A/N: Here is the next chapter! I am updating at 3:00 am so there will more than likely be mistakes. Hold on 'till I am rested enough to come back and proofread! Anyway, review! ;) It always motivates me seeing new reviews and I tend to update faster. Until next update, my lovelies!
"It wasn't my fault." Daisy remarked as she followed Th'vk. His silence had been very unsettling to her. There was a grunt in response but it did nothing to soothe her. Was it an angry grunt? A whatever grunt? She didn't understand why he didn't just answer. "Are you angry with me?" She questioned finally. The quiet had been causing her anxiety.
Th'vk turned his head to look at her. "No." His voice wasn't harsh but it wasn't soft either. "You did as you should have done: fought honorably and won. Proved to be the strongest mate. The best mate." He returned his attention to where he was leading her.
Daisy cheeks reddened from his odd, but strangely heartening, compliment. It was nice to be liked for being a strong woman instead of being feared by men who didn't like a woman who was stronger willed than them. "I wasn't the only one who fought." She mumbled.
"Yes, but you finished two opponents in the time it took Pol'v's mate to finish hers. Atok's mate was the weakest. You had to step in to help her." From his tone of voice Daisy knew that he wasn't exactly ecstatic about her choice of friends.
She quickened her steps so that she was able to walk side-by-side with Th'vk. "Their names are Natalie and Jennifer. They are my friends and they fought with me. They were honorable in a different way." Daisy instinctively tried to protect her new friends from any unkind remarks. He did not respond and she decided that perhaps it would be best to stay quiet. She had spoken much that day and she knew that it was quite possible his patience was wearing thin.
The path they took was familiar to Daisy. She studied the hallway. It kinda looks like we are heading back to our room. She, however, was confused when they passed the door she swore was theirs. Instead they continued on for about a few minutes until he abruptly stopped and entered the code into a panel. When she entered Daisy immediately noticed that it was a study area. There were desks, shelves, office supplies, and surprisingly some things for art and crafts. She walked in eyeing everything. "Make list, I will be back to collect you soon." With that he left her alone in the spacious room.
She searched for a pen and paper to begin writing her list. With her supplies together she hurried to write what she wanted from her home.
List:
· laptop w/charger
· shoes (forget the heels)
· IPod w/charger
· computer games & board games (basically all the games in my house, including cards)
Looking over her short list she contemplated anything else she could have forgotten. Clothes were a no since she figured Th'vk would be insulted that she wanted her own clothes instead of the ones he was giving her. Daisy also needed to ask if there would be a way to charge her things or else she would also have to scrap the electronics. Most importantly she wanted to know if she would be able to contact her family. Her mother, brother, and sister had always been a big part of her life. They were her support system and she needed them more than ever. The door swished open and Th'vk stood waiting for her to come to him. Gabbing the piece of paper she held it close to chest. While they strolled to their next destination Daisy decided that it would be best to ask Th'vk her questions as they walked. "Would it be possible to charge some electronics of mine here or should I just leave them on earth."
There was a silence followed by an answer. "An alternative method would be found for you."
Good, one thing down. Taking a breath Daisy inquired about the thing that meant the most to her. "Will I be able to keep contact with my family?"
"Yes, if that would make you . . . content." His response was drawn-out.
Daisy smiled to herself as she was grateful that he was being very understanding. She lightly put her hand on his. "Thank you." When he turned his gaze to her she looked away as a slight blush bloomed on her cheeks.
They eventually came upon the control room. Daisy was flabbergasted at the sight. There were tall chairs at different stations. All the screens were lit with a phosphorescent green. The writing on the screens weren't anything she had seen before. What really had caught Daisy's eyes was the clear pane that showed earth. She had seen pictures of earth from space but actually seeing it while being in space gave it more meaning. Her feet brought her to stand a foot in front of the pane. She noticed that sprinkled around were spaceships that belonged to more of the aliens. There were some clicks behind her. Turning around she noticed that there was another alien in the room with them. He was slightly shorter than Th'vk, but still a giant compared to Daisy. Th'vk motioned for Daisy to come to him. Once she stood next to him he asked for the list. He then gave the list to the other alien who took it and went to one of screens. The list was scanned and transmitted somewhere. Daisy waited for some kind of motion from Th'vk to leave the command room but none was given. Then, the screen changed and there was a human man sitting on the large screen in the front. He was short, scrawny, and did not have the aura of an alpha male. He was perfect, Daisy thought, for the government's need. They must have looked for the least intimidating man they could find and put him up for the job. But why is there a guy on the screen? She cast a glance at her mate who was staring at the man on the screen.
"Hello, my name is Peter. I will be at your service." He was completely proper, so much so, that it felt false. As if he was trying too hard to be polite. "How may I help you?"
Daisy opened her mouth to speak but was cut off by Th'vk, using his gauntlet to speak. "A list and message was sent."
The man, Peter, put on his glasses and checked his computer for verification that Th'vk's message had been received. "Yes, I see it here. All will be prepared and the lineup has been made. Shall I show you the ones available?" Th'vk grunted. Daisy was confused. What lineup? And why wasn't Peter making eye contact with her? She guessed that it was to ensure that Th'vk didn't feel threatened by the human male, but that was ridiculous. Th'vk could have easily take on the guy. She shrugged to herself. When she returned her gaze to the screen she heard Peter speaking. "This is a Pomeranian named Chelsie. She is still a puppy, completely housebroken and understands basic commands . . ." He continued to speak about the dog. While it was cute and looked like a white cloud, it didn't scream out to Daisy and she wanted to have one she was completely in love with. The next dog was an English bulldog mixed with American Staffordshire terrier. Her name was HoneyBear. She had been rescued from an abusive home and had had surgery to fix her wrist and punctured wounds on her torso area.
"I like her." Daisy said as she looked to Th'vk.
Peter had heard. "Would you like me to put her aside and continue to look to ensure you are absolutely certain?"
Daisy agreed to wait but she doubted that there would be any others that she would want as much as HoneyBear. She was wrong. By the end there were three dogs she had selected over the fifty that had been shown to her. HoneyBear, Ed, and Jax. Ed was a four year old, male, English bulldog-terrier mix with the cutest of wrinkles and sweetest of smiles. Jax was a Dachshund puppy, birthed with an abnormal spin curvature. The only way he could walk was with the help of a special chart. He was simply darling. The government employee went over those three with Daisy multiple times but she could not choose one. Her mind was racing because she knew it wasn't a good thing to keep Th'vk waiting. She was rubbing her forehead from the stress of having to pick one of the dogs. They all equally deserved a home.
Finally a decision was made, but not from her. "All three." Th'vk looked to Daisy. She was shocked that he was giving her all three.
"Right." Peter adjusted his glasses. "Everything will be prepared and sent today."
Th'vk grunted. The screen was turned off and she was greeted with earth in front of her. Th'vk turned to leave and she trailed. Eventually they made their way back to the cafeteria. Her stomach rumbled telling her that it was time for lunch. They were the only ones in the cafeteria. Walking to the conveyor belt she picked up a tray that contained chow mien, Kung Pao chicken, rice, and some broccoli. To drink, there was water or apple juice. She settled at the end of the table and started to eat. Not a minute after she sat down the others trickled into the cafeteria. Natalie and Jennifer both found Daisy and sat with her.
"So?" Natalie asked while leaning over the table. She caught her drink before it tipped over and gave a sheepish grin.
Daisy lifted her eyebrows. "So, what?" Did Natalie always give such vague questions?
"You know, was he angry?" Natalie pressed again. Jennifer and Natalie's eyes were glued to her.
Smiling Daisy shook her head. "No, he wasn't." She remembered how he had allowed her to keep all three dogs.
"You're smiling." Jennifer commented with a tilt of her head. The gears of her brains working to reach a logical conclusion.
"I'm not!" Daisy objected with a slight blush blooming on her cheeks. Am I really?
"Oh My Gosh! You're blushing!" Natalie exclaims her eyes wide.
"Shh!" Daisy tried to quiet Natalie before the whole room could hear their conversation. "Okay, so maybe I smiled. But, that is only because he was being really nice."
"Nice?" Natalie mumbled through the food in her mouth.
Daisy nodded and returned to eating her food. Natalie explained that Bailey and the other two girls hadn't come back to the work-out room, as they had dubbed it. It was probable that they had given them to much of a whooping. Daisy had felt guilty but was confused by the actions of the other woman. Why does she hate me? Daisy furrowed her eyebrows. Finally lunch ended and the women were taken by their respective partner. As they walked Th'vk explained that they were going to meet the last shuttle. When she questioned him if he meant that it being the last shuttle that they were leaving the solar system, he responded with a grunt and nod. At last, they entered the docking hatch and were greeted with the new shuttle. Th'vk opened it and sure enough there were three dogs sitting huddled together. Daisy was more than a little bothered that they had sent them up without an escort since they could have been injured while being alone. She slowly drew them out with little words and calling them by their names.
In the end she succeeded in getting the dogs to leave the shuttle they stood idly next to her warily studying Th'vk. Inside the shuttle were quite a few more boxes. Going inside she found six boxes labeled with her name and struggled to carry it outside. Th'vk offered to carry the boxes and she assented since they were quite heavy. Four had dog supplies labeled on it so she opened one first to see if they had given her leashes. Luckily the first one she opened was the correct one. There were three different colored leashes. There was red, black, and beige. Daisy put the leashes on and smiled at her new children. They were absolutely adorable. When she was ready she notified Th'vk who nodded and started to leave. "What about the other boxes?" She looked back to see around 20 boxes or so still left in the shuttle.
"They will be claimed later." He paused in his tacks to wait for Daisy to catch up to him.
Daisy goaded her three children to follow her. She noticed how HoneyBear and Ed were considerate to Jax, who couldn't walk fast. Her pace was slow but Th'vk didn't comment. They took their time in going to their room. Once inside she instructed the dogs to sit, save Jax who couldn't while still strapped in his chart. Th'vk had placed the boxes next to Daisy quietly before going about his own business. Going through the boxes she studied the contents of each. One held games and electronics, another held her shoes (they had even packed her heels which she was actually grateful they hadn't listened to her about). The other four were things dedicated to the needs of the dogs. Pulling out three plush dog beds she gave one to each. HoneyBear got the one with princesses on it. Ed was gifted with the one with Buzz Lightyear print. Taking the cart off of Jax, Daisy placed him in the bed with bones detailed on it. Each of them looked extremely comfortable in their new beds. Next, she pulled out blankets with matching prints to the beds and covered the dogs. They each were darling and ready for a nap. Jax even yawned. Daisy placed kisses on their heads. She continued looking through the boxes. In them were chew toys, bones, dog food, and even dogs tags. Taking out the sheets that the dogs would use to take care of their business she placed them a ways from them so that they wouldn't be forced to sleep with their excrements next to them if she was asleep and couldn't throw it away immediately for them.
She took to placing the things into her drawers, organizing everything into sections. Once she was content she gave herself a nice pat on the back. With nothing left to do and her new babies sleeping, the only other person in the room was Th'vk. Sighing she gathered her courage and sat on the bed watching him polish his skulls a few feet away. She raked her brain for something to say to him. Settling on something she asked,"What race of aliens are you? Kind of like how I am human."
He gave her a brief look before responding, "Yautja. We have also been known as Predators to your race."
Predators. That makes sense. They look like they belong at the top of the food chain. "How do you pronounce your name?"
"Th'vk." He responded while continuing his polishing.
There was a click in the middle that Daisy tried to imitate. "Th'vk?" There was purr emanating from him. She found it oddly comforting. "Did I pronounce it right?"
"Yes." Though his answer was short it was kind, encouraging.
She studied his collection and found that she was fascinated by the different types of bones he had. The one in his hand was the most enticing. The skull was long and toward the back of its head it wedged out in an almost sider like design. She had never seen anything like it. "You have a nice collection." Daisy whispered shyly.
There was crackle of tension as Th'vk stared intently at Daisy. She squirmed under his gaze wondering if she had misspoken and somehow offended him. Slowly the tension eased and he gave a nod in thanks. A silence followed but it wasn't discomforting. Time flew and Th'vk suggested that they go to the cafeteria so that she may eat. Not hungry she shook her head. Understanding, he offered her to go with him to the control room and watch as they left earth's orbit. She took him up on the offer. When they entered the room there were quite a few more Predators in the room, all busy at their station. There was clicking between them and soon they started to move. Daisy's eyes were glued to the screen in front of her as earth fell behind. There was an instinct for her to run to the screen and scream for them let her go back home. That she be able to see her family and friends again. She wanted to go back to her old life, but she ignored the feeling. She wiped away the tears that flowed from her cheeks. She was a survivor and would find a way to be happy in her new situation. When the blue and green planet, she once called home, disappeared she sealed her resolve to stay strong. Soon the planets she had been taught in school whizzed past her. Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, and finally the dwarf planet Pluto was the last of planets that she would recognize for a long while. Possibly forever.
After he was done in the command room Th'vk took her back to their room. As they got ready for bed Daisy prepared bowls for HoneyBear, Jax, and Ed. Daisy asked Th'vk if he could go get water for the bowls which he agreed to. Daisy brushed her teeth, then washed her face. Looking up in the mirror that spanned the length of the wall she sighed. She knew that there really was no turning back for her and that this was going to be her new home for the rest of her life. She was going to learn to deal with that. Turning off the water she walked back into the room to find Th'vk placing water next to the dogs. The way they were curious of each but wary enough not touch the other was amusing. There was something charming about Th'vk. In a weird alien sense. Th'vk's turned to find Daisy staring. She blushed and turned away heading for the bed and not turning back. He turned off the lights and got in bed. Her stomach was in knots. Maybe it wasn't going to that hard to like him after all.
