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The Fighting Irish: Catalyst and the Dtai'kai'rish	By : girlyhero Category: M through R > Predator Views: 4378 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own nor profit from Predator, Alien Vs. Predator, Alien franchises.

Chapter List
- 5
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- 7
Chapter Five: Social Bath

Naranarti heard the tapping on his door. He sat up slowly trying not to disturb Jesse, who'd finally fallen asleep. She had let go of him, but her face was still nestled into his side, the sheet slightly wet from a bit of drool. He trilled lightly and hoped she was still the heavy sleeper from before. He could smell the presence on the other side of the door and was not worried about making him wait. He grabbed his wrap and quickly tied it on before answering the door.

Denarde had been leaning on the door frame rapping his talons over the metal plating of the door. Unlike Mhrende, he did not have free reign to Naranarti's quarters. From the looks of him, he had finally settled himself in, dressed more comfortably in a casual wrap and kilt. Naranarti stepped out of his room and shut the door. When he'd opened it, the mingling airs created a mist with a soft hiss-- the whole room would fog up if he didn't shut it. "Have fun, did we?" Denarde inquired.

"What did you think was going to happen? No-- we played a game of Zinai then went to sleep," Naranarti growled the sarcasm.

"Oh, I bet you played something," Denarde trilled, "You played something in her--"

"What did you want, Denarde," he hissed in irritation.

Denarde trilled a bit at his own joke while answering. "Nanaiyude has set up a communications link. Oh, and the results for that liquid Jess'si'deinz brought with her is in."

"Oh?" Naranarti was intrigued. He had forgotten to ask her directly what it was and before he could tell him not to, Denarde had already taken a test sample. "What is it?"

"It's C'ntlip," he said following Naranarti on his way to the cockpit. "Or at least the human version. Distilled sugar and sap of some sort. It's nice, it's got a kick to it."

"When'd you taste it?!"

"There was enough left in the sample. I hope she shares!" On the way, he told him what was spoken between Mhrende and Jesse. Mhrende had immediately told he and Yekita that she was rather upset by Yekita's display, fearful of any future issues. She also had seemed offended that Yekita would even think she'd consider him over Naranarti, winning a challenge or not. This sent Naranarti into a hysterical laughter (and down the hallway in his bunk, Yekita curled up in shame at his stupidity).

They entered the cockpit and a screen was lit up. Nanaiyude was looking off to the side at something. His eyes looked tired and his dreads were hanging in his face. He looked like he'd just awoken. "Glad you took your time," Nanaiyude started. "Your mother," he hissed the word, "Wants two things from you. To tell her why you're keeping contact with the L'uxa Clan, and to kill Yekita for blowing up another ship. Or beat him senseless-- I don't know."

Naranarti sat in the captain's chair and looked his father's face over. He looked rough. "Why is it she can never contact me herself. Is she afraid I'll shoot her down to her face, because I just might for any insinuation as to why I keep full contact with the L'uxa. I know dealing with...my friend is one reason, but does she not remember I have fifteen daughters of the L'uxa that--oh, I don't know-- just MAYBE would like remain in contact with as best as possible." Naranarti was annoyed on a level he'd not seen for a long while. For once, he wished Yari'mso would get angry and anxious enough to strangle S'esutuhn. She might have been his mother, but S'esutuhn didn't help create any emotional ties between them. "I sure as hell am done playing tag with her about this nonsense. The last thing I will have you tell her is she'll have to contact me directly for anything else..." He started to notice Nanaiyude was not only tired. "Father, you look like hell. What's the matter?"

"I think some asshole tried to poison me a few days ago," Nanaiyude scoffed. "The jackass-- what was he thinking?!"

"Poison you!?" Denarde had not left the room. He leaned over Naranarti's shoulder. "With what?"

"Don't know, but it wasn't enough," he said with a trill. "It comes off like I'm just ill. But when was the last time I got ill? At any rate, I have an idea who did it, and as always, I need you, Naranarti, to make the investigation. He doesn't know I'm on to him, yet, which is nice."

"Who is the suspect?" Naranarti leaned back and was ready to listen. He would need to know as much as possible. Poisoning was a serious accusation. Not only was it cowardly and dishonorable, but poisoning could lead to an entire Tribe being labeled Bad-Blood; anyone related to the criminal would suffer exile.

"That old bastard Ry'unete," Nanaiyude hissed. "He's been eying my position for a long while but never had the testicles to challenge me! Not until yesterday. He thinks me sick and weak. If he poisoned me, I don't think he realized how much it would actually take. After I broke his ribcage, he made the comment about my being sick and said he would 'bide his time.'" He paused and looked away. "Or maybe I'm being a paranoid old prick. What do you think?"

Naranarti stared off into space as he considered everything said. Ry'unete was a devious being, to be certain, and poisoning for his personal gain seemed likely, but only if he could get away with it. To poison the Arbitrator's father, Elder Leader of the entire Clan, seemed too risky for Ry'unete's tastes. Worse, Naranarti had to consider, was Ry'unete was great-grand-cousin to one of his students, Rautade. He wasn't his best student, but he had better standing than the others for the most part besides the occasional fight with his peers (but that was just life as a Yautja male teenager). He never disrespected his Elders, teachers and seniors. He never disobeyed Naranarti, and even behaved himself better than the rest with Mhrende-- not once had he (at least openly) ridiculed or disrespected him for his gender issue or stature, something rare for Mhrende. He was a good fighter, too, and took instruction well. Naranarti intended to have him an Elite one day, but if he charged and found Ry'unete guilty of this crime, it would all be blown away to nothing.

It would be a difficult investigation. Worse, by now, Ry'unete would have disposed of any evidence... unless.

"Off of what you've told me and what I already know, I don't believe he did it," Naranarti finally answered. At first, Nanaiyude merely bobbed his head in acceptance, but he was caught off guard by his son's continuation. "I think if he was involved, he had someone else poison you. He may not have intended to kill you either, just weaken you enough to win a fight. Though, it seems he's underestimated your ability to box and vomit at the same time."

"If some little shit is dishonorable to poison me, he's probably dishonorable enough to give Ry'unete away."

"I will most definitely take care of this on my return...well," he glanced up at Denarde, "You wouldn't mind getting Jess'si settled in while I work, would you?"

"I'd be much obliged--"

Denarde was interrupted by the eruption on the screen. "That little Ooman female?! You have her?!" Nanaiyude looked as though he was going to smash into the camera.

"Yes," Naranarti smiled in amusement. "I'm bringing her home with me. She's tired of her world and would rather stay with me in mine. I hope you don't mind--"

"Are you insane, boy?! Of course not! I was telling your stupid ass--"

"Hey!!"

"Sorry-- your not-so-stupid ass to bring her home with you from the beginning. Is she with you, now-- can I see her? Does she know our language--what's her language? I haven't dealt with Ooman languages in so long--"

"She's here, she's sleeping. She doesn't know our language, but I'm going to teach her as she'll be teaching me a few of her own. Until then, I'm going to give her a translator. Her main language is In'glish, if you're wondering..." Naranarti paused and looked to Denarde. "Glance in my room and see if she hasn't awaken." He waited for Denarde to leave before looking back to the screen. His face was stern and cold. He knew Jesse would most likely still be asleep.

"Oh no," Nanaiyude saw the look and rolled his eyes. "What now? She pregnant already?"

"What? No," Naranarti growled, "We haven't even really started talking about that--"

"Oh, so it's a consideration of yours. I see. I always knew she'd be more than a 'pet' or silly little fuck-slave to you. No, I get it. You're bored. You're too much like me-- why do think I like my females mean and bitchy? Not to say that's an uncommon thing, but it's almost boring the way relations are around here. Mate her, she spits out a sucker, and then she throws it at you saying 'he's yours now!' I take it your little Jess'si'deinz has more to offer you. I really can't wait to meet her."

"I know. Now, as for S'esutuhn... I have a charge for her. If she wants to know my business with the L'uxa, then she'll need to pull some strings on the ship real fast before I get there. For one, I want it known that I have a companion. When we get there, I want the hallways cleared-- COMPLETELY-- from the hanger to my suite. If she has a problem with Jess'si'deinz, then she is to address it with me, and I will either handle it or ignore it. She'll have to accept that...or fucking leave."

Nanaiyude grinned very wide. "Why, Arbitrator! Where have you been?! You just appeared all of a sudden! Oh, I see-- my son grew a pair--"

"Yes, yes, laugh it up," Naranarti said in mock laughter. "If she has issues, tell her to contact me. But I'm quite serious on the get-it-or-get-out deal. The other option would be for me to desert the Clan, and not to be egotistical, but we know what the consequences of that would be."

"As you wish," Nanaiyude said in a partly mocking, partly proud tone. "What about the Yekita c'jit? Are you going to beat him fiercely of just let it go? If you ask me, I think the numb-nut is just cursed as far as ships go. It's not like he crashes them-- it seems circumstances just end up exploding, literally."

"And so is what happened this time around. No, I think I'll let him suffer a bit of a different humiliation. Earlier today, when Jess'si was bathing, he became nicely offensive. Apparently, it bothered her when he and I started to scuffle. Oomans are quite different from Yautja on an extreme level. She's mad at him for even thinking he's worthy on the level that I am."

"You should have him apologize to her. I know he's your friend, but he needs to get some humility, for Paya's sake!"

"I will probably have him accompany her wherever she goes, and for everytime he bothers her, I'll tear a talon off."

"Goddamn," Nanaiyude said grasping his own hand. "I thought you two were friends!"
*****

Jesse had been awake, actually. When Denarde returned and informed him, Naranarti returned to his quarters. Jesse had not bothered redressing. Her scent was sweeter but had a salt bite. Her brow was shiny with sweat, and that was probably why she smelled the way she did. Not used to the heat of his ship, she was hot and bothered. When he opened the door, she jumped back from a chain of trophies startled. The chain and skulls clattered against their hangings.

Jesse blushed. "Sorry."

Naranarti trilled. "You are fine. Was there something you liked?" He approached and stroked her shoulder with the back of his hand.

"They're all very interesting. Like nothing I had seen before." She paused and looked him over. "You always run around nearly-naked, baby," she asked with a grin.

"Do you always run around fully naked?" He trilled. "Yautja are not as sensitive to nudity as Oomans. You may see us wearing less occasionally. I take it you are uncomfortable in the heat."

"I'll adapt to it eventually. At least, it's cooler in here than on the rest of the ship than I remember, but then, you had the entire ship set to my breathing requirements, didn't you? I guess my air is cooler than yours. I'm just going to have to sweat it out," she brushed her hands over her forehead and through her hair. "Speaking of which, I feel sticky and gritty from the heat and the sex. Think I could take another bath?"

Naranarti shuddered lightly. He suddenly realized how sticky he felt from the same. He could handle any sort of uncleanliness-- sweat, mud, and blood-- except anything sticky. It was a sensation that destroyed his nerves and bothered him to no end. It was the underlying reason he insisted on cleaning up after he and Mhrende wet their passions. When he was so suddenly awoken, he didn't have a moment to think about it. Now, it was raking his mind.

"Yes, and I may join you this time, if you wouldn't mind," he replied.

"Ohh~ That sounds nice. Think I need to get dressed to head down there, or you think I can sneak unseen?"

He trilled. "I will make sure no one sees you."

Hearing the three other Yautja near the barracks occupying themselves, Jesse was able to get to the bathroom without being seen, though she still hid behind Naranarti just incase, occasionally having to smack him on the ass for laughing at her. She had figured out how to put her mask back on and decided to keep it on for the bath, giving him a chance at his own respiratory needs. He'd also given her a translator that hooked onto the side of it. The screen was the size of a silver dollar and sat just in the right spot for her to see but not be in the way. It made her think of all the silly science fiction movies, but this was sleek.

The bathroom was large with several drawers and lockers along the walls. Vanity mirrors were inside the lockers, and she was glad she had brought her own brush and such, as they had none. To the other side of the room were two closed-off stalls with the facilities. Basically, they were holes in the ground that flushed like the ones on airplanes with a pressured water hose to rinse whatever needed to be. She wasn't a moron, so she figured it out the simple setup. In a small hall in front of the door, several dryers were embedded in the wall to blow away water from the body when activated. The bathtub was in the center of the room, round and again the size of an extra-large jacuzzi about six feet in diameter. There was a ledge all the way around the inside for seating about three feet down into the water. She had sat on it on her haunches to wash the first time, slightly nervous of the bottom, unsure of how deep it was considering the bottom was black and the water was in a constant flow disturbing her view.

When they had came in, though, the water had been drained and was refilling. Jesse leaned over the edge and looked at the bottom. "Is that...black sand?!"

"Yes, why?" He replied setting her clothes in a locker. She had brought several items tied inside of it that he was curious about.

"Sand filtration. Neat."

"About an arm's length of sand, a bed of rock and mud, then the water line. It refilters, but occasionally, the sensors will make it drain and refill the water. [Didn't think it would because of you, though.]" Naranarti started asking about the toiletries she brought with her.

There was no remorse for the soap she had brought with her. The little black-stone-of-miracle-cleaning did more than it could ever had, including making her hair feel magnificent. It left no scent, so she didn't bother poor Naranarti like the other had. Her deodorant was another issue, too, but when he didn't understand the point of it-- she smelled fine to him-- she tossed it. Her razor he marveled at for a moment, not realizing how complex Ooman grooming was.

"What you think this grows like this," she said pointing to her pubic hair. "Hell, no. And don't get me started on my legs and armpits. Humans are mildly fuzzy in a natural state."

"Why worry about it?"

"Comfort. I never really gave a shit how hairy I was going to get, but it's annoying and even hurts when it starts to grow back. So I just keep shaving it off...at least, until that thing goes dull or breaks, and then I'm royally fucked."

"I could find something that would suit you, I'm sure."

Jesse reached down and touched the water. She jerked her hand away and shook it. "It's too hot," she commented with a hiss.

"[That's weird,]" Naranarti murmured. He approached the tub and flipped a tile over revealing a control-panel. He hit a button with a number-read-out (Yautja numerals, that is) a few times, and the tub received a blast of cool water sending steam into the air. "[That should do it.]"

After a short moment, Jesse slipped into the bath and sat on the ledge, Naranarti sitting himself close next to her. The water was not as hot as he normally liked it, but he enjoyed it as much, especially with Jesse with him. In the water, it was like her scent increased ten-fold. He started to purr.

Jesse pressed against his side and wrapped her arms around his chest. "What are you purring about?" Her voice was soft and seductive.

"You," he mewled as he nuzzled against her forehead.

"Good to know I make you happy," she said pushing her mask to the side and kissing his chest. "Maybe if you're feeling up to it, we could mess around in here. I don't know if you've ever had sex in water, but--"

"That sounds amazing, and no, I've never had sex in the water..." Naranarti replied, feeling himself start to harden at the idea. "But, this may not be the best place. I have my own bathing area in my suite at home, though!" He knew what the first thing he wanted to do when he got home.

"Wait...this isn't your private bathroom, is it?"

The door opened suddenly, sending Jesse under the water with a yelp. Naranarti was mildly startled by her self-submersion. He looked up to see Mhrende walk in and toss his wrap and kilt into a locker.

"[I see you got here first---]" Mhrende commented as he started to get into the water opposite of Naranarti. He caught a strong whiff of Jesse from the steam. "[Oh, Jess'si'deinz is here, too. Was I interrupting something?]" He asked mischievously.

"[I was deterring it actually for this very reason,]" Naranarti replied. "[You know how Oomans are with nud---uh, ah, YAHHHHH!!!]" Naranarti leapt into the air from the tub and came back down next to Mhrende.

Jesse came up from the water laughing as she slid the mask back over her mouth. "Gotchya! Oh, come on, don't tell me you didn't like that! There's not a man in the Universe who doesn't like that!"

He had to admit, the sensation was wonderful. At first, he thought she had managed to start having sex with him, but then something slithered about the underside of his shaft. It scared the hell out of him. "[Wh--what did you do?!]"

"Not only have you never had sex in the water, but you've never been given head, a blow job...oral sex?!"

While she had been listing the terms of phallacio, Mhrende was trilling at Naranarti's confusion. He knew what the words were. "[Jess'si, um, we...ah,]" Mhrende motioned to the opening of his mouth beyond the mandibles. Their mouths were filled with sharp, viper-like teeth, designed for tearing and ripping food, completely carnivorous.

"Ah, I see," she nodded. "I wouldn't want that around my dick, either."

"[You have a penis!?]" Mhrende moved to peek, but Naranarti grabbed a fist full of his hair and pulled him back.

"[No! She's not a hermaphrodite like you, dumbass!]" Naranarti hissed at him as he took his place next to Jesse putting an arm around her. "Just next time, give me some warning before trying that again."

"'Kay--wait! Mhrende..." Jesse's voice trailed off. "Wow. I wouldn't have known, but then I bet that's why you're shorter than them. I had thought you were, like, a kid or something."

"[No! No, no. He's not a child, no! No.]" Naranarti said frantically.

"[Ha! Almost became a pedophile there, Naranarti!]"

Naranarti glared and growled low at Mhrende. He hadn't even mentioned his desires of Mhrende to her, and he was aware of the greater taboo homosexuality carried to some human cultures.

"Oh ho~" Jesse giggled. "So, Nara, baby. You're, uh, leaning both ways, are ya? It's fine. I can dig a bisexual."

"[See, it's all fine,]" Mhrende said to Naranarti. "[She still wants you.]"

"Oh, I think it's sexy, actually." Jesse giggled. "Hell, I used to masturbate to guy-on-guy pornography until the shit exploded into a fluff of ash."

They both stared at her for a silent moment. Naranarti reached over, grabbed Mhrende by the back of the neck and pulled him to sit on the other side of him. Naranarti draped his arm over him in the same manner as Jesse. "Good to know," he said with a deep purr.

Jesse and Mhrende rested on his chest, glancing at each other occasionally to exchange giggles, trills, and smiles. Though he liked her, Mhrende had considered he would be forgotten with Jesse in the picture. In the end, she would be insurance of that not happening.

The door opened again, and Denarde and Yekita entered stripping and arguing.

"[If you don't shut your face,]" Denarde hissed, "[I'm going to drown you in the toilet!]" He threw his clothes into a corner and looked at the three in the tub staring back. "[Oh, I see you've started a red-headed harem.]" When Jesse started laughing hysterically, he noticed she had a translator on. "[Sorry, if I offend, but it sounds though that I didn't. Mind if I join you, or were you planning on mucking up the pool.]"

"[Get in here and shut your face before I drown you in the toilet,]" Naranarti said. "[And no, Yekita, you can't sit next to Jess'si'deinz,]" he released his two lovers and twisted around to look at Yekita as he protested silently and put his things into a locker. "[And speaking of which, you owe her an apology!]"

"[I what?!]" Yekita hollered.

"He what?" Jesse looked from Naranarti to Mhrende, who didn't know what was happening. It was Denarde who was laughing in hysterics.

"[What did I do?! I haven't said or done anything to her! Is that why? I'd talk to her, but I don't know the language very well...]"

"[That's part of your problem! You don't anything about her! You offend her by thinking you can waltz up, challenge me, and take my place to mate her! You don't even know how oomans determine mates, do you? When you pulled that fun little stunt at disrespecting me, you worried her. It bothered her you that you'd even think about challenging me; she might not have needed to worry about me, but she was concerned for her own safety as well. You scared her, dumb-fuck!]"

The weight of his friend's words fell heavy on him, and he sort of slumped his shoulders low. Even as he stared at her, Jesse did not even turn to look at him, not even out of curiosity. His neck and lower mandibles flushed a bright green under the pale-gold skin from embarrassment.

"[She has a translator, if you want to apologize, now,]" Naranarti continued certain he had gotten through to him. They may be friends, but Yekita was still subordinate to him and needed a bit of discipline at any rate (blowing up three ships and this last time because of female!?) "[And it's either an apology, or I remind myself that you blew up a ship and have to beat you to death with a broken combistick, and that would just take forever~]" He commented adding a whine to the last phrase.

Yekita walked over and took a place in between Denarde and the grinning Mhrende. "[Jess'si'deinz,]" he started quietly, his head bowed. "[I apologize for my behavior earlier. I did not intend to offend you, and I am sorry if I caused you worry or scared you in any manner.]" He truly meant it. He was no Bad-Blood and only felt ashamed of himself, not blaming either of them for his actions. When Mhrende had taken her away, Yekita had backed down saying she wasn't worth fighting an Arbitrator. Truth was he'd realized what he'd really done and knew he was in trouble on several levels. He knew like the rest of them how Naranarti felt about her, and it was idiotic and insane of him to try to wedge himself into that.

"Thank you. Apology accepted, Yekita," Jesse said gently with an awkward smile.

Yekita looked up at her for a moment, then looked at Naranarti. "[What'd she say?]"

"[She wants you head on her mantle!]" Mhrende trilled. Naranarti and Denarde started laughing.

"No! No! M'ko! M'ko!" Jesse started shaking her hands about the surface of the water. She pushed on Naranarti's chest, "Nara, tell him he's in the clear with me! Mhrende, you're so mean!"

Naranarti relayed her acceptance to Yekita who sank in the water with relief. "[So, Nara,]" Yekita addressed him in a sarcastic tone. "[What did your father think about Jess'si'deinz joining our little population?]"

"[He's excited to meet her.]"

"Is he really!?" Jesse sat up with her own excitement. She ducked back down again, though, when she realized her breasts had become exposed. "I remember him! This is great! I get to meet your family!"

"[He's been wanting to meet you for awhile,]" Naranarti said casually while pushing back Mhrende's hand from poking the breasts he had just seen. "[He gave me a good smack in the face for not bringing you back with me the first time.]"

"He should have hit me for that one," Jesse said with a touch of melancholy. She shook herself of it. "So anyway, tell me about your family-- all of you!"

Naranarti shrugged. "[My father is our Clan Leader, my mother is our Clan Matron. My daughters are--]"

"You have children!?" This caught Jesse completely off guard. Something inside her set off a panic like a firecracker and she thrashed a bit in the water not caring if her breasts were exposed. "When were you going to tell me this!? I mean, I don't want to be pissing their mother off or something! Am I the 'other woman'!?"

Naranarti silently turned to panic. He did not expect her to react the way she was. Mhrende came to the rescue very quickly. He scrambled over to her and took her shoulders, instinctively rubbing her shoulders. His hormones were reacting to hers; a frightened female feeling trapped suddenly was subconsciously calling out to other females for help. "[We don't have matrimonial rites in our culture, Jess'si'deinz. Their mothers are not going to bother you--they aren't even in our Clan."]

Jesse looked from both of them. It wasn't until Naranarti took ahold of her that she came back to life. He leaned his forehead to hers and purred. "Okay," she said. "Okay, I'm good. I was just alittle surprised." She kissed his upper mandible then leaned on his chest once more. Mhrende followed suit and leaned on Jesse's back. "So how many daughters do your have?"

"Fifteen."

Jesse leaned back up abruptly and knocked Mhrende into the water. She giggled a bit, but when she noticed he was looking nervous, she stopped. "Really?...Wow. You've been busy. Alright, then how many sons do you have?"

"[I don't have any sons,]" Naranarti said with a laugh.

"Damn," Jesse said as she started to relax. "Well, we know you're spitting out X's. So what are you're daughters like?"

Naranarti thought for a moment. He wasn't sure how to describe them. He had little contact with them, and what contact he had was too precious for him to judge. "[It's hard to describe them. Their mothers whine about how much like me they are, I know that.]"

"Well, that seems nice to me."

"[What about your family, Jess'si'deinz?]" Mhrende asked resting his chin on her shoulder.

Small groans and growls from Naranarti told the rest of them that it was a sensitive subject for her. Jesse caught this, but she shrugged. She had excepted her family's death a long time ago. "It's no big deal, Nara. My parents died when I was a teenager; I've had over a decade to come to terms with it. They were actually soldiers-- or terrorists, depending which the side you're on-- and they left Ireland when my mother was pregnant with me. They were great. My father taught me everything I know about moonshining."

"[What's that?]" Naranarti was intrigued by the new word.

She grinned. "Oh, it's not as interesting as it sounds. It's distilling your own liquor."

"[So that container of liquor, you made that?]"

She nodded her head.

"[She can distill?]" Yekita asked in astonishment. "[Hey, that's a genuine trade--shove that in the Matron's face if she gives you any shit, Naranarti!]"

"What's he mean?" She didn't understand if they were talking about his mother or if maybe there was another Matron. Was she really going to cause ripples in the water? Everything seemed like it was going so well with these three.

"It's nothing, Jess'si, Naranarti replied. She flipped her shit about his daughters, and who knew how she would react if she found out about his mother's...unpredictability. At least, for now.

"Do you have any siblings..." her voice trailed as she remembered what had happened four years ago.

Naranarti wasn't phased by it in the mildest degree. His mind didn't even go to the deceased Seli'klei. "[Many far and between from both sides,]" he replied. "[I don't keep up with them let alone contacts.]"

"[There's Iga'de,]" Yekita mentioned. "[And aren't you related to Hy'kgrel through her?]"

"[No, he is her brother, but not mine,]" he replied. He clarified for Jesse, "[Iga'de is my sister through my father. and she and Hy'kgrel share the same mother. It's only because of him and my cousin that I even keep ties with her. Hy'kgrel lives literally on the other side of the wall as me, and my cousin, Hei'dka--or second cousin, something like that--is always accompanying my daughters transmissions to me. Most of the time, we only get to send messages back and forth, but occassionally I get to open a live communication with them. They always have something new to tell me it seems.]"

"Aww~ that's really sweet," Jesse giggled. "Sounds like your daughters look up to you."

"[Then of course there's Ni'gada, my granddaughter--]"

"Oh, wow, you've got grandkids already?! How old are you exactly, because it doesn't seem like you're that old?" she asked teasingly. "Hell, I'm thirty."

Naranarti started calculating to formula in his head. It was a difficult formula dividing the average life spans of both along with meeting the two in similar time spans. Depending on who's asking depends on the answer-- if one didn't calculate the lifespans, Jesse was merely a teenager in Yautja years, and Naranarti would be on his deathbed in human years.

Luckily, Mhrende had already been playing with the formula and knew the age comparisons for everyone except his father, who couldn't even remember how old he was. "Naranarti is thirty-eight and a quarter, Yekita is twenty-five-almost-six, I'm twenty-two, and Denarde is old but not as old as Nanaiyude," he listed and pointed.

"[I didn't know you could do math,]" Yekita trilled, a late comeback to the joke on his literacy.

"[Your ignorance astounds me, Yekita,]" Denarde said, playing for Mhrende's side. "[Of course, I'm sure you're only jealous of my son's intelligence. But don't worry-- you'll learn to add, someday.]"

"[Dick.]"

"So Mhrende's your son?" Jesse looked at the two. They carried absolutely no resemblance. "I'd have never guessed."

"[I look like my mother, Yari'mso,]" Mhrende repied. He reached over and grabbed his father's hand, "[But this I get from him.]" He held both his own and his father's hand, who gave little resistance, up to eye level. Both their thumbs and index fingers were talonless.

"[It's a rare hereditary trait, which apparently I'm full of them,]" Denarde said making slight indication to his skin color and stripes. "[Some Clans call it a defect, some ignore it; I personally think it helps me perform better as a surgeon-- less likely to tear something open when they're torn open enough.]" He took his hand back and relaxed in the water once more, amused by Jesse's intrigue.

"[Do Oomans have stripes?]" Yekita asked.

"[No, retard,]" Denarde answered cooly.

"[But she's got spots,]" Yekita reasoned.

"My freckles?" Jesse looked about her body. "A lot of humans have freckles, I guess. I get them from my parents. It's not uncommon for red-heads to be riddled with freckles. Though, my mother's hair was black as night...I wonder if my brother or sister would have had black hair?" Three of them cocked their heads to the side in confusion-- save Yekita who didn't have any idea of what she was saying and zoned out for the moment. "Well, I've always known my mother had a twin sister back in Ireland, but when I went there recently, I discovered that when my parents left for the United States, my mother was pregnant with twins...so, I guess, there must have been complications, and I'm the one that survived."

"[Sounds better than when we have twins,]" Naranarti commented. "[Normally, one kills the other before they even come of age.]"

"Harsh," Jesse said. She felt a poke against her right breast. She over to see Mhrende pressing his finger to it. "Can I help you with something?" Her tone was annoyed but she couldn't help but laugh alittle.

"[Are you pregnant?]"

Naranarti almost slid off the ledge, and the others laughed at him. Jesse was taken aback. She blinked at him. "Gee, I know I'm kind of fat, but I didn't think it was that bad."

"[Mammories don't generally swell with our kind unless the female is pregnant,]" Denarde explained. "[I think is why he is asking. I'm shocked he would be the one to ask-- have you seen your mother?! Not every female with swollen milk glands is necessarily pregnant.]"

Mhrende shrugged. He chirped at Jesse and continued resting his chin on her shoulder. Naranarti observed them with a light smile. He had to admit that he was worried Mhrende would become jealous of Jesse if she didn't except his tastes-- he'd have given Mhrende up as a lover if she told him to.

Since they were on the subject, however... "So, what are the chances I could have your offspring, Nara?"

He didn't react the way she expected him to. In her experience, men generally clammed up and became nervous on the subject. It was Yekita and Mhrende who flipped their shit, while Denarde regained interest and leaned in for the conversation. Naranarti would have brought him into it eventually, anyway. "I don't know. I hadn't thought about it. [I figured it wasn't possible, but considering I had given my people fifteen females to deal with, I didn't think there would be issue in taking a mate that wouldn't bare me anymore children.]"

"...Were you going monogamous for me? That's real sweet, baby, but if it's an issue with your people, I can get over it. I mean, if breeding is a big deal, then it's not going to hurt my feelings if you do what you have to do..." She wasn't too sure on the last statement after she'd said it. Would I really be okay with him having sex with another woman for whatever reason? It wasn't like he and Mhrende, which actually got her going. I'm such a fag-hag...

"It won't be an issue," Naranarti assured her. "It is personal choice to stop siring offspring. [It's a right that cannot be enforced, only taken away.]"

"So...no children for us, then?" She couldn't help but feel sad about the idea.

Naranarti heard the remorse. He looked to Denarde. "[Well, I don't think I could give a factual answer to that. Denarde, what about you? What do yo think?]"

Denarde grinned. "[It's more possible than you think.]" This reply shocked everyone. "[I mean, if I can get Yari'mso to bare at least one child, surely you can your little mate. There's a secret, though, that she and I have not shared with anyone except Seddar, who told me about this to begin with.]"

Now, Naranarti was skeptical. He gave a short growl. "[Something tells me, this is not a secret you are willing to share lightly, then.]"

Denarde nodded once. "[Forgive me, Jess'si'deiz,]" he addressed her, "[But it may be best if I speak of this matter to your mate first. There may be an issue of...ethics that he needs to determine... Naranarti, you may also want to consult Seddar on this, as he knows much more about this than I.]"

An image came to Jesse's mind as she let it roam. It was of her previous nightmare, the image of the thing with Jett. It made her shudder, leaving a sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach.

With this, her scent had changed, and all four of the Yautja noticed. It was a bitter smell that had a sweet bite on the end, a bite that usually enticed them...when they chased prey.

Naranarti started to exit the tub, pulling Jesse with him. "[I'm famished, and I'm certain you are, too,]" he said as an excuse. "[Let's find something, since that will be a difficult venture on its own.]"

Jesse realized they knew how she was feeling and blushed. She got out and scurried over to the dryer, keeping her bare back to them. Mhrende came up with them and started dressing next to Naranarti. Jesse, trying to strategically keep her hands in the right place, grabbed up her clothes and dressed in the small hallway out of eyesight of the other two in the tub (Denarde trilling lightly and Yekita trying to grab a peek without being noticed).

Dressed the three exited the bathroom, Jesse first ahead of them. "Jess'si'deinz," Naranarti approached her and took her by the shoulders. "What is wrong? Did we say something to bother you?"

"No," she twisted around and put an arm around his waist. "I just suddenly thought about a dream I had the other night...last night actually-- I guess it was last night, I've lost time up here. It was nightmare."

Naranarti glanced off to the side. He, now, thought of his own dreams. He knew nightmares were a common thing, even among humans, but maybe there was something to it. "What was it about?...Mhrende, I may need you to translate a little for me-- is that fine, Jess'si?"

Walking down the hall, she explained her dream, about Jett and the monster. She told them about the library and what happened afterwards. Naranarti deciphered it as abandonment issues. He left her in the cave, and then he left her on her homeworld. Something in her believed he'd abandoned her, and he had to admit, he felt he'd done so over the seasons apart. He was surprised she was still afraid of Ulij, knowing well he was dead and gone forever, his head on a pike to prove it. He stroked her face gently. "You have nothing to fear about the Hish," he said. "If it makes you feel better, I will show you the trophy of him first thing when we get home."

She squeezed his waist with her arm. "I know he's dead, though; I think I was just scared. I have to admit, I am glad for the nightmare; it made me call you."

It was time he told her his side. "I had a nightmare also," he said in French. "It made me consider at least going to check on you. Then I received a message. Things happen for a reason."

Mhrende chirped; he didn't understand anything Naranarti had said.

"I think I would have been in danger if I had stayed, if I had ignored the dream, if I hadn't called you," Jesse said, again in French. "The government...somehow they knew about my visitation to that planet...they found the dogtag Rina had wedged into Rick's mouth when he'd died. They could have duplicated it--"

"But the likelihood of them even knowing the other tag's importance..." Naranarti put it all together. His people knew the humans had some information on them, they weren't completely ignorant to their existence. "It matters not, now; you are here, and they are there. [Fuck'em.]"

Mhrende, who had been in his own thoughts, noticed the lull in their conversation. "What were the monsters like from you dream," he asked in English, curious for no real purpose but to hear her talk. He liked her voice.

"They were black, completely black, but shiny," she started move her hands about in the air to describe them. "And they looked like they could stand upright, but they didn't in my dream, and their backs had these weird, hard tube-like horns. And their appendages were bony...everything about them was bony, like someone took a skeleton then stretched an extra small latex glove over it. Their heads are what destroyed me, though. They had these oblong heads like and their jaws... there were two of them, but it's hard for me to describe it. There was one moment where there was a very different one...she was huge. I don't know why or how I know it was a 'she,' but it was a 'she.' Her head was like a crown with horns--" She paused when she realized Mhrende and Naranarti had stopped walking. She turned and looked at them. Their faces held a level of dread and worry like she'd never seen, even for them. They also looked pale. "Guys, what's wrong...?"

"Nothing!" Naranarti broke from his silence. "It is nothing. You and Mhrende continue without me for a moment. I just remembered I had to do something. I will be there shortly." Naranarti turned the corner and headed toward the cockpit without waiting for an answer. He could hear Jesse question Mhrende about their behavior; at least, Mhrende was smart enough to keep his mouth shut.

In the cockpit, Naranarti pulled up the communications panel. He attempted to regain a line to his father, but failed to reach him. He was left only to send a message and hope Nanaiyude got it in time.

Nanaiyude/ Have the Queen put into cryostasis immediately. No questions./ Naranarti.

While he had that up, he started another message.

Seddar/ It is imperative that you reach me on a live communication. There are many issues that I need to discuss with you, some that may carry danger on a level that I cannot handle./ Naranarti.

When he turned to walk out, he was set to a sprint by the shrill sound of Jesse's scream.
*****

Edited the part where Nara was talking about his siblings. He actually named off three characters instead of two, but I didn't realize misunderstandable it was. Igade is his half sister and Hykgrel would be like a step-brother. I said cousin in there but forgot to mention her name for clarity-- Heidka. One day, I'm gonna make a family tree for him, because it gets complicated. S'okay, I fix!
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The Fighting Irish: Catalyst and the Dtai'kai'rish