Chapter nine: The journey to Sol.
Several hours after we leave the Dark Dance we find ourselves upon a very similar bout of deja vu. We are alone.. But Shane felt it more than i did.. He sits on the arm rest of my pilot seat and watches as we fly through the Horsehead Nebula..
"What the hell am i going to say to Nina's friends when i see them?"
I look at him while watching where i fly. "I remember Nina saying that Trey never saw her 'boyfriend'.. None of them did come to think of it, and they would simply refuse to believe she is living with two yautja.. Just bend the truth a little.."
"And what about you Jewel? You just going to stay cloaked the entire time while following me around? Come on darl.. No.. First thing we do is i go home.. I pack some things grab my savings and then we find Ninas friends.. I'll try and repair my relationship with my grandparents but.. I think that will open old wounds.. Maybe I like the idea of being with you all.. There's a sense of belonging on the Dark Dance. I'm changing Jewel.. I can feel it in my bones. In every fibre.. Whatever your blood has done.. It's made one hell of a job messing my chemistry up. But at the same time.. Improved so much.. I'm still wondering why Uz had you put so much in me.. It's strange.."
"You are changing Shane. You always were whether physically or mentally.. You can't deny the fact that we.. You and i have an unbreakable bond.. I bet that one morning you woke up out of your bed that you didn't think you would be whisked away on an alien ship and then saved by said alien species then have a relationship with said species now did you?"
"I didn't expect a lot of things Ghardeh. But it happened.. If i ever.. Lost you I'd.. Well i would probably go into meltdown. You have shown me so much yet.. You still have a mystery about you.. I still haven't figured what makes you tick.. I know what makes you angry, happy upset.. I know everything about you except how your innerself works Ghardeh."
"Yautja are.. Complicated creatures Shane.. You could spend hundreds of years finding out all there is and then you come across another stone to overturn.. Take your favourite Uzkielle for example.."
"You and him are so alike.." Shane says with a smirk.
I frown. "We are nothing alike.."
"Oh.. Really..?" Shane cocks a brow.
"If you are referring to my hostility you are pointing out most yautja Shane.. And i am nowhere near the level of incompetence of the ordinary female yautja.. And Uzkielle has a longer fuse than i krit.."
"Soooo defensive Ghardeh.. Did i strike a nerve?"
I let out a laugh in my chest.. "Oh i see where this is going.. You are getting one up on me from the other day aren't you?"
"Fricking finally! Ok enough of that." Shane says.
"Shane.. You do realise you and Nina will live a very long time. Don't you?"
"How long?"
"Hard to say with Nina.. But you.. Maybe several hundred years.."
"You're kidding.. Or at least until i do something to majorly piss you off?"
"M-di i am not kidding.. Our blood has very specific properties one of which is longer life.. Rapid healing.. Amongst other improvements. Just don't go having any blood tests."
"Goodness knows why.. It's like.. Reactor fuel.." Shane says prodding his head.
"At least now you can say you have proof aliens exist.."
Shane laughs. And leans into my left shoulder.
"An alien from a movie.. Seriously Ghardeh they should do a movie about you.. I remember watching your feed in that bunker.. People would pay to see a sexy female predator take on that many assholes at once.. And what did Danny say about ogres? I say you'd give that one a run for its money!" The ships lighting dims as it enters night mode.
"Well maybe someone would write about us?"
Shane looks.
"Or maybe someone would write about Neens and the twins?"
I look with a raised hooded brow.
"Can you imagine? Both tales would be an interesting read.."
"Nina slowly falling in love with Osh'ikeille and Uzkielle.. Fighting a massive xenomorph with wings.. Though.. From what Nina told us.. Her mother would be getting a lot of hate.. What parent does that.. I wouldn't dre…"
I sigh with a light trill.
"Then there's us.. A yautja female on a revenge mission finds a human male along the way and ends up breaking the code? That is some serious work.. People associate yautja with honour above all else.. Would be one hell of a 'holy pauk' moment.."
"They would both have to be M rated." Shane says with a smirk.
We both laugh..
"Let's change the subject.. Before we get any ideas.."
I say shifting in my chair.. Shane begins to run through my dreads.. "Right.. I'm off to bed.. Wake me up when you are ready to switch over flying.. I'll take over.. Seeing as you've been flying non stop for over 24hrs." Shane says kissing my forehead as i lower to his level, then walking away to the ready room.
"Guan Shane.."
"Guan Jewel.."
I hear him get into bed then i carry on our course shifting my body again. After flying for 24 plus hours i feel drained and my eyes twitch closed. My muscles every now and then twitch waking me up i slowly crack my eyes open and decide to sleep before i collapse on the console. Roughly a another 4 hours later.. As i climb into bed Shane wakes up.
"Alright.. My turn.." He yawns and walks to the controls.
(Shane's pov)
As Shane sits in the chair he feels Ghardehs warmth from her being sat for so long. Her pilot chair is much more comfortable then the Lar'ja N'ritja one. And he nestles into it while keeping an eye on the gauges.. He strangely understands them. Symbols flash up when the jump completes and he presses two buttons at the same time on either side of the controls.. He is left speechless at the magnificence of space. As the ship glides on as the ftl drive charges. He watches as the engines make a slow whir as speed picks up. He loves the sound. And feels the core as it vibrates to full power as it reads a rune ftl ready.. He presses the button on the left of the throttle and the right wheels.. 4...3...2...1..engage in yautja flashes up then he sees the witchspace again.. Almost a wormhole.. He can see countless stars.. Everyone a star system.. He sees the star map to the left. Behind him.. The ship controls the trajectory here so he goes into the rest room and is strangely curious… Wonder what my blood looks like now.. Red? green? Like before deep green? He goes into the armoury and reaches for a kunai. He pierces his skin and lets out a wince.. It didn't hurt as much as he thought.. His eyes widen.. "Holy.. Fuck.." He sees his new life force. A fluorescent green that glows.. And no sooner did he cut himself.. It already begins to clot.. He cleans the kunai and leaves. Holy shit.. This is.. How the hell? Has her blood taken over my blood cells? He thinks.. He didn't see a trace of red at all.. His heart races and he looks into the ready room to see Ghardeh fast asleep.. Still and sound. He smiles and returns to the cockpit. What am i now? Am i still ascended? There is no way i can survive with another species blood in me… or maybe that's what Uzkielle meant.. It reverses the effects of my body rejecting whatever was happening.. Ie mulls it over. He hasn't had his mood swings either since that last incident. Maybe i still am ascended.. But what does that mean? Maybe Nina and i have a connection somehow.. He thinks. She did give Shane some of her memories.. They will get stronger as he gets closer to the original point.. He decides to not think too hard on it. And concentrate on flying. After a while he feels tired but shakes himself awake. His eyes are heavy he closes them and leans forward but as he falls he wakes. Eventually he listens to his body and falls asleep.. The ship gently shudders and flies past the sun and corrects its trajectory.. The lights turn to daytime mode. Shane is now leant over the console asleep.
(Ghardeh's pov)
Several hours later i wake up. And feel the ship is slowly moving in super cruise.
I get up and immediately walk up to Shane who has collapsed asleep. I smile with a trill as i see the pink expanse of space.. He has flown us almost out of the Nebula. I gently pick him up and he stirs wrapping his arms around my neck..
"Mmmm you are lovely and warm.." He says murmuring.
"Get some sleep Shane.. I'll do the rest. I'll make a hearty breakfast when you wake.."
I gently place him on the berth and he curls up to where is warmest Then stops. I carry on making the journey to earth. I sit in the chair then engage ftl and decide on a shower while it's safe. I look at the area where the glass once stood.. I need to repair that.. It makes the floor slippery.. Not that it bothers me I'm too heavy to slip.. Shane on the other hand has slipped many a time. I let the water run from my body and stand there daydreaming.. Why should i hide? Are humans so finicky? And fickle? Or is it the innate ability to be fearful of something they don't understand..? Shane and Nina are not such people.. They are like me Uz Osh and Ra'zele.. My train of thought was disturbed as i hear Shane swear sounding distressed.. I leave immediately to see Shane engulfed in flame. "Pauk.. C'jit! Shane put it out!"
He slows his breathing and it slowly dies down…
"I thought your blood got rid of that?!" He says holding his arms up to his head.
"No Shane Uzkielle said it will repair your cellular damage.. My blood probably momentarily suppressed your.. Abilities… You need to wear the armour Shane.. It is your conductor.. Nina said she had a creature to help with hers. She has the power of arc.. She hasn't used it for some time though no reason to i suppose.. It was magnificent.. I only saw her use it twice.. Once with the world eater and the second time during her fight with a master bad blood.. You seem to have the power of sol.."
"But why!? I'm a nobody not a superhero! This is freaking me out Jewel! I don't want it!"
I walk towards him and embrace him.
"Just stay calm and don't.. Blow up our ship.."
"Oh so it's OUR ship now is it Ghardeh? Have i ever told you i love your purple eyes?"
"Yes you have.. And once more.."
He looks at his clothes.. He hadn't burned them up.. Very peculiar. After the little incident we make our way to the kitchen where i make a yautja fruit stew..
Several days pass…
The ship flies ever on and Shane finally relaxes. He realises he can call on his power anytime.
"Ok.. So i decided on Dannys idea for sol weapons.. A pistol.. I'm calling the golden gun..
Only thing is I feel drained when i use the pistol.. Like it's leaching me dry.. I have halved it to 7 shots.. Now watch this.."
Shane is in his yautja armour. As he calls on the power there is a crackled boom. I see fiery wings along his arms.. He stands with his arms raised wide.. "Ahhh? Aahhh? My armour tells me when I'm ready to use it again.. With a weird rune.. That's not the best bit.. Ready for this?" He jumps in the air and spins.. Roughly ten projectiles fly out of his hands and explode in a circle around the training room around him.. My walls are blackened..
"Woooo did you see that Ghardeh?!"
My brows raise.. "Impressive.. How does that help you at range though.."
"I haven't figured it out yet Jewel.. I'm still learning. I changed my mind.. I love this.. For now.. So long as i don't fry you.."
"Do that and I will crush your soul..
Don't let it go to your head either.. With great power comes great responsibility Shane.. Remember that. Ze'rei Sainja.."
I walk to the ships cockpit when Shane taps into the Lar'ja N'ritja comms and contacts the others.
Nina answers the call.
"Shane.. Are you alright..?"
"Yeah is Uz there a minute?"
He walks into view.. "Sei-i Shane?"
Shane brings up a flaming hand.
"Uz explain to me why i have regained this… Ability?"
"I never said it would relinquish the ability Shane.. Only repair the cellular damage.. Ghardehs blood had suppressed the ability while you recovered, it would always naturally re-appear over time.. It is yours now..
Use it how you see fit.."
Shane looks "Is there anyway i could remove it?"
He clicks.. "Sei-i Eve.. She can revert you to your boring self.. If you so choose.."
"I'll think about it.. How are you all.. Everything fine?"
"Danny is in the kehrite.. Osh'ikeille is asleep.. Everything is fine."
Uzkielle side steps as Nina squeezes in.
"We are almost at earth. God I'm so nervous going back."
"Yeah we almost chased after you.. But then Osh told us no.. We miss you loads. Maybe we can have a battle of the guardian moment." Nina says with a smile.
"We'll see.." Shane replies.
"Right I'll contact you when we reach earth.. Scorpion out."
Shane ends the comms and we make our way further on into the Coalsack region..
Author note: Shane is finally getting used to his new fiery talents.. Lets hope the spicy two don't have an accident.. Like maybe Shane blowing up the ship hmmm?
Next chapter they reach earth.. Where things begin to fall into place.. Then crumble..
Stay fantastic people!
Yautja words:
M-di- No.
Sei-i- Yes.
Guan- Night.
Pauk- F^ck.
C'jit- Sh^t.
Ze'rei- Fire.
Sain'ja- Warrior.
Lar'ja- Dark.
N'ritja- Dance.
Yautja- Predator species. (guuh!)