Chapter 13

Although she tried, Kim didn't get any sleep. she just stared into the dark shadows of the room. Katel's room. In his sleep, Katel had rolled onto his back and pulled her with him. She was cuddled next to him with his arm around her. Her head rested on his chest and she clung to him like a scared child. In her mind, she had lost Katel to an alien. She knew that it was just a dream, but that didn't stop her from feeling the need to keep glancing back at him. Just in case.

She rubbed her cheek into his chest and basked in the feeling of his warm skin. It had been so cold in her dream, but he had been dead in her dream.

Tears welled in her eyes again and she whimpered a fresh round of sniffles and silent tears. She didn't want to wake him. Kim drew circles in his skin and didn't try to sleep anymore. She was too afraid of seeing Katel's lifeless body again. And way too afraid of seeing that, thing that attacked Terre. The real Terre anyway. Kim knew in her mind that the first Terre wasn't real. It was a twisted abomination of her friend. A corrupt image of her friend. After all, the second Terre didn't even know that creature, that horrid, horrid creature from the first part of the dream.

But they were both called D...

She shuck her head and dismissed it. The first, perverse Terre had called it her husband and D once. Where the second, more life like Terre had called it D and Damien or something. And she didn't recognise it in the cage.

But both of them said she was a Queen...

That's impossible. She's human! Only the huge female Xenomorphs are Queens. That last Queen had tried to kill her for Christ's sake! It was just a dream. A bad, terrible, disturbing dream that is anything but real. Nothing was real. It was just a dream damn it!...Katel...

Kim sniffed again and felt something gently run through her black beaded braids. She looked up and Katel was awake. He was brushing his clawed fingers through her hair and smiling down at her.

"Have you even tried to sleep?"

"Yes...I just failed. That's all."

"Do you want to talk about it now, your dream I mean."

"NO. I mean no...thanks."

"You will feel better for it. females always do."

"I don't want to talk about it..."

"Who's Terre?" Kim jerked up to look at Katel's eyes. He turned onto his side and faced her.

"She...she's a friend."

"Is she the friend you didn't want to leave behind? the one you said you needed?"

"Yeah. That's her."

"What happened in your dream?"

"I don't want to talk about it alright!" Kim turned her back to him and held herself tightly, missing the warmth of his skin.

"Talk to me." He sounded more stern than concerned. But his touch was enough to show how much he cared. He traced her shoulder and arm with his talon. He shuffled closer to her and hesitated before resting his large hand on her hip. "Please?" Kim broke down into a fit of hysterical tears and sobbed.

"I. I don't want." That was all she could manage through sobs.

"You're exhausted. Get some sleep while I get the training room ready. I refuse to train you until you have a decent rest."

"I don't want to sleep."

"Why not? What are you afraid will happen?" Katel moved up to her and leaned over to look down at her face. It had gone blank and slightly pale. But the fear swam like sharks of dread in her brilliant emerald oceans. But they didn't look so brilliant, as tears still clouded her eyes like a film of misty glass. He saw he wasn't about to get anything out of her right now and settled for a new approach. "If I leave you for now, will you tell me later? Or at least get some sleep?" when she failed to even acknowledge that he had said anything, he lost his temper. "Fine! If you wish to be cowardly and stupid by avoiding the question and your fears then that is FINE with ME! I try to be nice and considerate but NO! It doesn't matter, you still ignore me damn it! I have had enough of wasting my time on a pathetic little ooman and her pathetic little mood swings!" now Kim lost her temper.

"I NEVER ASKED FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION! I NEVER ASKED TO BE ANYWHERE NEAR YOU! I ASKED TO STAY BUT YOU STILL KIDNAPPED ME AND TOOK ME OUT TO SPACE! I DON'T CARE ABOUT IF YOU TRY TO BE CONSIDERATE BECAUSE I KNOW THAT YOU DON'T CARE ABOUT ME!" Kim seethed and got up. She wobbled at first but flung herself at the door and supported herself with its frame. "How could you give a damn about a 'pathetic little ooman' and her 'mood swings? It's not like you care anyway. You already said it yourself. You were forced into this. You don't care..." Kim limped out of the room and forced her weak legs to carry her into her room.

"Wait." Katel tried to get to her but she simple took a hold of the door handle, saw him coming and slammed it shut before he could get there. Katel roared and arched his back in pure frustration, but mostly anger. Kim screamed at the top of her lungs, showing him that she could make just as much noise as him damn it! her legs were still half asleep as she stumbled over to the fur bed. she was exhausted and her most recent argument with Katel just made her need for sleep greater. Now she wasn't just physically tired, but thanks to Katel, she was mentally tired too. Her mined roared and screamed at Katel, all of her anger and pent up emotions were now being directed at him. She had forgiven him for calling her ooman the last time, and the time before that. But after all that, he still called her ooman.

"Damn asshole. Men, they are all the same. no matter what the race. See Terre? This is why I don't get close to guys. Because all they do is hurt me. that is why I don't let them get close to me because all they do is break my heart and pride." Kim whimpered and collapsed on the bed. her mind went to a blur and her eyes to mist.

Katel heard her mighty scream and deep down, part of him was impressed. But that was only, really, really deep down. So deep down that at that moment, the only way to find it was to push past all the rage, dodge the oncoming waves of hatred and jump down the pit of self loathing for what he had done. As soon as Kim had spat at him he knew what he had done, again. He couldn't help it. It was like no matter what he tried he would forever hurt her feelings and still make her feel like a damn animal. Like she didn't belong, an outsider. And all because of her race, ooman. But she does belong with me...I want her with me. How could I have blown up at her like that? It was all going so well until I ran my mouth off at her. Damn it why did I lose my temper?...I even roared at her...she must really hate me now...

Katel turned and sulked off back to his room. He dressed in his armour and decided to train his frustrations away. Maybe later he could apologise to her and make it up to her...

Kim just sobbed with every ounce of energy she had left in her small, hungry, exhausted and damp form. Eventually her body just gave in and she involuntarily fell into a deep, nothingness of a dream. It was more like being in a stasis as she didn't dream. Just rested like her body needed.

With a certain new Queen on Earth.

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!"

"My Queen? What is wrong?" Terre awoke in her own sweat and tears. She panted as her eyes darted around the pen, trying to make sense of where she was, who she was and what the hell had happened in her dream. "My Queen?..."

"Huh?" Her eyes finally travelled behind her and saw the large, black creature that had a shine tint of navy to its skin. It was shiny, dry and armour plated in its soft yet inhumanly strong exoskeleton. Its huge, long head was looking down on her as she lay on her back and it was crouched at her side. Its skeletal tail with a spear tip was protectively coiled around her body on the floor, surrounding her to prevent anyone touching her without his knowledge. Its mouth was closed, its head was to one side and it seemed to be making whining noises like a worried puppy. It took her a few moments, but her memories flooded back to her and the name of the male creature came back to her.

"Damon!" She shot up and encircled her arms around his neck.

"Yes my Queen, I am here. Why were you screaming?"

"Oh Damon. I had a terrible, terrible dream. My frind Kim was there and I don't know where she went but I was still in this cage. And she was out there."

"With the other Trappers?"

"Yes I guess...but there was someone else in the cage with me."

"Me?"

"Oh no it wasn't you. I wish you had have been there, but another Like you was in here with me. But he was bigger, had four spikes on his back and they looked to be like tubes. Like the ones you have, but bigger. He had a huge mouth. And he pounced at me!"

"Did he harm you? And did he tell you he was male?"

"I woke up after he jumped me, but erm. He just shouted at Kim. He didn't really say anything to me."

"Then how did you know he was male?"

"I think I just knew...weird huh?"

"No it isn't. It just means that your natural instincts are setting in. about time I would say."

"Instincts? Like what?"

"Like that mental link for one. I am physically talking to you in our language, but soon you will be able to hear and transmit thoughts from my mind to yours and back again. You will be able to smell meat bag blood from miles away, sense them without sight and even think differently."

"What do you mean by think differently?" Terre pulled her knees to her chest comfortably and smiled up at Damon in innocent curiosity. She waited patiently but Damon just seemed to be staring at her. "Damon?"

"Oh! Right. Well you will think like a Queen and act more like a..."

"Like a Queen?"

"Yes and a predator. An alpha female at her best." Terre giggled at the enthusiasm Damon showed about her being an alpha female. He was so bent on her being a great Queen of a hive and rule an army and...hive? Then she remembered what he had said to her before she fell asleep.

Flash back

"All I want is for you to be free, to rule your hive with me by your side, as protection."

End flash back.

"Are you going to tell me what you meant the other day, about me being free to rule a hive with you at my side? For my protection or something."

"Ah, yes. That." Terre saw he became uneasy and he fixated on his own front claws.

"Well? Come on tell me already." Terre giggled and smiled at him. his head moved up and simply stared at her again.

"You are a Queen. You have certain, well, duties that you need to perform and that includes." Damon was so grateful when Snide and the Ivan meat bag stormed excitedly over to the cage, taking Terre's attention away from him. He rose to his feet and growled at the two of them, smirking as they took a swift step back.

"That one is certainly protective of our new Queen isn't he?"

"Indeed mister Ivan sir. But, that is not why we are here is it?"

"No it isn't. I will tell you why we are here, after I have a word with miss john."

"Jones."

"Whatever. Just get her for me."

"Yes sir." Snide walked over to the pen and looked past the very intimidating Damon and to the scowling Terre. "Jones put your collar on. Mister Ivan wishes to speak with you. I suggest you do as whatever he has to say, involves you and your friend in a big way." Terre snarled at him once before pulling the collar out of her leg pocket and bracing herself for the imminent tight squeeze of her neck. As she thought it tightened around her neck slightly and then relaxed as it fitted to her.

"Alright. I am listening." Terre said cautiously, purring slightly at Damon. He heard her and instantly joined her, sitting obediently at her side.

"Nice trick you got there lassie. But down to business shall we?"

"Please do. The stench is unbearable so please let's get this over with, so you can leave." Ivan scowled and grit his teeth at her. She simply smirked back with an evil gleam in her black, coal eyes.

"You will not be as cocky when you find out what I have for you."

"For me? Oh you shouldn't have. What is it? I new method of torture for your lab coats to play with? Or perhaps a new chew toy for Damon."

"Cocky little bitch! No matter. I like the gift I have for you and if you are even half the Queen the last one was, you are going to LOVE this one."

"I doubt it somehow. Anything from you will be sleazy. Just like you."

"Tough words from a little girl who is behind bars and a monster."

"Come in here with me and I will show you just how 'tough' I am." Terre was gasping in her mind. She never said a harmful word to anyone. Yet here she was, being arrogant, cocky and most of all, talking like a, like a. like a predator?

"Oh just you wait. Your 'little' gift will be here tomorrow. I hope you love it just as much as it will love you." Ivan sniggered and smirked as he victoriously stalked out of the room. Snide grinned evilly at her before following. Terre snarled at them again and gladly removed the collar, placing it back in her zip up leg pocket. Where she preferred it.

"My Queen? What is gift?"

"It's something one person gives to another person that they like. But he wasn't being nice. Whatever he has planned to give me tomorrow, will not be something to my liking."

"If it is harmful to you, I will take it in your place." Terre looked back to him and smiled sweetly.

"Damon, you don't have to do that. He wants me alive anyway. He wouldn't hurt me. I just won't like whatever he has. It will not harm me or he wouldn't want to give it me."

"Until tomorrow then."

"Yeah, until tomorrow." Terre yawned as her aching stomach both stung and growled at her. She was hungry, thirsty and exhausted. But she was too tried to eat or drink anything. And too weak.

"My Queen? Do you wish to rest?"

"Yes I think so. Can I erm, cuddle up to you again?" Terre giggled softly as Damon frantically nodded. She crawled all fours, her eyes already closed and hopping she could just collapse once she bumped into him. When she got to him however, she felt herself being lifted off the ground and turned onto her side. She allowed this and basked as a warm body pressed up against her back and two arms coiled around her body. She was warm and safe. That was all she needed and she slipped off into a wonderful dream about her past, when her parents were still alive...