River Rapids

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Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters related to Predator. El, other unrelated human characters, and the character names of the predators Imade up, the concept of predator does not belong to me.



Authors Notes: This is a work of Fan fiction. please read on and enjoy.



WARNING: The following work of fiction contains, extream violence, course language (at times), sexual sudgestions, nudety, and explicit sex. If you are under 18 (or whatever age is appropriate for your location), HIT YOUR BACK BROWSER BUTTON NOW. If you find explicit sex offensive, please don't offend yourself by reading further.



Author: Charlotte (jemstone5)

Email: jemstone505@yahoo.com

Feedback: Please, yes lots.

Forward to others: would be flattered if you did.

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Sorry guys, i thought i'd uploaded this chapter. my bad. enjoy



River Rapids

Book 2



Chapter 6



Tea. In Asian culture it had many meanings. To the young it meant you were growing up, to the elderly, it was a soothing drink to pass the time. Always used to entertain, and always key to many rituals and ceremonies. But as Ro Com watched his granddaughter from across the breakfast table, he noted, she was anything but calm.


She took the tiny cup by the saucer and all the way to the table it shook violently. Tan’ock and Ver’On chuckled as they sat across from her, Ralph and To at either end of the table. They’d totally forgotten about dinner the night before, and opted for those fixings for breakfast, along with tea and apple juice, which Tan’ock and Ver’On both loved.


“Oh come on Chonie,” Ralph jested, “they don’t bite.”


She looked at him, gazing once more to the masked faces with the drinking straws stuck under the chins of their masks. “You sure about that Ralph?”


“Well, they haven’t bitten us,” Mr. Com offered, and dished up more salad and juice. “Chonie, we need your help.”


“To get them out! Gladly!”


“No, no. Nothing like that. Ralph, would you care to tell her?”


Ralph puffed up like a proud peacock about to spread its tail. “You know about El, right?”


“Yes, you wouldn’t talk much about her. Why mention her now?”


“Well, last night, Tusk here took a look around the whole house. No bugs. So, Bastian won’t be able to learn of anything of what we discuss here, now, which was my major worry. Tusk came back to tell us El is pregnant…”


“WHAT!!”


“…and she’ll have her baby almost any day now.”


Ver’On huffed, and held up three fingers. “Three days?” Chonie asked.


Tan’ock shook his head.


“No,” Ver’On stated. “Offspring three!” and he puffed his chest bigger than Ralph’s.


“Oh SHIT!!”


“Chonie!! No swearing to your guests,” Ro shouted, appalled that she would use such words in her own company, let alone in public.


“Sorry grandfather. But what does that have to do with me? I’m a hotel manager. Not a…whatever he is…pediatrician.”


Tan’ock and Ver’On exchanged looks, with the Ooman males. “Baby healer,” Ralph offered. “We don’t need your help that way, Chonie. We need you to say you’re pregnant, so Ro and I can go buy baby things for El.”


“ARE YOU NUTS!!! I’M NOT PREGNANT!!!”


Tan’ock nudged Ver’On in the arm and spoke in gestures. Give me three days and nights, he signaled. Ver’On laughed, slapping his huge hand on the table.


“WHAT!!!” WHAT ARE YOU LAUGHING AT!!!?”


“Now, no now,” Ver’On laughed.


“he’s right,” Ro stated, refilling his and Chonie’s tea. “Now is not the time for levity. El needs us.”


“Tusk, you’ll have to follow us into the store to get the right things. Chonie, you just play along.”


“WHAT!”


“If Bastian suspects we buy those things for El, he’ll hound us to no end!”


“I can understand that, but grandfather, buy it with what? You’re nearly out of money. You don’t have enough to last another three months. How do you expect to pay for it all?”


Ro put his cup down. “Ro? Is what she said true?” The old man nodded. Tan’ock and Ver’On couldn’t understand this system of exchanging metal disks and paper, for things that you needed. In their society, if you needed clothes, you went to the artisan and got them made. That was it. “Well then, we’ll just have to use my reserve then.”


“Ralph no!”


“Yes. Ro, face it. When am I gona get a new heart? The medicine that Tusk sprayed in my face, really helped. I still feel good.”


“Yes, but for how long?” Ro asked. Ver’On just patted his armor, where his med. kit was, and then pointed to Ro’s pocket. “It won’t hurt to give him another dose if he needs it?” Ver’On nodded his head, but held up his forefinger and thumb together, indicating a small dose. Ro nodded.


“There you go. Now I don’t know about you. But Tusk, if you’ve come to bring El to me, or me to El, either way, I’d like to go with you. I’d like to see what El has seen, before I die.”


“Better!!” Ver’On shouted, slapping his hand to the table once more. Chonie dropped what was left of her tea in her lap.
“Crap.” And she got up to change.


Tan’ock glanced to Ver’On, who nodded. Tan’ock got up also. “Where is he going?” Ro asked.


Ver’On looked at him, then poured the juice from Tan’ock’s glass to his own, not wanting to let the juice go to waste. Ro took the motion that Tan’ock needed to go to the lav, nodding and sighing in relief. The trio then looked up when the phone rang.


“I’ve got it! Get away from me!!”


“He needs the bathroom Chonie, let him pass.”


Chonie stomped across the living room area. If the alien needed to take a dump, the toilet wasn’t in her room. She picked up the ringing receiver. “hello?”


“Hey honey?” came a male voice.


“Heeno! Thank god!”


Ralph went crazy with his hand signals, pointing to the two aliens, as Tan’ock rejoined them, and insisting she say quiet.


“You ok?” the voice asked.


“I’m fine. My grandfather just forgot his medication yesterday.”


“He didn’t hurt you did he?”


“No, of course not. But he’s been singing off key country songs all night.”


“Oh yeah. When are you coming home?”


“Soon. I hope. I’ve got a few thing to tie up here first.”


“Your grandfather is going to have a blast at the wedding.”


Chonie looked at the four males, all intently watching her. “No, I don’t think he’ll be coming. I think I’ll have to put him in a home here, or something.”


“Ok, I’ll let my mom know.”


“Look, I gotta go. Grandfather is wanting to dance again.”


“Ok. Don’t let him step on your toes. Remember, you’re dancing at our wedding in three weeks.”


“I love you.”


“Ok. See you soon.”


“Aloha,” she sang.


“Bye.”


She hung up the phone not really feeling like she had the most romantic conversation with her fiancé, but she’d be home soon, and that would change. But when she turned, her grandfather stood just six inches from her turned body.


“A HOME!?”


“Yes. A home.”


“No!!”


“Grandfather, listen. It’s not what you think. Ralph is about to disappear, you’ll more than likely go with him. Why not spread the word here that you’re selling this place, and using the money to move to Hawaii with me. Then there won’t be anyone the wiser of your absence. You’ll just leave, Heeno will think you’re both off your rockers in a home here, while people here will think you’re half an ocean away.”


“Brilliant! We can make the purchases, and fake ship them over,” Ralph chimed, then he began to cough, violently.


Ro tossed over the canister Ver’On had given him, Ver’On caught it, and sprayed a small amount in Ralph’s face, deeply scanning his inner organs. Ralph was right. He could see the stress his heart was under, the irregularity of the beat, the straining of the damaged muscle tissue, the sluggishness of the valves. Without more advanced treatment, Ralph would die.


There was a buzzing from Ver’On’s gauntlet, a signal of an incoming message. Ralph breathed easier, as Ver’On and Tan’ock moved off, switching off their translation programs before activating the receive beacon. An image of M’Pa floated across their eye screens.






El was sound asleep when he lay her in the bed. The tub was the best present ever, she’d said. He did let her know the water was a bit too cool for him, and she was grateful. She found it too cool as well, but didn’t know how to increase the temperature. Once the water was at a comfortable level, the tow spent hours just holding each other, allowing the water to support El’s body, so she could get some lasting sleep.


Now, well into the day cycle, M’Pa lay her in the bed, and left for the command deck. There he found Sol. Of all Yautja, he never expected to find him pulling a bridge shift.


“I lost a minor challenge,” he sighed, nursing a recovering dislocated shoulder. “No one told me he was in Must.”


“Had you ever encountered a Must male before?”


“No!” Sol replied, with a laugh. “But you know, I feel sorry for him.”


“Why?”


“When he left the sparring hall, the ship’s ugliest female was walking by. She must have been in heat as well, ‘cause he just shredded her dress, and threw her into a casual room. They’re still screaming and howling!”


M’Pa cringed with a laugh as well. He knew the female Sol spoke of. She was supposed to be bound to Ver’On, by the Kesh-Ma. He was glad the elder refused. “Sol, I need to get a message to Ver’On. Can you handle that?” M’Pa asked at last.


“Does a newborn soil itself?” he laughed, giving a little dig to the soon to be father, and pulled out the key pad from its protective cover.


“I wouldn’t needle me too much. Your mate is due soon as well,” M’Pa reminded.


“True,” Sol sighed happily, truly looking forward to his new baby. “But it will only be one. You have three coming. I wish you all the best.” He smiled as he started going over the flashing messages on the screen. He was afraid of that. “We can’t get a signal through directly, we’ll need to go through the cruiser’s system. This planet is giving off some interference, that at this distance, we can’t lock onto the individual locator beacons.” A moment later, a young blood’s face showed in the holograph in front of M’Pa.


“Greetings,” said the image.


“Greetings,” replied M’Pa. “I will speak with Elder Ver’On.”


“I will connect you at once.”


A few moments later the young blood vanished, and Ver’On’s image appeared. “Greetings M’Pa!” he said joyously.


Well, he seemed in a good mood. “Greetings Elder. Have you found the ones you sought?”


“Yes, I have. Why have you contacted me?”


“It is El.” Ver’On was heard grunting and he’d turned his head, Tan’ock was then brought to the image as well. “Be at ease, she is fine. She wishes to return to her planet for a short time. She misses it.”


“That is not wise,” Tan’ock stated. “She’s nearly due.”


“Sa’ton believes she has many days yet. Only one child has turned. He expects no labor till all have turned.”


“I don’t know, M’Pa. there is still the law keeper here, skulking around.”


“I will keep her safe Ver’On. I am not second mate for nothing.”


“I have every confidence in your diligence, M’Pa. It is El that I am concerned about. She may appear to be relaxed, and may say she’s fine, but…”


“I understand. I will be extra vigil. But Ver’On, understand,” he leaned closer to the holograph, “the Grand Elder himself believes this to be good for her heart.”


Ver’On’s eyes went wide. Even he’d not met the Grand Elder yet. “When did…?”


“This past sleep cycle. She was wandering the ship after slipping away from me while we slept.”


“How can you say, then, that you can keep her safe here?” Tan’ock asked.


M’Pa growled. Tan’ock had no right questioning his devotion to El. But he did see the same question reflected in Ver’On’s eyes. “Simple, I will not sleep.”


Ver’On nodded. “Keep her in our atmosphere. I don’t want her breathing this filth!”


“Of course Ver’On. I will inform you when we reach the atmosphere. I will tour her around the planet for a while before joining you.”


“Excellent idea. Keep her calm and happy. We will have a delightful surprise for her for when you join us. Oh! M’Pa, a favor.”


“Yes?”


“In my trophy room, there is a net bag of boxes. Bring them, I left them behind.”


“Of course Elder. Lara-Kree-Hur out.” M’Pa shook Sol’s shoulder and left. He’d stop by the dinning hall for some food, then return to El. They had a long day ahead.






“Is everything ok?” Ro asked, as Ralph had finally regained his composure.


“Well, all, yes,” Ver’On replied. “You, store things, we go this sun.”


“Wait a minute,” Chonie quipped, “you want him to sell his property, and pack, in one day? Not to mention shop! Are you mad?”


Ver’On looked at Tan’ock. He didn’t understand either. They weren’t angry with anyone. “Chonie, its alright,” Ro eased. “I have had a developer wanting this place for some time. I probably won’t get as much for it with the problems of the garden and all, but I’ll give him a call. See if he’s still interested.”


“Keeper of laws,” Ver’On began. “He kill plants.” The trio looked at Ver’On. It was the first most coherent thing he’d managed to say since he arrived. Then it was all broken again. “Slip in fence, prowl in dirt. Poison left.”


Tan grunted. “Poison, no. Too much one food. Ground burn.”


Ro looked at Ralph. All night he seemed to be the better to understand the broken words. “Do you know what he meant?”


“I think so. Keeper of laws, like a guard, or…a cop!”


“Bastian!” Ro cursed.


Ver’On and Tan’ock nodded. “Slip in fence, well that could mean he’s managed to scale the fence somehow. Skulking around…‘Too much one food, ground burn’? I have to think on that one.”


“It’s easy,” Chonie stated sipping her tea. “Too much of one soil nutrient will burn the roots of the plants.”


Ralph nodded. “Yes, that could be it. How did you come up with that?”


“Easy,” she sighed. “My fiancé is a landscape technician, he has to know all kinds of stuff about soil and plants and such. Our hotel had an awful lawn burning problem. When Heeno came in, he told me all about it.”


“That’s how you met him?”


Tan’ock growled gently at the thought of Chonie considering another male, then devised a plan to have her change her mind. He already didn’t like the all too brief conversation she had with him over their communications system, perhaps there was more going on, than she wanted to consider.


“Of course, grandfather. It didn’t hurt that he wore hardly any clothes.” She smiled, remembering the native Hawaiian male’s tan brown skin and the way it shone in the sun.


All the males crossed their arms. Ralph being the one to speak. “And you won’t even look at Tan’ock? Poor fellow. Not to worry friend. We’ll pair you up with a real beauty before you go.” Ver’On chuckled as Tan’ock stared at them, a-gasped at what Ralph said. Did he think him incapable of attracting a female himself? How rude!





She watched as the blue, white, and green ball became larger in the window before her. Leaning back in her seat, she wondered if she was really ready for the sights on her home planet. She ran her hand over her belly, wondering just what she was going to experience, either with her babies, or on the trip. She wondered again if she made the right choice.


Before leaving the main ship, M’Pa had taken El again to see Sa’ton, to have the babies examined once more before they left. Only this time, the expectant parents had a chance to see the holograph of their babies. “My god, look at them!” she squealed, pointing to the floating three. “They are so cute!”


“Mmmm,” groaned Sa’ton, as he examined his readings. “They’re small, for a Yautja suckling,” he said.


“They’d have to be, in order to fit in me together,” she commented. “M’Pa look, their holding each other. Ah ha! With the third one’s legs in between! No wonder I haven’t felt it kick recently.”


“They are strong?” M’Pa asked, noting how little they seemed to be moving now, compared to before.


“Heart beat is strong, good organ development. The only thing stopping their birth are those two. They haven’t’ turned.”


“Once they do though…?” she asked, not finishing her question.


“Expect your labor any time. When it starts, come to me right away. They may be small, but the shape of their heads are not what an Ooman can deliver naturally.” El at last tore her eyes form the image to see Sa’ton put his data pads down and meet El’s gaze. “I’m sorry El, it has to be that way.”


“I understand. So I will tell you this, the same as I told Ter’Oth,” she pointed to the floating image. “They come first.” Sa’ton nodded. “Now, can you tell me if they are boys, girls, or what?” she asked excitedly.


Sa’ton shook his head. “They are too close, their genders are blocked. I can’t get a good scan.”


El huffed. “Oh well. Sa’ton, sense you will be taking them surgically, can you do it before labor?”


“NO!” he gasped, as though she just demanded he castrate the Grand Elder by force. “I’m sorry. Our kind, our young, do not survive well when birthed before the onset of labor. No one knows why.”


El slid her hands down her dress and around her babies. “You hear that in there. Turn soon, I want to hold you in my arms.”


M’Pa held her close as gentle tears slid down her face. She wasn’t upset, he knew. He was now able to tell her happy tears form her sad ones. “Sa’ton, about our trip?”


Sa’ton groaned. “There is no way I can talk you out of it?” the two shook their heads. “Alright. No mating…obviously, but I’ve heard roomers from my mate while in the gardens,” and he looked at El. El just shrugged, with an air of I don’t know what you’re talking about. He grunted, slightly amused. “No strenuous activity, don’t go walking all over the place, and for your babies sakes, don’t breathe the air down there.” The two nodded. “For the most part, stay off your feet as much as possible.”


“I have an idea about that,” M’Pa cooed over her and once dismissed he had to force El to slowly walk to the docking bay. “I’ll fly you anywhere on the planet you want to go. We’ll see as much of it as we can before we join up with Ver’On.”


“Ok. What about food?”


“Well, I don’t want to risk contaminants from the food of the planet harming the babies, so our bedroom on the ship also supports a portable kitchen. The storage and cooler bins are fully stocked. Water and juice are also available.”


“Ok, what about a camera?”


“A what?”


“A camera. When you go sightseeing, you always bring a camera, to take pictures. Do we have one?”


M’Pa chuckled. “The ships scanning system will take excellent images. Not to worry. I’ve also had a technician put in an extra storage bank so our computer doesn’t run out of room.”


“Do you think it will?”


“No! But, I thought it would make you feel better knowing it was installed.” HE guided her aboard the small shuttle, insisting she cover her eyes, as he took her forward. She did. He walked her passed the pilot’s station, right up to the forward view port, that took up nearly the entire forward wall. “Ok, open,” he said, and when she did, she laughed. “You like it?” he asked, again, arranging the pillows in the smaller sized resting bowl for her.


“I love it!” she screeched, and he helped her sit. “Please say it wont’ be staying on the shuttle!?”


“No,” he laughed, satisfied she was comfortable, he sealed the ship, and sat at his station, dancing his fingers over the surface of the panel. “When we join up with Ver’On, I’ll move it to the Elder’s quarters, and when we come back, I’ll move it to our quarters, once they‘re completed.”


“Completed? What do you mean?”


“Well, everyone knows that we’ve had to move to larger quarters because of the babies. The crews have been busy knocking out walls, to make the rooms to Ver’On’s liking. They’re almost finished. The porters will move all our belongings while we’re gone, and they’ve promised the only difference you will see in the nursery, are the two extra cradles.”


“Ok, but Ver’On won’t like just anyone touching his trophies.”


“That’s why I packed them myself, while you were either resting, or in the gardens.”


“So that’s why you always ushered me out. You knew I’d try to help.”


“Exactly.” A flash message came to his holo screen, then disappeared. “Are you ready?”


El took a steady breath. “As I’ll ever be I suppose.” M’Pa nodded, and launched the ship.


Now, a few minutes later, assured the cloaking shield was on, the small craft approached the blue ball, the space in its orbit crowded with various communications and broadcast satellites, and the barley built International Space Station. “They’ll finish it one day I suppose,” she said, watching as the patch work of tubes and solar panels passed over them.


“Where would you like to go, My’El?” he asked gently, watching her settle back to the plush pillows.


“I don’t know,” she answered. “I’ve never been given unlimited air travel before. Where would you go if you went home?”


“Me? I would go to the pyramids, where there is always a gathering of breeding females and males. It’s wonderful. I’ll show it to you when we get to the home world. You’ll love it.”


She nodded, “Then that’s where we’ll go. There are pyramids on Earth.”


“I know, we taught your early people how to build them”


“Then let’s go see them. All of them.”


“As you wish, My’El.”


“Just watch out for the planes.”


M’Pa grunted. The Oomans had no business putting machines in the air, if they didn’t have the proper scanning equipment, and defensive gear. Why they stayed was beyond him. He watched El closely as the ship neared the ground, coming in close to the location where the first visit would be. Her heart was beating fast, and her breathing was a bit uneven, but from what he could tell, she was ok. He’d have to make sure he held her extra close the first night here, and have his purrs to her deeper in tone to sooth her. This trip was going to be hard on her, more her heart than her body.






Tan’ock approached the female carefully. He and Ver’On were cloaked and in one of the artisan’s shops of the large village with all the lights. All around him was furniture, and clothing for little ones, and small soft animals, not live ones, that he recalled Zana calling them toys. Yautja children didn’t play with things like these. Their toys were wooden weapons, that they would swing around, and mach hunt with their sires. Though he did like the idea of the animal replicas & often tapped her hand to pick up one or two that he could used in mach hunts with his future offspring. Though the first time he touched her, she nearly slapped him. He was always cautious after that.


Ver’On was on the other side of the room, with Ro and Ralph. Looking over different furniture. Ver’On had already refused the Ooman cradles, feeding seats, and restraining pens. He whispered, “Offspring no prison. El keep close.” The two had little choice but to relent, but drew the line at the refusal of a stroller for more than one infant.


“She can’t carry them all the time,” Ralph insisted, Ver’On’s hand on his shoulder, tapping once for yes and twice for no. Ver’On tapped once, meaning El would. “And when they get bigger, then what?”


Ver’On whispered. “Offspring family, all will care.”


“We will get a stroller,” Ralph said, in a no nonsense way, “we’ll let El decide if she wants to keep it.” He could feel the vibrations in Ver’On’s hand from his low grow, but he finally relented, tapping once on the man’s shoulder. “Good. Excuse me miss, we’ll take this one.” The clerk smiled, and wheeled the stroller to the front cash, receiving a basket of clothes and toys from the others in the man’s group as she went.


“Now, baby bottles,” Ro stated.


“No!” Ver’On stated. “No store offspring!”


“Did you say something?” asked an old woman. She’d been shadowing Ro since he came in the store, insisting that he was her daughter. Poor woman could hardly see, and her family was constantly making apologies for her lack of memory.


“No, dear. It was my radio,” Ralph replied, seeing Ro cringe once more at the woman’s attention. He didn’t have a radio, but it kept her from asking more questions. The woman nodded and walked over to a bunch of clothing on a rack, commenting how the small things would not fit her daughter, and that she was a proper lady and should not wear such things. Ro shook his head. He prayed he would never become that lost in his own mind. “Ver’On,” Ralph said quietly, “we’re not putting the babies into bottles. The bottles are what El will put milk in to feed the babies.”


“No! El feed! NO STORAGE!” His quiet statement was bordering on a growl.


“Ok, ok. I hope you know how she’ll feed three at the same time.” Ver’On’s insistent two taps on his shoulder, was starting to hurt. “Ok, ok. Then diapers?” Ver’On growled. He knew those things, and they didn’t need them, they had proper ones on the ship. “Ok, so what do you need?” Ver’On tugged Ralph and Ro over to where there were linens and such for cribs. Even though they made all they needed, Ver’On thought it would be nice for El to hold her babies, in linens from her world. The symbol of her roots, like the carved cradle was to represent his. This Ralph and Ro accepted, and gathered as many as they could.


Outside, the car loaded, the three humans climbed in, only to look up to see Bastian standing in front of the car, so close Ralph couldn’t pull around, and there was a car behind, so he couldn’t back up. “WHAT DO YOU WANT BASTIAN!” Ralph called, thoroughly annoyed.


“Just saw you in town, though I’d stop and say hi,” he replied with an oily voice.


“I’m sure,” Ro stated, and waved at an officer on a bicycle, as he and his partner approached. “Kind officer,” he said. “Could you please get him out of our way? My grand daughter is pregnant, and he’s really creping her out.”


The bike officer smiled at the woman in the back seat, but turned his attention to the lone man blocking the car. “Sir? Move on please.” It was more an order rather than a request.


Bastian held out his wallet, his sheriff’s badge showing. “Sheriff Bastian, Nelson, Nevada,” he said, as though it gave him special privileges.


“I don’t care,” the patrolman stated firmly. “You have no jurisdiction here. Now step aside.”


Reluctantly he did, watching the car drive away, but what he didn’t know was that two unseen, and very large, individuals stayed behind. Ver’on wanted to know what was going on.


“Listen Patrolman,” Bastian began as though it was beneath him to talk to the young officer and his partner. “I have an open case of a teenager assaulting a highway patrol officer, just over a year ago. Those two old bastards were her guardians at the time. They know where she is, and I know they’ll lead me straight to her. You interfere with my investigation again…”


“Bastian. If you intend to conduct yourself in the capacity of Sheriff, while in the Las Vegas City Limits, YOU MUST report to head quarters, and fill out the proper paperwork. Now if I call in, and ask, are they gona tell me you did that?” Bastian’s jaw clenched, he then turned and walked away. “I didn’t think so. Enjoy you stay, MISTER Bastian.” The two officers watched a little longer, then commented on what an ass Bastian was, before moving on.


Ver’On and Tan’ock couldn’t agree more with the law keepers’ statements. The two hunters then scaled the building they’d just left, and began a quick pace back to where Ro had parked a large white vehicle, where the two hunters could de-cloak inside, yet still be unseen, as they journeyed back to the outer village.


It took a while for the drive to complete, and when they arrived, a group of men with equipment was just packing up. The two hunters cloaked once more, as Ro opened the side sliding door, and hopped out, leaving the door open for the two others to exit without strange notice to the vehicle. Ro went up to the one in group giving the orders. “Well?” he asked.


“Mr. Ro Com?” the man asked. Ro just nodded. “You were right. You entire property has been doused with large amounts of phosphorus. Its little wonder your plants are dead. Lucky it hasn’t reached the water supply.”


“I’m non town water.”


“Really?”


“Yes. The well is for decoration. Was the phosphorous responsible for killing my fish?”


“Afraid so. Small amounts in the water, poor things never stood a chance.”


“What can I do?”


“Well, you can replace the topsoil, that will remove the immediate problem. Or you can add the missing nutrients. Which will take a lot of time.”


“Thank you.” And the group of men left, as Ralph drove the car around the back of the house.


As Ro helped unload the bags form the car, he wondered what their two friends were engrossed in conversation about.


Ver’On drew Tan’ock aside, both turning off their translators. “M’Pa has arrived with El,” he said. “He’s touring her around the planet.”


“Is she alright?” Tan’ock asked, though still watching the old man’s shapely grand daughter.


“M’Pa signaled that she’s fine. Very relaxed, and happy, in a way.”


“I hate to ask, but do you think she will ask to stay after she gives birth?”


Ver’On growled. “WHY?!”


“It is her home world, Ver’On. She may be afraid she may think she’ll never see it again. It was always a fear with Zana.”


“Even if she wanted to stay, she cannot. She can no longer breathe this filth! When those two join us, within a few weeks they will feel better, and will no longer be able to return El will have all she needs on the clan ship! She will have no need of this place!”


Ver’On began to walk away. “What about Ooman friends?”


Ver’On looked back. “If you and Kal-esh are successful, she will have Ooman friends.” His turn alone told Tan’ock not to pursue the matter further.


Tan’ock turned his attention then to the female, her attitude completely different than a few moments before. She seemed agitated. He grunted to her in question, only to remember that the translator was off. A few quick moves of his tusks cleared that, and he heard a very strange statement. “…ter get your skinny ass back here!” It was from a machine attached to the communications line, a message left while they were out.


“Repeat?” he stated, but she only scoffed at him and walked away.


Ro then came over, and Tan’ock surmised through habit, he hit the recall button. The message played again.


“Message sent: Today, at: 11:45 am. Chonie! Girl you best pack it in with that old ma, Sara is moving in on your man. I just saw them. She was all over him! Girl, if you’ve any hope of nailing his ass with the gold band, girl you better get your skinny ass back here!” The message then ended again.


Ro shook his head and went back to see Chonie. Tan’ock followed. “Chonie?”


“I have to go grandfather. I’m sorry,” she stated, pushing her clothes into her bag, heedless of the way they were or were not folded.


“Choneie, you came her to tell me something. But you never did. Are you intending to marry this Heeno?”


“Yes,” She replied quickly, though her tone did not reflect any of the love that she thought she’d feel for him. Tan’ock could tell the apprehension in her voice. She wasn’t sure of her heart.


“And when were you going to tell me? You’ve been here for nearly three months.”


“There never seemed to be a good time.”


“Chonie, stop,” he grabbed the clothes she was trying to stuff into the overstuffed bag. “STOP! Now, look at me!”


“I have to pack!”


“Do you love him?”


Tan watched her hear rate go up. “What? How can you ask that?!”


“Do you love him?” he repeated.


“I wouldn’t be marrying him if I didn’t.”


“Do you love him?”


“You sound like a broken record!”


“I’ve asked three times, Chonie.”


“I know!”


“And all three times you avoided the answer. If you loved him, you would have been able to say so, right away.”


“So what’s this, more old country wisdom?”


“No. Modern day psychology. Think hard before you answer this…”


“YES! I love him!” Tan’ock could tell she lied.


“No, that’s not the question.”


“Then what?”


“Can you see yourself growing old along side this man?”


Chonie’s face bunched up. “What?”


“Think hard, my grand daughter, it is your life you control.”


Tan’ock watched the old man leave, Chonie just sat down on the bed, her face behind in her hands. I care about him.” She sighed.


Tan’ock took her hand and purred, vibrations resonating through her body. “No enough,” he said gently.


Chonie looked at him. “What do you want with me?” she asked.


Tan’ock didn’t know how to explain so that the translator could repeat it correctly. He resolved to jus hold the female, and allow their bodies to speak for them. The first was his scent, as his hands went around her shoulders, she found he had a soft inviting scent, one she could only describe as being like a cup of chamomile tea. It was reflexive that she closed her eyes and allowed the alien to draw her onto his raised knee.


Once seated, his hands went around her body, comforting purrs spread through her, emanating from his chest. For the first time she smiled at him, she wasn’t even sure why.


“He’s very handsome, my Heeno. I was surprised he’d even look at me.” She traced a black patch on his arm. “I mean, look at me,” he did as she said, “I may be thin, I may have a model’s figure, but I’m far from beautiful.”


It was true she was not as pretty as some of the females of her world that had their image plastered across huge surfaces around the city, but he didn’t mind. Females like that had far too many admirers, challenges and strained friendships were bound to be the only results of pursuing females like that.


But Chonie, her face was a bit oval shaped. She had a redish birth mark just under her chin, that she tried to hide with her face paint, which he thought was a stupid idea for her, or any female, to wear. She looked a little plain for a female, but her eyes, her eyes were astonishing. She had one ice blue eye and one emerald green eye. He’d heard of Yautja who had eyes of different colors, but never met them. He’d no idea that Oomans had that trait as well.


His purrs deepened in volume and their intensity increased. She actually giggled. “But I guess where you come from, you don’t look for those kinds of qualities.” She went to get up, only to have him hold her tighter to insist that she stay. She did, but her expression was guarded.


“Ooman child maker,” he said, pressing his hand gently to the base of her ribs. “Much interest, me.” And he held her hand over his heart, so she could feel the strength of its beat. “Give all, want much, never…” he looked around trying to think. He knew the Ooman word, he’d heard it many times before, but it had been so long since he’d said or mimicked any Ooman words. He just hoped he got it right, “beeeterrraayeee.”


“You think I would betray Heeno, with you?” she asked, wanting to laugh but part of her thought it would insult him, and she didn't feel it would be right anyway. Tan’ock shook his head no.


“But,” he then tried her Ooman male’s name, “Heennow, betray you.”


“How would you know?” she snapped.


Tan’ock tapped several places in his mask, and a part of her message played back, in her Ooman friend’s voice. “Sara is moving in on your man – She was all over him!” Then looked at her. “Why?” was all he asked. He then let her get up, himself as well, but before leaving he played another audio loop of her grand father’s voice. “Think hard – it is your life you control.” He then left, leaving her alone to think.


Chonie sat down on her bed, looking over her clothes that seemed to have exploded from the tiny bag. She then sighed, and continued to pack.