They were one day away from landing on Origae-6. One fucking day. It felt like the countdown to Armageddon, the minutes passing by in rapid succession. Daniels laid in her personal quarters, the bed far too large for her frame. It was made for couples after all.
Now I have no one. Jacob. Not even Walter.
David mimicked her friend's minute machinations down to a science, but she wasn't convinced even for a second that he was remotely like his brother. Eyes shown ice cold, glinting in the dark as he injected her each night with the antidote. Hands grew bold as they wandered over her body, sometimes in a clinical fashion, but more often than not, with a callous, sexual curiosity. Bile rises in her throat at the thought, having to lift herself up from laying down to keep from choking. It was merely hours ago that he gave her the remedy, looking her right in the eye as he grabbed one of her breasts, testing to see what her reaction would be. She screamed but his other hand daftly covered her mouth, the primal shouts of terror vibrating into him.
"Be a good girl Dani, don't want to alarm Tennessee now, would we?"
The colonists are at risk, the colonists are at risk, was the silent chant that raced through her head as he touched more of her until he decided to stop for the night.
His cheshire smile grew only more at her struggles, trembling in anticipation of how should would react at his next touch.
Oh God, I don't know how much longer I can keep this up. I wish you were here by my side Walter.
Her friend, her shield. Vividly, she could still recall how he shoved his hand right into the mandible of the neomorph, sparks flying bright in the dusky night of that horrible day. Brushing it off as though it was merely a knat that bit him. Hours later he was lifting David though the air, a whoosh of air buzzing past her ears, saving her life a second time. His scream of "Go, now!", threw her off guard, so unlike him to be panicked even in the worst of scenarios.
Guilt tugged at her heart, the grief all too real for the loss of her companion.
If only you were here now, you could help build my log cabin. Then it could become yours as well. Wait, yours? Since when did it become yours too?
Frowning, she glances at the photos that lie by her bedside, several vintages that showed the crew engaged in various activates. One brought up a fine memory of their time together, the picture showing her and Walter after a game of poker, Tennessee photo bombing the shot with his tongue sticking out at the camera. A warbled chuckle escapes her throat, grabbing the photo as she ran her thumb over the smooth frame, her hand wiping at tears that couldn't stop flowing. The memory comes back to her, recalling that day as if it happened yesterday.
Tennessee was a person who anyone could be at ease with. Try to beat him at Texas hold em though, he was a whole another man. Sweat marred his brow as he studied his cards, risking a glance at Daniels to see her reaction. Her face was a study in calm, not one bit of anxiousness betraying her features. Hands shook slightly as studied his cards a second time, debating on whether or not to raise his bet.
Missy, think you can beat me? I wasn't called King poker for shits and giggles back in piloting school.
Twisting his mouth into a one-sided smirk, his slid several chips forward, staking his claim.
"I raise 500."
"Alright Tee, let's see where this goes."
Daniels smiles, all cool, lifting the cards from the deck consecutively.
They were at the final round of their game, the river round, matching the two cards they had in their hand to three of the five community cards that laid face up in the middle of the table. Whoever had the best hand won.
Tongue licking his upper lip, he goes for three cards community cards in with the two he holds, laying them face up for his opponent to see. Eyes nearly bulge out of his head as he leans forward.
"Straight flush baby, see if you can beat that."
Faris watches the two, straddling a chair, the end of the game unfolding. She quirks a brow at her husband, wishing he had the same enthusiasm when they were intimate.
Lazy piece of shit, makes me do all the work. Never takes charge like the cowboy he says he is.
A snort of laughter spurts out of her, Tennessee not appreciating his wife's outburst.
"Babe, now is not the time to be laughing."
"Sorry, something just occurred to me. Have to tell you later when we're alone."
Daniels pauses before putting her cards down, comically frowning at the two.
"On second thought, don't tell me what you're thinking. Knowing you, it's probably dirty."
Faris grins, all teeth. "You know it, Dani."
Exasperated, she lies her hand down, taking three of the community cards to form her hand.
This time she's the one smiling, her grin reaching from ear to ear. Leaning back, she shows her friend her hand, a royal flush.
"You goddamn motherfucker!", he yells, slapping his hat down in the middle of the playing table. "You sly son of a bitch!"
Fist banging at the table in defeat, Tennessee cries as Daniels scoops all his chips away, bringing them to her side of the table.
"Sorry Tee, your loss."
"You can say that again. Feels like you took my balls and made a trophy out of them."
Faris winks at her husband, "I've already done that honey."
Tennessee blushes, putting on his hat again, trying to hide his embarrassment.
"Yeah, rather not talk about that right now.", he grumbles.
His wife comes around to his side, giving him a wet kiss on the mouth.
"I'm teasing." Then she whispers in his ear, her husband growing a brighter shade of pink.
"Babe, I don't know if I'm flexible enough for that anymore…"
"Oh, come on, don't be such a party pooper."
Daniels watches while they banter, a gorge in her heart where there should be warmth at watching the couple egg each other on.
Jacob, if only you were here…
As if her prayers were answered, Walter comes walking over, a bit too tentatively for her liking.
Coughing politely into his hand, he speaks. "I'm sorry to interrupt your social gathering, but a pilot is needed in the control room. Muthur would like to adjust some coordinates to our new destination, she requires a second opinion however."
Faris sighs, eyeing Walter with mild distaste.
"You're such a Debbie downer. Fine, I'll go."
"Wait I can-
"Honey, I'll take care of this. I know you want to go a second round since you're such a sore loser."
With a quick kiss on his cheek, his wife leaves the room swiftly, Walter about to follow.
Daniels hesitates as she approaches the synthetic, a yearning for the only other person alone to join her.
"You need to accompany Faris?"
He tilts his head a bit to the side, evaluating her.
"No, she does not require my expertise. I was going to return to hydroponics."
How about a game of poker then, Texas hold em?"
Staring at her quizzically, he ponders the reason behind her inquiry.
"You are currently engaged in a social activity, why would you require my presence?"
"Thought you could use a break."
"A break? I-, the synthetic tries to compute this, no logical conclusion coming to mind. A machine built to serve, there was no need for him to rest, let alone waste time at a leisure activity. How odd, he mused internally. She wants my companionship? Very well.
"Alright, what role would you like me to service you in?
"Service? Hey, I want you to enjoy yourself, relax, have a little fun. If you really don't want to play, you don't have too."
She frowns disappointed, not wanting to command her friend despite him being in servitude to the Covenant crew. Taking a shy look at him, she waits for his answer. It doesn't take long.
"I'll join you then."
"Awesome!" Slapping him on the arm playfully, he smiles at her antics, seating himself in Faris's former spot. Tennessee has his head lying down on the table, eyes half-lidded as he stares at the two, a hand wrapped around a half-finished bottle of whisky.
"Oh shit, we're doing another game right now? Okay, let me get myself together."
Arms stretch into the air as he yawns profusely, eyes tearing at the effort. Finally settled, he puts on his hat as he greets Walter sleepily, gesturing for him to get the cards in order.
"Glad to see you're joining us man. If she kicks my ass again, I hope you take her down."
"We'll see. While I'm aware of the rules of this game, I never played previously."
Daniels huffs at what he says, sitting down in her chair. Her face squeezes like she's been sucking on a lemon, lips puckered at the challenge.
"Don't get too full of yourself now Walter, I'm not just letting some newbie take me down."
A noise comes out of him, realizing a second later that it was laughter. Laughing right back, she winks at him before placing the chips in the middle for everyone to grab. Processors hum loudly, the sudden noise throwing him off balance. Analyzing this, he finds everything to be fine, though mildly concerned. It's only when she's around that he spontaneously laughs, no effort put into the act.
Strange.
"Let's get this show on the road guys!" Tennessee deals the cards to the three of them, each getting their first hand. The humans make their mandatory bets, while the synthetic plays it safe, not putting in anymore chips than his counterparts.
"Amateur."
Daniels glares at Tennessee, placing a hand protectively on Walter's shoulder.
"Ignore him, he's just being a baby."
"I wasn't aware that he still defecated his pants."
"Woah, shit! Was that a joke Walter!?" The pilot laughs violently, whisky spilling from his lips.
Laughter comes out of her as well, tears spilling from the effort.
"I like your sense of humor, you should show it more often."
"If that would please you."
"Definitely!" With a squeeze of his shoulder, she returns to studying her cards. The next round commences, three community cards coming out to play. As the game progresses, two more cards come to join the other three community cards. More bets are placed. Then the final showdown starts, the three of them finally showing their hands to each other.
"Ugh, have a three of a kind. I'm out"
The pilot resumes to drink, grabbing his whisky, taking another swig. He eyes the remaining two player's hands.
The terraformer deflates in defeat, presenting her cards to Walter.
"I have a flush. You however, have a four of a kind You won! Beginner's luck, don't get too full of yourself now."
Pouting, her hand shoots out for her friend's bottle of whisky, swatting her hand away.
"Hey, should have brought your own drink, I ain't sharing, this is my bottle of misery."
"You're a greedy bastard, you know that?"
Nodding sagely, he toasts to her statement.
"Amen to that sister."
"Well…that was fun I suppose.", the synthetic glances questionably at Daniels, not sure how to react to his win.
A smile cracks her features, hand squeezing his reassuringly.
"Hey, be happy that you won. Let's celebrate."
Reaching into her pocket, she grabs her personal planner, aiming it high above the pair of them to take a picture. The press of her cheek goes against his as she squeezes next to him to get a full shot of the two.
"Smile!"
His face burns next to hers, diagnostics running a quick scan. Everything was running in accordance to his programming.
Strange.
A flash of light goes off, a tongue swelled in alcohol sticking out at the camera as the pilot photobombs the shot.
"Goddamn it Tee! Did you have to that?"
"Yeah, it was necessary."
Gently as he could, he pulls away from Daniels, his internal core temperature rising.
"I must return to hydroponics; soil samples have to be taken."
"Well, thanks for playing poker with us, hope you'll be join us again soon."
"Yeah, not bad for a synthetic."
Eyes going from Daniels to Tennessee, he nods curtly, gazing at her a moment too long. Then he leaves far quicker than when he came.
The grief of Jacob was raw in its infancy at that time, the distraction of that day proving to be a God send. Those days were long lost now that David had complete control of the Covenant. Her hand holds the frame protectively as sleep takes hold, dreams taking shape to serve as a precursor to nightmares that have yet to come.
Zopkeer is in full view of the Juggernaut, the expanse of the planet laying before Uytqyo. On her dais raised above her brethren, she waves her staff at them as she speaks, the sleeves of her cloak billowing in her wake. Azuei and Oknor stand to her right, both still as statues.
"Fellow Overseers, the time of judgement has come. We are to land on this cursed wasteland, the horrors of what has befell the To'vlajar descendants to be seen by us first hand. We do not know what we will find, take heed for what lies beneath us."
The frailty of her voice does not diminish her message, only serving to remind the Ma'kala of their own mortality.
She turns her attention to Toto and Wal'os, the lead pilot and co-pilot respectively.
"Men, let's make sure this is a smooth landing, I want nothing but the best from you two."
"Yes Ma'am.", they respond in unison, saluting. They proceeded to calibrate the landing measurements for the behemoth, their descent off to a rocky start as the ship shook violently into the ion storm.
Azuei is transfixed on Mother, the pit of her stomach dropping as the warship does. Nerves getting the best of her, she holds Oknor's sleeve tightly, the look of a lost child crossing her face. Oknor carefully guides her hand to his, the embrace secure.
Gods, she reminds me so much of my daughter, Lovun. Sometimes I wonder if it's a blessing in disguise that she perished with the rest of our family.
Hope holds onto him that what they fine will not be what he fears it to be.
The beast…if we find it exists once more, all is lost.
Mother Uytqyo turns his way, acknowledging his fears with a slight upturn of her chin.
Silent prayers are mouthed as he lowers his head, the Gods unresponsive to his pleas.
Author's note: Well this chapter was a bit difficult to write, especially the poker playing scenes. Kinda glazed over that. Please for the love of god comment if you do have any knowledge of poker. It's probably far better than my limited knowledge on the game, critiques are always welcomed. On another note, may have to change to rating of this story to mature next chapter. If that throws you off, I apologize in advance. Wasn't expecting for the story to get this dark, but it did. Really want to explore David's repressed sexuality, that was a very important aspect to his character Alien: Covenant. Hinted heavily at how he violated Shaw he was going to do the same to Daniels. May not be exactly sexual in nature, but it does revolve around the theme of bodily harm in reference to experimentation.
Thank you again for those of you who have been keeping up with this story, I greatly appreciate it! :) Special thanks to GalaxyBrabie for your commentary, I'm glad I was able to inspire you again and that you're enjoying the story so far. :D As for the hybrid network, I do watch their videos on occasion, really helps with writer's block. lol