanity...
8~8~8~8~8~8~8~8
I finished eating slowly. Rosy had curled down in a corner and fallen asleep. I decided to let her alone and walked off. I was fairly certain I could remember the way back to where Scar was staying. I just wanted to check on him. After all, the poor guy was still healing. But… maybe he would want to be alone?
Whatever. It wouldn't hurt to check on him.
At this moment, I run into Kanani. She's decked out in her new duds. Gotta say… I like the look. She made a sort of sport bra, with a lot of straps. Wrapped around her torso a couple of times, at least. Her bottom piece consists of a loin-cloth draped over what looks like a pair of shorts. How did she sew that together?
"Hi. Think she'll approve?" Kanani's voice sounds spooked.
"Yes, I think so. What happened?"
"Oh… nothing."
"Liar. Tell me what's going on."
"Um… I think Psycho's… in need of a cold shower or something."
Crap.
"Why do you say that?"
"Uh… He was looking at me… and uh, he was acting like I… smelled good."
Her voice sounds nervous.
I swallowed. "Well…"
"Aunt Lex?"
"Yeah?"
"What should I do?"
"Try to avoid him. Your mom's still in the kitchenette. I suggest hanging around her. And if he tries anything… fry his ass."
She nods and moves on.
I chew on this new information for a moment. It's disturbing. And… creepy. If Psycho can be attracted to Kanani…
What does that mean about Scar and Yeti?
I'm worried now. Maybe… maybe the translators will help.
Otherwise, our failure to communicate successfully might just bring a bunch of bad mojo on us.
"Oy." I sigh out loud as I walked on. The room where Scar's staying has a window view that wasn't there before… I strongly suspect he got up to "open the blinds".
He's lying down, apparently asleep, as I walk in. His eyes come open though, the minute I step towards the window and he clatters at me.
"Hey Scar."
"Hay Lehks…"
I smile at his attempt to copy my greeting.
"So, you expect me to believe that you've been lying there, innocently, the whole time?"
He gives me a very human shrug and I find it extremely adorable. Walking over to him and I chuckle as I sit by his side.
"So… How you doing?"
"Guh…. Gud.."
"That's good…" I pause before asking him, "I don't know how much of this question you'll understand… but, uh, I'm concerned about Psycho and Kanani. Does he… ah, is he coming on to her?"
He cocks his head at me.
"How does Psycho feel about Kanani?"
A flicker of recognition sparked in his eyes and he grumbled quietly, something in his own language. I didn't understand him, of course, but he didn't try to speak my language, so I assume he didn't know how to explain to me in a way that I would understand.
As I sat by his side, on an impulse, I took HIS hand in mine, and studied the talons that adorned his rough, strong fingers.
Dark, sharp claws, hands designed for tearing, climbing…
I felt him tense slightly as I traced the lines of his palm with my own fingers, and I looked at him. "Am I bothering you?"
"Mo."
I smiled slightly before talking again.
"I missed you. I don't know why, but when I thought you were dead, I'd never felt so alone. These past nine years… I've been pretty depressed. More cynical then I was before. I wished often times that I had died too. It just… it felt wrong that I was the only one to live."
Scar's eyes never left my face as I spoke, and I felt somewhat silly, talking to him so openly.
But still… it felt good somehow. And I felt comforted when his hand suddenly escaped my grip, only to grasp my hand, holding it gently as he slowly and carefully sat up.
I look at him, surprised as I see that the wounds on his body are no longer open. They're scabbed over or completely gone. His torn-up arm's still healing, but it looks better. He reaches around me and pulls me gingerly into his lap. I feel slightly tensed, but relax, as he just holds me. Placing his face close to my neck, he breathes in.
I feel a shudder, as tingles run down my spine, and I wonder for a moment, what exactly he smells on me. All at once, a purr rumbles deep from his chest, vibrating through me, making me shudder… and then relax. I sighed as I leaned into him slightly, feeling drowsy as tension eases away from my body and mind.
He tightens his grip a little and I murmured, almost without thinking," You know… I love you, Scar."
His purring increases.
I think he understood me.
8~8~8~8~8~8
When I woke up, Kanani was sitting next to me. I looked at her outfit and think, Why am I always so down on her?
The outfit looks good. Yeah, her midriff is showing… but other then that, it's about as modest as one can get.
Kanani looks at me with a slight smile," Like it?"
"You did a good job." I nodded, sitting up, I stretched, grumbling. "Ugh… I need a cup of coffee. Seriously."
"Ah mom, if wishes were horses," she laughs, looking at me with her mischievous amber eyes.
"yeah, yeah, yeah." I chuckle as I stand to my feet. "So, what did I miss?"
"Nothing much. Except the creating of this outfit of awesomeness." She grinned at me in her easy manner.
I chuckled back at her as she stood up and showed off the outfit. It's really very well done.
"So, you say you'll be able to transition in this outfit?"
"I should be able to. The top's got a looser one underneath. And I, uh, have a hole in the first pair of shorts… hence this flap." She looked a little embarrassed as she pointed at the loincloth coercing her shorts.
I couldn't blame her. Which reminded me…
"Kanani, I'm sorry about getting on your case about your modesty. Right now, that's the least of our worries… I'm sorry."
"It's all good mom." She shrugged, grinning as she grabbed my hand. "Let's go find Aunt Lex. And also, I'm getting worried about our Big Tall and Spiky friend. He's been gone an awful long time… at least 5 minutes."
"Oh, well good riddance!" I returned with a grin.
Kanani laughed at me as I followed her out.
My mind was working now. Sorta of.
I really could go for a latte..
Focus, Rosalie, focus.
I yawned as Kanani suddenly broke into a run, the flap of her loin cloth flying out from behind her.
"HEY!" I yelped, trying to catch up with her. She's outrunning me.
Guess she's feeling better.
Damn it! I missed the turn!
Her footsteps fade with her laughter.
Oh shit… where is she?
I looked around, confused and upset (obviously) as I try to figure out which way she went.
Huh…
"Kanani?" I yelled. Walking, I paused as I heard her heavy footsteps. A bit distant…
Oh! She went into that room…great. How do I open this huge alien-techy door?
My hand brushed the panel of the door frame and it slid open. I walked in.
Huh?
This… this looks like someone's bedroom. I hear her footsteps and I growl.
"Kanani, seriously this isn't fun-"
Oh crap.
OH CRAP.
OH CRA-
"ROOOOAAAAAAAR!"
I turned around and bolted. As fast as I possibly could.
My mind was branded with an image that I was sure I would carry to my deathbed.
Sir Spiky Pants without his spiky pants.
8~8~8~8~8~8~8
I allowed the steam to rise up from my body, as I finished cleaning off. After all these years, there's a satisfaction I derive from a good washing. I don't know what it is… But I feel better. More sane.
Ready to face the challenges that lie before me. As I step out of the cleanser and dry off, I buckle on my loincloth, before entering the main part of my quarters. It's then that I see Rosy. Staring at me with eyes that are far too big for her face.
WHAT IS SHE DOING IN MY QUARTERS?
Not even bothering to speak her tongue, I roar at her. She turns, disappearing from sight, as I hastily shut the door and growl to myself.
Thank PAYA I was not naked, as I had previously been.
I growled low under my breath as I silently rubbed my forehead, all the tension returning as though it had never left. I was just going to wash, to try to forget for a moment that I had troubles, and now THIS.
With another growl, I finished putting my armor back on.
This… just keeps getting better. What next?
Oh Paya, PLEASE have mercy...
and do not answer that question.
LOL!
Yes, I did in fact go there. Khalthar, thank you so much for your powers of editing! *bows humbly*
SHOUT OUT!
Khalthar: A blessing and curse, are them plot bunnies... :D
SesshiraRayu: I'm glad you love this! Thanks for letting me know!
LynxbyLynx: I hope you like this, my friend! I had you in mind when I did the scene with Scar and Lex.
The Silent Hunter: Yay! i made ya laugh! *bounces around very happy* Aw... sorry about your headache. I was sad to hear about it. Hope that it left quickly!
Luv4Uncas: Uh huh, tell me about it... Well, more Lex and Scar in here. I hope I'm not moving too fast.
Lady Augustin: *grins* hey, I'm a hopeless romantic. They ALL needed somebody so... yeah. I'm glad you like this!
TO EVERYONE ELSE... If you made this far, THANK YOU for reading! I hope you have enjoyed it as much as I have enjoyed writing it.
Ahem. Questions, Comments and Constructive crit are all welcomed.