"MAX!" Nal'ca called again, but Max couldn't hear her, he was too focused on the Queen. As he approached her, he heard the Queen screech in his mind.

"WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!"

"Taking my vengeance." Max returned. Max jumped, his enhancements allowing him to jump 3x higher than a normal human's capabilities. However, as he jumped the Queen managed to break the chain holding her arm closest to Max. She attempted to swat him out of the air, but Max's instincts were running his movements. He twisted mid-air to avoid the hand, but the maneuver cost him his aim, and he overshot his target. Max roared, revealing his canine-like teeth, his battle cry non-human. He jumped onto the Queen's back, rolling backwards when she tried to swat at him again. He jumped up once again, both hands on his Katana. This time, he didn't miss.

His blade cut clean through the Queen's neck, severing her head from her shoulders. Max jumped back after he landed, avoiding the waterfall of acid blood coming from her neck. Max tumbled until he landed on his back, he then moved himself so he was on his knees before getting himself on his feet. Max looked to see all the Yautja staring at him.

"What happened to you guys?" Max asked, "You guys all looked like you've seen a ghost. I know I'm not Yautja, but you don't need to stare." Max began to laugh at his own joke.

The Yautja whose arm was broken by Max stepped forward, "My name is Lord Kulem'te, I am the Clan Leader of the Jac'kul"

"It is good to meet you. I'm Maximus, you can call me Max." Max replied, bowing in respect.

"This Ooman is different than the others Lord Kulem'te, maybe we should take him in." A Yautja named Bak'tub asked in Yautja.

At this Nal'ca jumped, "Father, I think he would be a great warrior for the clan."

Max didn't know what they Yautja were saying, he couldn't understand their language, but it didn't matter. He could smell something… something wrong… something that smelled like death….

"I realize he is a strong sain'ja, and that our race's existence should stay secret. Killing the hard meats, the Queen, and saving my Daughter are all reasonable reasons to let him in, but I can't ensure that the Eld-"

"EVERYONE DOWN!" Max yelled and charged at Lord Kulem'te. The Clan leader brought his good hand up ready to defend himself, but was surprised when the Ooman sailed over his head and kicked back a Hard Meat that would have surely killed him had Max not intervened. The Hard Meat recovered quickly, a warrior variant, it screeched at Max before attempting to claw him. But Max just moved to the side.

The Hard Meat continued its attempt to kill Max, slashing, clawing, and stabbing with its tail. Max simply moved around each strike. His hands behind his back, he seemed to dance around the monster. Max wasn't even paying attention to his feet, he just moved his torso and let his feet moved as they needed. The Yautjas stared on as Max seemed to dance with the Hard Meat, his feet moving so fast it was hard to keep track of them. And were even more shocked when Max started humming a song.

"This Ooman is dancing with death!" a Yautja, named Gat'tak spoke in shock.

"Look at his feet, I can barely keep track of them." Sya also said.

"So he wasn't attacking Lord Kulem'te?" a Yautja named Jakka asked.

"No…" Lord Kulem'te responded in disbelief, "He just saved my life."

"Come on you bug!" Max yelled at the Xenomorph, "You could at least make this interesting, or actually dance with me instead of fighting like an idiot." Max's statement made Nal'ca laugh. The Xenomorph attempted to stab Max, but he simply ducked before jumping up and kicking the Xenomorph. The force of the kick powerful enough to send the creature far enough for Max to rip out his sniper rifle and, taking less than a second to aim, pull the trigger. The power of the sniper rifle cutting clean through the Xenomorph Warriors neck and completely decapitating it from the force of the strike.

"Well…" Max sighed, "It was fun while it lasted." Max then turned to the Yautja, who once again looked shocked, he then looked at his watch. "Look, you guys are running out of time. We have 10 minutes before those bombs are dropped and we are blown to oblivion."

"Your own people would have a warrior like you killed?" Lord Kulem'te asked.

"You surprised?" Max asked raising an eyebrow, "From what I can find in your mind, that fits your description of most Oomans."

"What?"

"I have been given enhancements, including Xenomorph DNA, except I was special. The—what do you call them—Hard Meats?" Max asked, getting a nod, "Already have telepathic abilities. I was just lucky enough to inherit that mutation."

Nal'ca stepped forward, "Are these enhancements why your eyes are different? Why-"

"I have a different bone structure, still walking when my legs are broken, and breathing just fine with broken ribs…" Max finished, "Yes."

Kulem'te took a breath before he said, "Max, come here." to which he applied, "Make your chest bare, and kneel." Max complied, removing his shirt, and kneeling before Kulem'te. He wasn't sure what was going on, but he decided to listen since he was surrounded by Yautja.

"Sya, we shall do this with the blood from the Queen." Kulem'te ordered. Sya walked to the Queen, pulled out a ceremonial knife and dunked the blade into the pool of the Queens blood, then handed it to Kulem'te. Kulem'te faced Max.

"Maximus… as leader of the clan Jac'kul, I wish to mark you of our clan. Do you accept?"

Max thought only for a second. He just lost everything that kept him with humanity, but these Yautja are willing to give him a new life. "I accept."

The Clan Leader then moved the acid-blood soaked blade across Max's skin. Only enough acid was used to burn the clan mark into his shoulder and chest. A circle encompassing a triangle was now burned into his upper left side. The pain was excruciating, but Max held his own, not crying out or flinching, and when the acid was done, he put his shirt on again, and bowed in thanks.

"Bring the Queen and the warrior with us." Lord Kulem'te ordered Jakka,"Let it be his first trophies.". He then relayed what was going on to Max, who nodded in thanks before walking off to examine the Queen he had slain.

"Lord Kulem'te", a Yautja named Tal'ka spoke in Yautja, "We have 8 minutes till the bombs strike."

"Then let us get moving." Lord Kulem'te said, as he looked at Max watching the Queen getting dragged away.

Max continued to watch the Queen, being careful to avoid the pool of her blood that was in front of him. However, the blood clouded his sense of smell. Therefore, he didn't smell danger right behind him, until it was too late to move.

"We are keeping him correct?" Nal'ca asked her father, "I have taken a liking to this Ooman."

"We will…" Kulem'te said nonchalantly, "If he survives that…"

Nal'ca turned to look at Max, to see that a Hard Meat managed to sneak behind him, using the pool of its Queen's blood to cover its scent.

"MAXIMUS!" Nal'ca screamed in fear.

Max realized what was behind him too late. He didn't make a sound when the tail pierced his right shoulder. He looked down at the tail, covered in his blood, that had emerged from his shoulder. He then looked back to Lord Kulem'te, but the Yautja's face was empty, without emotion.

He saw it coming... Max thought, before the Xeno ripped the tail back, and Max fell on his knees. Thoughts ran through his head. He betrayed me... Why didn't he save me? I thought he made me part of their clan... It's what I get for having my hopes up that I might start over with them... Despair and anger filled Max's thoughts.

Well, If I going down like this... I'm going out fighting. With a bloodcurdling roar, he threw himself at the Xenomorph. Max pushed it to the ground, using his legs to hold it down while he punched it in the face. Max landed two hits before the Xenomorph threw Max off. Jumping on top of him and holding him in place. The Xenomorph landed with its foot on Max's leg where it was broken, crushing the bone even more. Max stared at the Xenomorph in anger, ready to die. The serpent brought its tail up, and prepared to strike, but before it could, a green blur slammed into the Xenomorph. Max turned his head to see Nal'ca, jamming one of her wrist blades into the Xenomorph, killing it. Nal'ca then quickly turned and ran to Max as if her life depended on it. Nal'ca ran next to Max, kneeling and getting ready to pick him up.

"No Nal'ca…" Max coughed, barely able to speak, his body was beginning to call for sleep., the events of the day catching up to him. "You… need to… go…. I'm going t-… to die… here anyway." Blood sputtered from Max, "At least I shall be with Hera and Jack."

"No", she replied, "No more pain. I'm not leaving you here." Nal'ca picked him up anyway, holding him bridal style and running to the ship.

When Max saw his pack, he cried out, "Wait… I need… my pack!"

Nal'ca looked to Sya, who quickly grabbed his pack before everyone got into the dropship and it took off. Nal'ca sat down, with Max still in her hands. Max looked around the inside of the dropship and noticed Sya with his pack.

"Sya…" Max gasped, his voice harsh and scratchy, "Sya…"

Sya immediately turned his attention to the Ooman, "What do you need my child?"

"My bag…" Max coughed, "I need my med-kit." Sya opened Max's bag and searched for what the Ooman wanted. He managed to find a white box with a red cross, a 'universal' symbol of first aid to the Oomans, opening it and holding it out for Max. With strain, Max moved his right arm, groaning as he rummaged through the pack until finding what he wanted. Taking out the red syringe gun, he prepped the needle and ensured the right medicine was present. Moving the syringe to his left arm, he pushed the needle in and pulled the trigger. Grinding his teeth and holding a scream as the medicine did its life-saving, but painful work. Max quickly pulled out the syringe and threw it to the ground before holding a spasm and groaning in pain.

"Max?" Nal'ca asked, worried about what was going on, "Max what's going on? What did you do?"

As the spasms began to stop, Max took a deep breath, the medicine giving him the ability to breath clearly now.

"I just gave myself some time…" Max said, ignoring the burning pain in his shoulder and leg. Max quickly grabbed some cloth and let Sya wrap his bloody shoulder as they approached the mothership. Looking out the window of the dropship he could see their destination, he gasped in awe at the vessel, and where they were already at. They were light-years away from Sol already.

"What has you interested so?" Nal'ca purred.

Max looked back at Nal'ca, who had taken off her mask. Max looked into her eyes, he found them oddly beautiful, even if she was an alien, they reminded him of Hera. Blue, and as bright as Sapphires. Max reached his hand up, ignoring the pain, and massaged Nal'ca's right mandible, causing her to purr.

"Your eyes..." Mac whispered his voice returning to the raspy sound he had before, "they are just like Hera's. Thanks for helping me."

Nal'ca smiled at Max's words, she was happy that he was all right, his touch made her feel warm inside. However, soon she began to question the feeling. Why does this Ooman make me feel this way? She thought. She hasn't yet had a mate. She longed for a life mate, someone she loved, and he loved her back. Someone that would hunt with her, care for her, and at the same time treating her with the respect she deserved as a kc'var-de, a hunter. I don't know why but, I feel happy when I meet him. But I've only met him just today, but the way he cared for me and respected me. He saved my life, and his skills in battle are amazing. His endurance for what has happened to him astounded her as well.

Max looked up at Nal'ca, smiling as their eyes met. He could feel what Nal'ca was thinking, his telepathic abilities he inherited from his Xenomorph DNA allowing him to read what she was thinking. Secretly, he also felt for her, he could feel pain in her mind, in her soul. But from what, he has no idea. However, what he did know, was that Nal'ca has been the kindest person to him. When Hera died, he felt like he lost a part of his soul. He had formed a mental bond with Hera, allowing him and her to communicate with each other and it made them much closer than humanly possible. But when she died the bridge was shattered, and it only increased his emotional trauma even more.

When he met Nal'ca, he suddenly lost the pain from the broken connection when she had hugged him. Her carrying him only further healed the cut at his soul that the death of Hera caused. He too, felt warm inside, and that's what almost disturbed him. He had just lost Hera, yes she told him to move on, but he felt like this was a little too fast to be having feelings like this. After some thought though, he decided to think differently. Hera wouldn't want him to mourn for her. She was right, he needed to move on. Even if it feels wrong, he started to really like Nal'ca, and he decided to embrace the feeling. Maybe it will lead to something.

When they reached the clan mothership, Nal'ca carried Max to the med bay, not allowing him to even try to walk. She decided that he deserved for her to treat Max like her mate. Though she got a few weird glances as she walked through the hanger to the med bay, she chose to ignore their staring glances and whispers. However, when she noticed Max's gaze toward her father, she was surprised. He did not have a face of anger, or hatred like others would have for what Kulem'te did. His face looked sad, sorrowful. As if he felt horrible for her father to feel guilty and disgusted at himself for what he did.

And he did feel bad…

Sure, the Yautja had betrayed him, but Max has been through, and done, a lot worse. Kulem'te was one of the few people that felt sorrow for what he did. He could both sense it and see it plastered on his face. Max watched as Kulem'te rounded up the arbitrators, and walked somewhere with them. Where he did not know, but decided that he shouldn't keep probing the Yautja's minds to find out. Once they entered a lift and Nal'ca said something in her native language that caused the lift to move, she asked a question.

"Why did you look at my father with sorrow?" Nal'ca asked.

"huh?" Max responded confused.

"Lord Kulem'te, you seemed to look at him as if you were sorry for the guilt he felt for letting you nearly die."

"Ha! You think I would be mad at a man whose sorrow for his actions is plastered all over his face?"

"Other warriors would have an eternal hatred with him because of that, maybe even challenge him to a fight to the death because of it."

The door opened and Sheeta continued carrying Max to the Medical room.

"I have had worse things happen to me because of people I trusted. At least he felt sorrow for what happened. We all make mistakes. I wish I talked to him before."

"What do you mean you have had worse?"

"That's a story for another time Nal'ca… But I will say that the assholes that did worse… well, they never knew the extent of pain before I showed them." Max chuckled and closed his eyes. He leaned his head onto Nal'ca's chest, enjoying the warmth he felt from being near her. She fought beside him, listened to him, even mourned with him over Hera. Max suddenly found himself falling in love for the Yautja, but quickly banished that thought from his mind.

Not yet, it's too early for me to be thinking that yet. I just lost Hera.

But she said herself that I needed to move on…. What if Nal'ca really is the next, she has been the only other woman you have known that is this kind to you. She is being as kind as Hera right now.

Yes but, it's too early. Most of the others here don't even fully know who I am. And to get hooked up with someone not days after I arrived probably won't look good if this society is warrior based.

Maybe she has the same feelings for you?

That thought made all Max's other thoughts go silent. He could easily look into Nal'ca's mind and figure out if she felt for him too, but decided against it. If she found out he was probing through her mind, then creating a relationship with her would be lost. No, he would wait until he began to fit in with the ship and get to know Nal'ca even better, before asking. If she asked before him, then he would except. Otherwise, he would wait till he was ready and comfortable enough to ask her himself.

However, Nal'ca was feeling something toward Max as she held his body in her arms. He had fought beside her, healed her, went out of his way to ensure that she and everyone else made it out safely, saved her father, and more than proven his skills in battle to all of the Arbitrators, and the ship. Everyone Yautja on the ship has watched the mask feeds by now. Watched him kill a hard meat with his bare hands, fight by her side, heal her, slay a Queen, and save her father's, the clan leader's, life.

But most of all, he talked to her not as a stranger, but as a friend.

Yautja's women dominated their society. It was the women that ran the Yautjan government, sure the Elders were all male, and were very powerful, but the all bowed to the Matriarch, who ruled over all Yautja with her Patriarch. Therefore, most females didn't hunt as often as males, who pitted against each other at every chance they got. Caring for nothing but honor, and how many pups were born with their blood. Females would stay home, running the clans political needs while the males hunted, fought and trained.

But Nal'ca didn't stay home. She did not want to stay cooped up on Yautja Prime, boring herself with politics and work she didn't care about. She instead fought and hunted with the males, and she was good at it. She quickly became a blooded warrior, strong, proud, but alone. Sya and her father seemed to be the only others that talked to her like a normal Yautja. Some Yautjas, rather it be because of their arrogance, or conservatism, saw Nal'ca as a disgrace because she was a warrior. Most Yautjas, on the other hand, were just too terrified of her to befriend her. She was a fierce warrior, many trophies adorned the walls and shelves of her trophy room, and most males knew better than to piss off a female.

Max didn't do that though, rather, he treated her with kindness, befriending her, fighting by her side. Something that very few males were willing to do. She used to be so alone, but now a male, an Ooman male, but still a worthy male, had made the first step. She felt warm inside as she held Max in her hands, feeling his pale skin with her hands. She had never mated with another being, no one that could wanted her. She had gone every mating period alone, and at wit's end with herself.

All Yautja could mate anytime, but mating period was when things really got on. Most instances never ended with a permanent relationship, most Yautja never formed a lifelong relationship with a mate. But when a couple pledged themselves to a lifelong relationship, they would devote their love to each other.

However, she did not want a temporary relationship, she only wanted a permanent one. She would not be the bearer for a male she never saw again. She wanted a relationship that many Ooman couples she observed had. Both pledging themselves to each other, becoming lifelong mates, both parents raising their pups together. She felt that Max would give her that relationship. However, she knew to be cautious in her approach. She needed to wait for the pain of Hera's death to recede before she made her move.

Eventually they reached the med-bay, Nal'ca opens the door and they were greeted by a Yautja wearing a white robe with armor visible through the fabric.

"Ah, I've been waiting for you Ooman." the Yautja greeted, "Bring him in, bring him in, I have the table ready."

The Yautja's lead them to a room with a medical table waiting for Max.

"Please set him here." The Yautja's said patting a white table. He walked over to a counter, grabbing some tools before returning to the table to meet Max. "Good-day fine sain'ja, I've been eager to meet you."

Max opened his eyes and looked up to the Yautja, "Hi, guess your my medic?"

The Yautja laughed, "Yes very much, my name is Ba'tin. You are Maximus correct?" Ba'tin moved some machinery at the foot of Max's medical bed. "I would like to do a quick scan to fix whatever I need to first before I move on."

Max laid back while the machine did its job, a wall of green light going up his body till it passed his head and beeped. Once it returned to its original position, Ba'tin took a look at a monitor and gasped.

"What's wrong?" Max asked.

"Nothing…" Ba'tin replied, "Nothing at all, your body has already almost completely healed. More amazingly, you can breathe our air just fine already, but your DNA…"

Max smiled and chuckled, "I guess I might as well explain." Max pushed himself so he was sitting up.

"I'm sure you have taken note of my reptilian eyes. When I joined the military, I was assigned to a project because of my skills. I have mastered several martial arts, as well as use of technology and engineering. There, they changed me, enhanced my abilities. These enhancements grant me greater strength, speed, and agility than what I already had. The syringe I used on the ship was a catalysts-type substance that will quicken my healing process for a short time. Many people went through the program, but mine was more binding. I was given enhancements that caused more of my body to mutate. I was given Xen- Hard Meat DNA. It's why I'm able to put up with the beating I received, why my eyes are reptilian... However, it had an unexpected side effect..."

Max looked down, than at Nal'ca, "Do you remember me in pain when I was near the Queen on Earth?" She nodded.

"See, Hard Meats communicate Telepathically, through brain waves. They have two special organs on their backs that allow them to do this… I mutated these organs." Ba'tin and Nal'ca gasped in shock. "However, the scientists took it much farther than I wanted them to go. Next thing I know, they enhance those abilities so that I can sense minds around me, and even read them if I focus enough. Like I can 'feel' how you are contemplating how this is possible Ba'tin. I can warp another's mind to make them see their worst nightmares, or crush their mind entirely. Finally, I can also establish a permanent 'mental bond' with a being. I can establish a connection between my mind and another's that allow us both to speak to each other telepathically. However, both sides of the bond must be willing to form the bond in order for it to be made."

There was a long moment of silence that followed… Finally Nal'ca spoke, "That's… amazing!"

"Indeed." Ba'tin said, grabbing a ring before walking up to Max. "This is a translator for you. I have to implant it into you, and it will allow you to speak to us. However, I don't know how long it will last. It has been a long time since the clan has had to use one. Since you are staying with us, I will have to figure out how to surgically allow you to speak to us."

Max nodded before laying down, waiting for him to be knocked out, but before Ba'tin did, Max fell asleep himself. The events of the day had exhausted him as his body worked hard to repair him as fast as possible. Since Max fell asleep, Ba'tin decided to not just implant the translator, but also repair some damage done to his bones, as some of his wounds hadn't completely healed correctly. After that, Nal'ca woke him, then brought Max to her room, being informed by her father that he would live with her, since they had formed a friendship, and there wasn't anywhere else for him to live on the clan ship.

Note: Thank you to all who have followed and Favorited this story! I am thankful when people leave good comments on my work or simply subscribe to see how the story plays out. If anyone has any comments, questions, or constructive criticism, feel free to comment! That is the best way for me to know what I can fix to make this and future stories better! I am always willing to answer questions and I will do my best to eye the comments to see these questions and constructive criticism.

My upload plan for this story is every two weeks. This gives me a chance to double and triple check the chapter for errors before it is published. Thank's for reading and have a nice day. Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!