Nest life

by Hergotzer

What happens when a man chooses to leave humankind behind and leave to live on an alien planet? And what about if that planet has some xenomorphs on it and he happens to safe one?

5. Chapter 5

Spying

"Humans fear everything they don't understand or know. When they do know what it is, it's no more scary."

He woke up tired. How was that possible? Then he understood why: He had been wakened up by someone, and that someone was poking him. He opened his eyes and saw black filling his view.

"Hi Celeste. Why did you wake me up?" he asked and yawned. She half-smiled.

"Because you are going to get up and going. Don't you remember what I said? This day is going to be hard one for you." Oh, right. She wanted him to go out and exercise a bit. And she wanted that someone was there to make sure he did what had been told.

"Well I need to get some breakfast. I can't go just running around without food."

"Then go on, I'll send one of my daughters after you." She waved him to go. He smiled to her and left. He had memorized the way out already, but this time it felt a bit harder to find the exit. Finally he got out and looked up. The sun had barelyvisible behind the hills, and the sky was still dark. No stars though. He smiled. It was peaceful here. He hoped that those humans coming here wouldn't change that. Oh no. Had I just said "Those humans" like I wasn't one? Well, he did hate most of humankind, anyways. He looked up at the sky. Hopefully those people coming would change his opinion on humans.

"How was the night?" Rick's voice called out from the kitchen.

"Very nice thank you, but last time I checked my personal life wasn't your concern ." It seemed to enjoy something. It new something, he was surre of it.

"Rick, what are you keeping secret from me? I know you have found out something." It just hummed amused.

"It's funny, actually: You humans, I mean. You are so curious about everything. If you really have to know, I could say it to you, but that would just stop the fun. I think you'll figure it out yourself later." It flipped something on the pan.

"I have to know, okay? It's not fun to be kept in the dark, you know?" It frowned.

"Like you did to me? You didn't tell me about this... friendship." It pronounced the friendship weirdly, not skeptically, but more like meaning another word.

"Look, I'm sorry about that, but it just felt like I wasn't supposed to tell anyone. Please?"

"Ok, but only after I get to the nest. Okay? You get me inside the nest, and I'll tell you the secret."

"But she still doesn't like you! And I won't take you there in secret."

"It's not my problem how you do it, I can wait."

"Why do you even want to get there?"

"I'm Weyland-Yutani's android! Even if I don't work to them anymore that doesn't mean I don't want to find out new things!"

His "companion" arrived just when he had finished eating. She seemed a little more bulkier than the others, but was still graceful.

"You ready?" she signed. He nodded and she left the house. He followed her. He saw her running towards the forest. He ran after her. When he reached the edge of the forest, he saw her nowhere. Had she vanished? He could swear she was here just as second ago. Suddenly she jumped down from the tree she had been hiding. He yelled and fell. She chuckled amused.

"Could you please not give me any heart attacks today?" he said after he had steadied his breathing. She shrugged and walked to the woods. Then she looked at him. You coming? her pose said. He sighed. What on earth did she have in her mind for today? Nothing humane, like her, he guessed. He followed her as she walked deeper and deeper to the forest and it began slowly turn into a jungle, and it was harder to move now. All the time there was a bush or wines in front on him, but she just pushed through. When they came to a clearing, he had to catch his breath for a moment. It had already worked as an exercise. He looked around; she was leaning to a tree and motioning him closer. When he was some meters away, she suddenly jumped and climbed up the tree. He looked at her; she had gone up in no time. She shook her head to follow her up there. She wanted him to climb up a tree? Was that her idea of exercising?

He sighed. He had no options, and Celeste wanted him to do this. He put his bag down and tried the trunk. It was good for climbing, having small overhangs here and there. But it still looked damn hard to climb up.

"Do you really want me to climb up there?" He shouted at her. She nodded and then sat on a branch to watch him struggle up. Like he had expected, it was hard. But not impossible. Bit by bit, he was able to climb up and get a grip of one of the branches. But she was sitting many meters farther. He already felt his muscles warming from the climbing. She had been right; he needed this. He continued his climbing until he was on the branch below her.

"You are slow." She said plainly as he finally forced himself on the same branch. It was a strange moment; they both sat on a branch of a huge tree, him resting and her looking at him studying.

"Why are you looking at me like that?" he asked finally. Her studying pose was a bit weird. And more than once he could swear she took a bit longer look at his crotch.

"I don't understand what Mother sees in you, that's all." she signed at him. What she saw in him?

"What do you mean?"

"Well, you are weak, slow and clearly not as wise as she is. And of course, you won't be able to protect her that well." He felt offended, but she was right... in xeno-standards.

"If humans try to attack her, I can stop them by telling them not to. And I know that humans are one of the biggest threats to you." She nodded and then began climbing down. Oh great. Now he had to climb back down. He began slow, but soon found his confidence and was soon back on earth.

"I hope I don't have to do that again..." He said quietly as he felt his muscles heat burning. It wasn't that bad yet, but one or two times again and they would really hurt. And of course, that was exactly what she was planning. She made him climb another tree and come back down. It was effective though; he knew from the warmth that he was getting a lot of exercise. In a different way, but it was working. After the forth tree all of his limbs were aching.

"Can we have a break, please?" She considered it for a while before nodding. He lied down and let his tired muscled rest for a bit. He smiled. After all, he had liked it so far. Just him and the xeno, no hurry...

"What's your name, by the way? Or do you even have one?" She nodded and signed:

"Other's call me "She Who Runs." So they had those kinds of names. Wonder where Celeste got hers?

"Can I call you just Runner?" She nodded and then motioned him to stand up. He hesitantly did so and followed her after he had took his bag. They walked through the jungle until his kegs were burning again. They reached another clearing, this time bigger and with a large pond in the middle of it.

"Well? What am I supposed to do here?" She pointed at the ground.

"Strip."

"Excuse me?"

"I presume you don't want to swim those clothes on, do you?" Oh, so she wanted him to swim. He could do that. He was pretty good swimmer, he had almost won championship before he had left Earth.

"Wait a minute. I have no my swimming shorts with me!" he exclaimed. She grinned.

"I know you humans well enough from Mother to know you like to swim some clothes on. Weird, but what can I do? I packed those "Swimming shorts" into your bag before we left." She pointed to his bag and then began walking towards the pond. He shrugged. He didn't want to swim right now, he was tired, but if Celeste had ordered her to order him to do this, he didn't want to anger her. Even if she was in one way his friend, he knew she had her furious side, too. He began taking his clothes off before noticing Runner glaring at him.

"Could you look away, Runner?"

"Why? You don't like to me see you without clothes?" She grinned and hummed amused.

"Yes. Could you?"

"What if I don't?"

"No, please. It would be too awkward for me. You know, this is taking just time. Turn around, okay?"

"Why can't you just do it? I'm no human female, you don't need to worry." He blushed at her. She sighed and slowly turned around while giggling. HE continued to undress and was soon naked. He quickly grabbed the shorts and began putting them on. Then he noticed she had in some point turned around and was again looking at him.

"Runner!"

"Sorry, couldn't resist. But you do have one hell of a body. For a human." She smiled and then swam further to the pond. He pulled the shorts on and tied them. Then he followed. The water was cool, but not too cold. He slowly walked deeper until his waist was touching water. He jumped forwards and dived. His body went first to a shock from the cold, but revived soon and he swam back to the surface. She was there already waiting.

"Follow me." she signed and swam deeper. He tried to follow her, but she was fast. When she stopped in the middle of the pond, she had to wait for him to catch her.

"You sure are fast. Are you sure your name isn't more like "She Who Swims"?"

"Yes. I'm actually slower swimmer than others. Thanks." He looked at her wide-eyed. If she was that fast, what were the others like?

"Well, what are we supposed to do here?" he asked. She grinned and purred seductively. His eyes widened more than what they had been before.

"Fun." He could feel the water current as her tail moved close to his hip.

"Oh, nonono!" He said quickly and swam away from her. She moved closer, like a predator creeping on its prey.

He turned and began swimming away. Fast. He knew he wouldn't be able to get away, but he had to try. Sure enough, soon he was pulled backwards by on powerful, four fingered hand. He shook it off and swam again. This time she pushed him towards the middle of the lake. He couldn't turn back, he knew that she was there. So he chose to try swim this way. And again, just when he was sure of his victory she turned him by pulling him by his hand. She was playing with him. She had been able to catch him any time. Maybe she was making him tired? He didn't care but continued. Two more times she turned him until he felt his limbs weighting tons. He was ready to surrender but this time, she didn't turn him. He got to the shore and stood up, but collapsed immediately. He turned towards her. She was looking at him from the water. She stood up and smiled.

"Sorry, but you wouldn't had lasted it if you hadn't had a reason."

"What?"

"You never were in danger, no! I just tricked you. I have to say, I had some problems catching you twice. You wouldn't had lasted with the muscles you have if I hadn't given you a reason to be quick. What scaring people can do..." He relaxed a little.

"You know, you could have just asked me."

"I know, but this way was much funnier!"

"Not for me."

"Don't feel insulted, but I honestly don't care. You never were in danger, quite opposite exactly. Mother told me to protect you, by my life if I have to." He stared at him. Celeste had ordered her to do what? He had to ask about this when he got back to the Nest. None of her daughters should be in danger because of him. He sighed and walked back to his clothes and dried himself with his shirt. Not that he needed it anyways here, it was so hot. Runner came from the pond and began walking back to the woods immediately. He grabbed his stuff and followed her. They walked a lot longer this time, and he felt the adrenaline fading, and his muscles started to burn. Then, he saw how the jungle was changing back to something more like an usual forest and also he began noticing familiar things. Finally they arrived back to the nest's opening.

"Well, I had fun there. Care to call me if you want to do it again sometime?" she signed and tilted her head cutely. Who could hate that face? ... Okay, no sane man would say a xenomorph cute. Maybe it was because usually the xenos were ready to slaughter them.

"Maybe, but if I some day do need some more exercise, I know what to expect."

"You really think I have just two tricks?" she said and ran inside the nest with a swipe of her tail. He sighed. At least it was over, and his feet were aching and burning. Hope Celeste had something for it...

He arrived to the chamber quickly. She was playing with something glowing.

"I'm back, Celeste. What do you have there?" he said and pointed at the object.

"You forgot this here, and I... well, I hope I didn't break it. It one side of it began to glow when I grabbed it." She revealed the object. It was his multitool, and it had some scratches all around it, but it didn't seem damaged. She gave it to him.

"This is multitool. It's something we use in many things. It can radiate heat to keep us warm, or we can compensate that heat to cook or use it as a weapon. It has a flashlight, computer, phone, basic fixing tools, map, small storage and many other things. Most of them are pretty much useless. The glowing side, what you triggered, is the screen of the computer." She cooed puzzled. This is going to take long...

And it did. He didn't know how long, but after more than an hour, she finally grasped the meaning of "computer" and "screen". She seemed totally intrigued of the multitool, and he let her keep it. He had more of them anyways. And it was hard to break, anyways. He had once dropped one accidentally from a helicopter, and it had survived. She thanked him and put the device somewhere behind her.

"Where do you keep it? Somewhere behind you, I see that, but where, exactly? You took the... blanket you made for me there too."

"There's a small hole there, where I keep my things. You could say it's my personal "locker"." He nodded and then remembered the humans.

"Any news of the ship?" She nodded.

"I was going to get into that. It has landed. We saw it to come down from the sky some hundred kilometers west."

"But it's important! Why didn't you tell me?"

"We don't have to hurry, do we? I don't think they are going to leave soon." He understood how stupid he had sounded.

"I'm sorry. I'm just... a bit tensed. So many things can go wrong here." She hummed and smiled. She then quickly pulled him closer and hugged him. He was first surprised but then returned the hug. She gently lifted him from the ground and then hugged him with her smaller arms too. Will felt already better and more relaxed. He suddenly understood her intentions.

"You wanted to calm me, right?" She purred positively.

"Well, you succeeded." She hugged him closer and nuzzled her head onto his shoulder. They kept there for a moment before she end the embrace and lowered him down. There was an awkward silence between them. Before, it had been just friendly hug, now... it had felt a bit more. Not much, but a little. He had to clear his thoughts, though.

"Ok. I have to go and see them, so I can tell what we do next. I'm not liking this, but I have to go and see them. I may have to take some friends, so you can see the humans too." She nodded and then looked up to send the message. He had found out already that the xenos used some kind of telepathy to communicate with each other, and Celeste was able to talk to all of her children, however far they were. It worked other way around, too. Her children were able to talk to her and send images of what they were seeing. Will turned to leave, but heard Celeste hum in a way what told him to wait. He turned to see her again.

"Please come back alive." she signed. He smirked.

"I don't think they'll be able to see me. And if they do, I doubt they will outright start shooting." She nodded and then waved to him to leave. He walked out of the chamber and almost hit two xenos. They made a giggle-like and backed off. Will barely recognized the other xeno.

"Runner! Didn't think I would see you so soon." She smiled.

"Neither did I. Mother told me and my sister here to come with you." She nodded towards the other xenomorph. She was a little smaller, but had much more spiky form.

"What's your name, then?" he asked her.

"Others call me She Who Sees, but She Who Runs already told me that you seem to like shorter names, so you can call me Seer." He nodded.

"My name's Will. Nice to meet you, Seer. She smiled shyly. She seemed to be shy anyways; she had almost shook when she had signed to him. They began walking to the exit. Will slowly walked next to Runner, who turned at him.

"What's up with Seer? She seems nervous." He hadn't even thought xenos could feel fear.

"She's very young, and this is her first time outside. I think the older sisters have told her something scary about what is waiting outside." He nodded.

"There's nothing dangerous out there. I lived there for a year, almost alone all the time. I doubt we meet any problems." he said to Runner but spoke intentionally loud so Seer could calm. He glanced at the other xeno, which had clearly become more relaxed. He smiled and focused to the mission. They were going to take his hover bike and get to the landing area and hide somewhere where they were going to see the colonists well. They then would try to get one of their tablets and see what kind of people they were, and get back to the nest. He went through all the little details in his head as they neared his home.

"Well? What are you going to do with the ship that landed?" Rick asked as he opened the door. The android had a bad habit to stand in front of the door waiting for him.

"None of your business. We are going to get there and try to find out who they are. Nothing more." he said and pushed it away. It frowned and went to the kitchen. It brought a meal with some "chicken" (he had no idea what it really was, and wasn't going to ask.) , potatoes and some salad. After he had begun eating it brought two large lumps of meat to the two xenos. They both looked at the food suspiciously.

"You don't need to worry, it's not poisonous or dangerous in any way. I just don't know what kind of meat you like." Rick said and then left the kitchen. Runner and Seer both looked at him with questioning faces.

"You can eat it, I trust Rick." They smiled and began eating. Will tried not to watch. He finished just mere seconds before the xenos, who seemed to have liked the meal. When Rick came to take the dishes, both of the xenos jumped on him and nuzzled him while they purred. The android looked helplessly at Will.

"They are just thanking you, I think." It nodded and then tried to slowly get the dishes while trying not to fall. Finally the xenos backed away. If it had been able to, Rick would had sighed.

"Okay, I guess we are going now, then. hmm... Should we take Rick with us, girls?" he asked. They both nodded and then turned at the android. It looked around like hoping there was a another Rick which they meant. Then it looked down.

"I come but only because you order me to. And could you keep those two away from me? My parts could malfunction." He grinned. He nodded and then left the house xenos behind him and Rick behind them.

"You can do whatever you want, but try not to break Rick, okay?" he said so quiet Rick was unable to hear him. Runner grinned and nodded. They got to the back of the house, where his old hover bike was laying. It was using still usual hover-blades, when the newer models had all those fancy anti-gravity gyros. He hopped on it, Rick behind him and then slowly Runner and Seer climbed on it. He turned the motors on, which after some roaring steadied and then became silent. He smiled. Behind him Rick was using that "emotionless face" while Runner and Seer were looking down bot amazed and scared.

"I'm going to get going, now, so don't be surprised! The first time is always the scariest." He said to them and then pushed the steering wheel forwards. The Hover bike accelerated and soon they were skipping over the landscape. He looked back; Runner seemed only amazed now, while Seer seemed to be grasping the bike with all of her power. He had to try fix the bike after this. He looked back to the wheel; there was a small screen in it, which displayed a map. He touched the screen few times and it began showing the way to the landing area. It would take at least an hour t get there.

About half-way there, Seer had got rid of the fear and had began playing with Rick, which didn't seem too much intrigued with the idea. Soon Runner joined and Rick was all the time trying to get away from them. Not that it was able to move much.

"Could you do something?" It asked him over the passing wind.

"You think I can do anything for that at the moment? You just have to take it." he said and tried to hide his smile.

After about fifteen minutes the xenos got bored and began talking telepathically.

"What are they doing? They just... stare at each other." Rick asked.

"They don't use sign language when talking to each other; they use telepathy." Rick nodded and became silent once again. After some more minutes of flying it asked:

"You still haven't got me a way inside the nest?"

"No. And I bet you won't tell me this "Secret" of yours without me getting you in, don't you?"

"Nope." He sighed. If Rick, an emotionless robot, could get excited of something, then it was something big.

"What about the data I got you from the alien... thingy?"

"Not much progress. Their language is nothing seen on Earth, so it may take a lot of time for me to find out how it works. But it is advancing. Slowly, but it is doing so." He looked back to the screen. They were just some kilometers away.

"I think we should stop here. Their radars may pick us if we get too close." He slowed down and then landed. They jumped off and then continued on foot. They were silent all the way: They had no idea how far they actually were. Will hadn't been able to use scanner; they would had been seen. After about an hour of walking, they noticed the top of the ship looming over the treetops of the forest in front of them. The continued on, until they saw the landing area; the massive ship had landed in a huge clearing in the middle of the forest. They hid behind a large bush which seemed to grow all along the place. They studied the ship. It's crew was outside of it, unpacking and moving large crates. They all wore the usual worker's clothes: Orange jackets, blue pants, helmets and protective gloves. He searched for any tablets left unguarded. Soon, he saw one on a table at the edge of the site, just some tens of meters away.

"Seer, see that black-and white flat thing over there?" He pointed at the tablet. She nodded when she saw the device.

"I'm going to need it. I'm not that sneaky, so you I thought you could get it. Just get close enough, snatch it and get back. If you somebody sees you, run back here. I doubt they are going to follow you." She nodded nervously.

"Hey, I promise it'll go fine. You are built to be invisible." She nods and slowly creeps towards the table. When she is just close enough, she quickly takes the tablet and runs back to them bend down. She gets back to them unnoticed.

"Good work, Seer! Now, let's get back to the bike." he said and slowly walked back to the forest. When they got far enough, they finally relaxed and began walking normally. They still didn't say anything, though. Only when they got to the hover bike Runner asked:

"What is that thing you wanted to get? It's too small to be anything useful..."

"Nope, it is very useful. There's not enough time to explain it all, but this small device, tablet, can answer almost any question about those humans we ask it." She looked at the device skeptically. They jumped on the bike and left before they were seen. The journey back was very similar to the journey to the ship. The two xenos "played" with Rick, which seemed to want to shut himself down. He couldn't do much, he was too focused on driving and thinking what the colonists will be like. Finally, after just a little less than an hour they were back. Rick jumped off before he was even able to land.

"Keep those things away from me! I can already feel some of my rotors and wires getting old!" it said and ran inside the house. Some weird glitch in it got it so humane sometimes that he could almost say the android had some kind of a soul. Almost. He landed the bike and let the xenos embark before he did. He smiled. He had to get back here again this day, but now, he had to go and tell Celeste that he wasn't dead. He sighed. She seemed to be so overprotective of him sometimes, always fearing he would get hurt. He wasn't weak. Okay, for xenomorph standards, he was a weakling. But he was a strong, clever human. She had to remember that being human doesn't mean immediately that you are weak, unable to defend yourself.

He waited for Runner and Seer to be ready and then began pacing towards the forest. The nest felt already more like a home than the house he built. And for family... Well, he couldn't say all of Celeste's children were his friends, he hadn't even properly met but two! But Celeste... She was a friend. And maybe a bit more. He shook his head. His mind was playing with him again. She was a close friend. Like a... cousin? No, too far. Not a sister nor mother... He stopped thinking about it. She's my friend. Period. He looked around himself; it was slowly coming darker, and he could hear different noises around him. In the evenings, the forest always came alive. He stared at the place around him; there was all kinds of plant life around him, and here and there he could see small animals trying to find food. There was a small wind which made the leaves of the trees flap. this planet was so untouched by humans. He hoped it would stay like this for a long time.

They arrived to the nest and walked in. He had missed the familiar warmth and darkness of the nest. It felt safe here. He and the two xenos walked together before parting ways. He continued towards the main chamber. Celeste was hanging from the wall like usual, but something was clearly concerning her.

"I'm back. What's wrong?" She looked up and smiled.

"Nothing to worry about. Good that you came, I was getting worried." He smirked.

"You get worried about me too easy. Relax a little, I'm not helpless."

I know, but if you... died, I wouldn't have anyone. I would have my daughters, true, but that' not a same thing!"

"I don't like it when you worry about me. You're hurting yourself because of me then, and I don't want to hurt you, okay? So could you please stop worrying?" She nodded and smiled.

"Well, you are here now. What did you find out?"

"I didn't study it yet. You know already where they are and what happened, they shared it to you already I believe. Thought you would like to be the first ones with me to find out what they are doing." he said and powered the tablet. It lit up and after some seconds asked for a password. He grinned. Not going to stop me. He took the new multitool which he had took from his house and plugged it in. Unknown device found. Set function. He ran the virus program, and in few seconds, he was in. Too easy. He began browsing the files. Nothing useful really was in there. There was just some things which proofed his suspicion; they were colonists. Their ship's scanner had found this planet and set its course here. Then it had landed. They had begun unloading and building the first infrastructures. He was reading the tablet's former owner's personal files when a popup showed up. A chatting app. He quickly used the multitool's settings to disable the tablet's navigator. Now they wouldn't be able to track the signal. Then he opened the popup.

Jack: Wait what? I thought you lost you Commutron. Where was it?

He looked at Celeste. She motioned him to answer. He sighed. Let's start.

I: He did lost it.
Nothing happens.

Jack: Who is this?
Will thought. He didn't want to tell their names yet, but they had to call them something.

I: There's two of us. You can call us He and She.

Jack: And I'm talking with..?

I: He. She's next to me. Hello.

Jack: Ok, Tal, stop this playing, I'm not amused.

I: This is not a game. You are not the first intelligent beings who has landed on this planet. What do you call it?

Jack: Am I talking with an alien?

I: You are talking with something unknown. That much I'm ready to tell you. I have disabled this"Commutron"'s navigator and tracking devices. You can't find it. I would like to talk to the leading person of your colony.

Jack: You're talking with him.

I: Oh. Well, this was fortunate. I have to ask you, what are your intentions on this planet? Colonize it of course, but anything else?

Jack: Why should I tell you? I know nothing of you. You may even attack us, as far as I know. Why should I trust you?

I: Ok, so: I'm able to interstellar travelling, meaning we are at least as advanced as you. I know a lot of humans. We can help you, if you want us to proof our trustworthiness.

Jack: How could you help us?

I: You tell me. I don't know what you need.

Jack: We are having issues with the area we landed at. Can you give us a hard, plain area where to land and start our colony? It would be better if it's close to water.

I: Who said we wanted you to live here?

Jack: We have come here to stay. You have problems with that then tell me.

I: "SIGH" There is going to be conflicts, what conflicts, that's on you. We are going to help you and keep our eyes (IF we had ones) on you. Remember, you are being followed. But you are in no danger as long as you don't threaten us.

Jack: Okay. So the landing area?
Will looked at Celeste.

"Where is a large plain with some water close by?"

"About 150 kilometers east from their ship. There is a half-circle shaped island in the lake." He repeated the instructions to "Jack".

Jack: Thanks. Now we hope it's not a trap, or we have to use force.

I: Don't worry. You are in no danger. But you are being watched. And also, the Thanks belong to Her. She knows this planet better than anyone, I believe.

Jack: I'm believing you don't want problems because of my family. They did this to start anew. And I'm going to offer them the new life they want.

I: How big is your family?

Jack: The whole colony.

I: Oh, you meant that.

Jack: Why can't you just show yourselves? That would help us to trust you.

I: believe me, it won't. If even only one of you sees us, he or she would get a heart attack. We are not proud of our fame. We want to show you first that we are to be trusted. If we would show ourselves right now, you would attack us. And we would have to defend ourselves. There would be useless blood spilling.

Jack: I think I can see your point here. You are scary looking, and you don't want to scare us. But you said you have "fame". Do we know you?

I: You don't know us personally, but you would recognize our species, yes. And that's exactly why we don't want to show ourselves yet.

Jack: I'm going to tell about this to the others, ok? I'm going to ask do they want to trust you. I would like to, but I don't know who you are yet.

I: Good. You ask for their opinion. That's something a good leader does.
Celeste had told Will to write the last message.

"But you don't ask their opinion, don't you? There's monarchy here, if I remember correctly."

"Our "Monarchy" Is different: I may have the most power, but my children tell me what they think of it. There is so many of them that when they are together, they are wise, wiser than me or anyone." He nodded. It made sense, in a way; Celeste made decisions, and her daughters were the ones who then said their opinion. They don't choose, but they can say if it's a good idea or bad.

"Could you teach me to write? I would like to... talk with this "Jack" myself in one point."

"Okay, but later."

"I'll remember your promise." He returned to the chat.

I: When did you leave Earth? I don't remember seeing that model before.

Jack: About half a year ago. There was some huge progress in interstellar travel. Now we can make ships able to move 7 times the speed of light.

I: Wow... things really have changed.

Jack: Could you tell me more bout you? Like, She and You?

I: Well, what can I tell? She's just more than a year old, where I'm already 27. We're different species, and that explains why she's at least twice my size.

Jack: Wait, you're different species? Are you both then so scary that neither of you can show up?

I: No, I'm not scary, but if you saw me, you could be... shocked.

Jack: What about you two? Are you some kinds of... friends? Or is there something else going on there, wherever you are.
Will frowned.

"Well?" she asked him and nudged him.

I: Were friends. We met just mere days ago, but I can already call Her a friend. I hope you can call her your friend too some day.

Jack: It took you some time before you began writing that. You're not sure, aren't you? Hey, we humans have found already few advanced alien species, and, well, interspecies relationships have happened. Once we would have killed those kinds of people, but we have gone over it already. You should learn from us.

I: When did this discussion turn to this?
Will turned the screen so that Celeste wasn't able to see it. He didn't want to talk about this right now. The Queen didn't even flinch. She just smiled widely.

"I saw already. And I'm not going to interfere. Take your time."

Jack: Oh come on, I've felt love too! I know how it feels. Let me ask you this: How do you feel around Her? Do you want to be with Her as much as possible?

I: I don't want to talk about this. Yes, I like to be with Her, but that's because She's my friend.
He gulped. But he did feel a little bit too peaceful with her. He had had a crush once, so he had a faint idea of what love felt like. He decided to think about that later.

Jack: Whatever. I'll let you clear it out yourself. The others wanted to trust you, and we are preparing to lift off.

I: Well you're fast.

Jack: Yeah. I have to end here, I have to go eat something, haven't eaten anything today yet. And I have a bunch of people there waiting for me, so...

I: I think I have to end too. My stomach's protesting... Well, Do we "see" today again?

Jack: I doubt it. I have a lot of work, and if your place is really good enough, then I have even more job to do. We have a deadline here. We can't live in the ship for too long.

I: Ok. Night, I guess.
The app closed itself. He sighed.

"Is that place good?"

"Yes. We used it to train, for it had so flat surface, and some water close by if we became thirsty. It should be good for them too."

"Well, I suppose I have to go again. I'm getting hungry."

"Ok. And about that... discussion. What do you actually feel towards me?" He couldn't say.

"I'm not sure." Then he walked off. He navigated through the maze and got outside. His limbs were still aching a little, but it had ceased enough. He began walking towards the direction his house was. When he got to it, the lights were off. He walked to the kitchen, where there was a plate with some soup and a message.

I think those two broke something, so I had to go and get myself fixed. It may take some time, so I made you this so you don't need to do it yourself.

Rick

He smiled and sat to eat. The android had became better at cooking, but there was still that artificial feel in it. But it was good. It had somehow stayed warm, maybe It had heated it so much it hadn't cooled off yet? Oh well. While he sipped the soup, he thought about him and Celeste. After a while of comparing the feelings he had felt so long ago with the ones he was feeling right now, he became to only one conclusion. I have a crush on Celeste. He hadn't thought it like that, because, well, it was just so... unbelievable. He sighed. Not that he would go and overreact. He had grown an ability to get over these kinds of things easily. When he had lost his mother, he had of course cried and felt sad, but he had became as normal as possible again after a day or two. He sighed. He knew that there had been actually a law stating interspecies relationships legal, but it hadn't got any use.

He finished the meal and shut off the lights. He wrote thanks t the paper Rich had left its message and shut the lights. After that he left the house. The way back felt a lot longer this time. He was already thinking how she would react. But she likes you too. Isn't it clear? He slept with her, true. And she seemed to like to hug him. And, well, always when he was with her, she seemed to be happy. Why does these things keep happening to me? Finally he reached the Nest. He took a deep breath and stepped in.

"Well? I would like to hear you say it."

"You know?"

"I can smell it from you. You're in love. And when you consider the fact I'm the only one you keep being with, it's pretty easy to understand the situation."

"Okay... I think I'm in love. And I love you." he said plainly. he had found out that just saying things out, not being afraid of them helped a lot. Celeste smiled widely and purred.

"And I love you." He looked at her dumbstruck.

"I just didn't want to tell you, I didn't know what would happen."

"I..." he uttered, speechless. She now began humming too. She reached for him pulled him closer. He didn't know what to do at the moment.

"I won't push you, I'll let you sort it out yourself. But I want just one thing right now."

"What?"

"Well, I want the most a kiss, but I think that's too much asked from you. But you won't get away without a hug." With that, she hugged him. Only now he was finally able to recognize the feelings she put in the hug: Deep affection, happiness and love. He, after a while, finally returned the embrace. He felt happy too; like a wall had been broken inside him. But he had to get used to this. One doesn't just jump into this, not even he. He was still a little shocked from the fact she actually loved him. He didn't know how long it lasted, but in some point, she had made him lie down. She had put the silky blanket she had made on him and he had fallen asleep, still hugging her closely. Neither of them noticed the other xenos of the nest staring at them.

Author's notes:Well, it finally happened. Not sure if I'm happy how I did it, I may change the end of this chapter later. And OH WOOOW. This chapter... And its whopping 7,400 words... My record. Anyways, I've settled in so that I write Nest Life and Deep in Minds in turns, meaning after this chapter I write on chap of DiM and then one chap of this. Also, two things: Because it's close to Christmas, I may have less time to write. I know, but I have a lot of things to do. And I go to a trip to Thailand 2nd of January and I'm going to be there for two weeks, so no writing during that. Sigh. So much things to do...

REVIEW

Hergotzer