The History of Tomorrow

The History of Tomorrow

Safe Keeping

Authors note: I claim no ownership of the Predator franchise. Warning: Yautja/Ooman pairing, descriptions of sexual intercourse and murder/death, and bad language. I will be using some information previously stated in ‘The Ripple of a Stone’, if any questions, please email me. Pronunciations at bottom. Good reading!

E.M.

“” “” “” “”

Kella slowly wakes, smiling at the feeling of her Aja beside her. Unhurriedly, she looks up to find his eyes closed and breathing even, she sighs and rests her head on his chest. And then the worst thoughts invade Kellas mind. ‘What if he’s going to leave now? What if he is done with me?’ Bit by bit she starts to become frantic in her thoughts. Her heart races in fear and sadness, her breathing becomes labored and tears wet her eyes. She doesn’t want him to go. She wants to stay here with him, and have him here always with her. But she shouldn’t – couldn’t and can’t- be demanding these things.

“What is the matter?” Aja yawns, his arm around her tightening. Kella stares blankly at his closed eyes, wondering how he knows.

“No, I’m fine.” She lies. “Sorry I woke you.”

“A morning nap should never go to long. And I know you are not fine. Your breathing tells me you are agitated. I can smell the salt and water from your eyes. And the loudness of your heart woke me. Your heart can not lie Kella. What is wrong?” Aja finally opens his eyes to look down to her.

“Are you going to leave now?” Kella whispers.

“Leave?”

“Yautja don’t stay after they have mated. And if they do it’s only for a short time.” Kella pauses to look away sheepishly. “I don’t want you to go…” Suddenly Aja growls and grabs her roughly at the hips, turning their position so he is on top of her.

“You thought I would not show when we arranged to see the sunset. And now you think I will simply leave? Do you have no confidence in me Kella?” Aja asks with a hot smile, his mandibles clicking together in an attempt not to laugh at her.

“I do. I do. It’s just…I don’t want you to leave!” She nearly yells. Aja gently grabs her chin and forces her to look at him, his mandibles stroking her lips and cheeks.

“That is good for many reasons…” He purrs, dipping his head to her neck and lightly touching each new mark he had given her the night before.

“And why is that good for many reasons?” Kella laughs, her arms wrapping around his shoulders.

“For one thing, I do not wish to leave. And for another we are staying until the seasons change on this world.” He purrs into her ear.

“YOU’RE WHAT?” Kella screams, making him rear his head back.

“…staying until the seasons change to the cold.” Aja answers wearily. But when his Kella smiles so large, her red lips curling, he knows she is happy. “And I intend to spend every possible moment in this wondrous bed of yours.” He thrills.

“Wait!” Kella pushes him back, his eyes widening in shock. “I need to have a shower real bad!” She pleads and with a half angry, half playful growl he lets her off the bed and watches with satisfaction as her naked form walks away. When he hears the sound of the water running, Aja jumps off the bed to go and surprise her. However as he silently creeps to the bathroom, his hand on the wall, it comes into contact with another almost invisible door. He slides it open and finds all of her clothing hung neatly and in order, but then one small article hidden in the back makes Aja think about Kella in a different light.

Inside the bathroom however Kella washes thoroughly, inside and out, before drying herself off. But when she walks to the cabinet of medicine, she doesn’t know what to do. Everyday she takes her hormone injections to not get pregnant, but is that even a possibility? Standing in a towel with dripping hair, Kella takes the injection to be sure. So with a strange sigh she walks out but when she opens the door she is faced with a black tank top.

“What is this?” Aja laughs. “I thought you only wear white?”

“I do and that is only for laundry day!” Kella giggles, ripping the shirt from his hands. “Now if you’ll excuse me…” She pushes him out so she can dress…kind of. Kella closes the door in his face, hearing a growl of impatience but she just laughs. Aja, for a split second, thinks that he should simply knock down that door so he can have her again. But he soon decides to wait for her. He lets his body fall back on the bed and takes a deep breath, smelling their scents from mating as it still linger in the air. Even though Aja knows if knowledge of he and Kella mating came out there would be hell to pay, he doesn’t care. He is here with his Kella and that is all that matters.

Just then the door opens and Aja lifts his head to only have his mandibles drop in aw. Kella walks out dressed only in a white lace bra and lace underwear that he has to admit makes her body look stunning, her hips accentuated, nearly making him drool. She slowly walks to him on the bed with a sly smile, her already dry, wavy hair rolling down her back. Aja sits up and watches helplessly as Kella gets on the bed as well and straddles his legs, pushing her body up against his.

“Can I ask you something Aja?” She whispers as she grinds her hips onto his swiftly stiffening member. Kella moans slightly when the strong scent of his Yautja musk hits her, so thick she can almost taste it.

“You can as what ever you like, but I doubt you will get a logical answer wearing that…” Aja growls happily and seizes her thighs in his hands and slowly moves them to her back. “What are you wearing?” He asks in a thrill.

“Something, that if you cut them like you did to the other set last night, I will kick your ass!” Kella informs strongly, but is unable to hold back a loud laugh when Aja grabs her own ass and squeezes. Without warning he switches so he is on top, planting his face between her breasts to smell their scent on her skin. But when all he can find is her own, Aja growls in anger and looks into her eyes.

“Why can I not smell our mating on you?”

“Because I had a shower…” Kella says a little scared of his reaction. She doesn’t think that the scent of them mating would be a good thing to have on her for when she has to go. Or when he has to go and have their scent together on him. “I don’t think the scent of our mating would go over well, do you?” She smiles and strokes his face with her hands, her fingers tracing his mandibles and teeth and then up to his eyes and brow.

“I don’t like that you do not smell of me.” He hisses, surprising both of them with his possessiveness. But both of them like it.

“We can change that!” Kella giggles and pushes him onto his back. She moves down his body, placing small kisses down his chest until she feels his hard shaft hit her skin of her ass. Slowly and agonizingly she starts to move her hips up and down, her skin stroking him as she moves. Aja lets his head fall back at the pleasure and even begins to match her movements with small thrusts of his own, his breath catching in his throat. Kella rakes her hands down his side, her nails so close to painfully entering his skin, making his whole body quiver. Aja flips her, both of them battling to be on top, but he will win, he always does. He roughly opens her legs and rubs her heat with his own, smiling at Kellas moan. Suddenly Aja picks up her scent but it’s so weak. Deciding that it is the lace cloth on her, Aja was sure to be careful and slides it off of her before once again opening her to him, her scent of arousal flooding him. Aja opens his mandibles wide, closes his eyes and lets his head fall back, his long black locks cascading down his body. All Kella can do is giggle at his reaction, one thing she knows she will never forget. She takes the initiative and starts to rub both of his legs with her own, forcing him to look back down to her. Aja moves her to the middle of the bed to give him room as he drops is own body to the bed, his head strategically placed between her legs. For a moment he just looks at her swollen, wet folds in aw, thinking he will never ever see anything as beautiful. With a single finger he gently touches the slit of her core, feeling her natural moisture coat his skin. He lifts his head to meet her eyes as he licks the same finger clean, purring at her essence.

“You taste exquisite.” He says, wrapping his long tongue around his finger. But when Aja realizes what he is going, laying between her legs, he is almost frightened to get back up. Yautja females would never allow a male to be where he is, but when he looks back to his Kella, a lust in her eyes and a smile on her wonderful lips, he knows that it is alright for him to do what he plans. Aja slides his hands under her legs and hooks them around her thighs, making sure she can’t go anywhere. Little by little Ajas tongue slides out to the base of her wetness, only entering her lips just a little before he licks all the way up. Kella instantly grabs the bed sheets in her hands, painfully digging her nails into the fabric as she bites her lip not to moan. Aja holds in a small chuckle at her reaction, knowing that what he is going to do will cause her to moan for him. And Aja wants nothing but to here her moan for him over and over. Being extremely careful, Aja moves just a little closer and with his bottom set of mandibles spreads her heat completely open, the pink folds glistening with her juices. He licks at her opening gently, circling it with his tongue and gaining a wonderful whimper from her throat. That sound is one he has never heard, so feminine and so different…he wants to hear it again. With more pressure Aja enters her just a few inches, her back arching into him, and his own senses going haywire. Even with how much he wants to impale her on his tongue, he controls himself and slides it out to explore the rest of her. But as his tongue slips up higher and hits a hard nub, Kella gasps loudly and tires to move away unintentionally but Aja has his hands securely around her legs, locking her in.

“Be careful of that Aja…” She pants. Aja thrills loudly as his mind figures out what that little nub is, Yautja females have something like it and perhaps it has the same use. He opens her legs even further, his lower mandibles spread her heat as well. However with his upper set he decides to play with her a little and making sure not to scratch her, he starts in on pinching her nub, a small scream as his thank you gift. “Aja please don’t, that’s…mmm…” Kellas eyes roll into the back of her head as he slides that breathtaking tongue all the way into her, her body tensing pleasurably as he curls in around in small knots inside of her before moving it in and out. Her hands float to him and grab a few of his tresses, pulling them gently. Aja purrs instinctually when his head is touch in such a away, the vibrations traveling to her from his mandibles and tongue. Suddenly Kellas hips start to buck as her body heats up to unbearable, a climax of immeasurable proportion slamming her body. Aja can feel her inner walls hold to his tongue roughly, her arousal already hitting its peak, but with him feeling a little disappointed that she was already done. When her body stops quivering and she lets go on him, Aja moves up her body so they are eyes to eye.

“I apologize, Kella.” He purrs to her, his hand gently rubbing up and down one of her arms.

“What? Why do you say that?” She breathes out.

“Because I have caused you to finish before we have mated.” Aja tilts his head in confusion, surly she knows that she has finished.

“Finished? Oh…” Kella bursts laughing, she is a little embarrassed so she hides her face behind her hands.

“Why do you laugh? This is a serious matter!” Aja tries to explain to her.

“Ok, ok. Umm, do your females only…finish…once?” She asks, letting only her eyes appear between spread fingers.

“They only finish once, at the end of mating.” He says matter of factly.

“Well, dear Aja,” She pauses to wrap her arms around his neck with a bright and beaming smile. “Ooman females can finish multiple times when mating.” The look in Ajas eyes was one so full of shock, and amazement that Kella thinks that nothing will ever again surprise him as much as her words had.

“Are you being pure?” He asks in a very serious tone.

“Very.” She bites her bottom lip so not to laugh in his face.

“Well let’s just see how many times I can make you finish!” Aja trills.

“Oh I don’t think so!” Kella laughs, pushing him on the chest so he falls to his backside. “That would be unfair.” She smiles and sits on his thighs. But as she starts to move farther down, he becomes suspicious of her actions.

“What are you doing?” Aja sits up and grabs her, a little wary of her plans now. But for a moment Kella just looks into his eyes.

“I want you to think about this when I ask, take as much time as you need. Do you trust me?” She asks and he falls silent. Ajas eyes switch between her two, really looking at her as many thoughts go through his mind.

“I trust you, my Kella.” He purrs to her.

“Then lay down.” She smiles and pushes on his chest until he is on his back. Kella knows that the Yautja probably don’t practice oral sex as Oomans do, so she knows that Aja may be rather against it…at first. But to make sure he is calm, Kella unhurriedly places small, lingering kisses down his chest as she moves her body, her wet lips sucking on his skin as her tongue flicks it lightly. Slowly she goes lower and lower, through the valley of abdominal muscles to his belly button and then to her true heading. Kella takes one last look up to her Aja to find him staring at her with wide eyes, not wide in fear but in wonder. With a sly smile she moves above his hardness and plants a small, wet kiss on his head. Aja instantly gasps loudly, almost so loud it is a growl. Kella, however, keeps on with her task and flicks him with her tongue, his hips thrusting upwards. So when she encases his head within her warm mouth the hiss of pure bliss that exits him is music to her ears. Kella knows that she can’t possibly get all of his length in her so she gently starts to stoke him, her fingers barely touching him, feeling like air is merely blowing against him skin. Aja has to tell himself to breathe as he suddenly finds himself out of breath. His hands surge to his Kella, his fingers entwining in her hair as she lowers herself even more on his length. Her tongue dances around every inch of him, her lips encasing him in such wonderful warmth that Aja worries he may finish to early. But unlike the females of the Yautja, the males must be ready to mate at all time, even many times in the same day. And no matter what he will take his Kella many, many times.

But his thoughts are ripped from his mind when Kella tenderly takes hold of his testiculs and rolls them around in her soft palm. Unable to hold on any longer, Aja thrusts his hips up once more and empties himself inside of her, his seed draining into her mouth. Kella sucks with her mouth as hard as she can, drinking everything he gives her. When his hands fall from her hair and his member slightly softens in her mouth, Kella kisses his head once more before climbing on top of him to rest on his chest.

“What was that?” Aja pants as he is staring into the ceiling trying to think.

“That was foreplay.” Kella laughs. She smiles when he looks back to her, his eyes full of something she can’t quite put a name to, but grateful might be on the list of possibilities. Aja rolls over, driving one of his legs between hers as he lets his body fall onto her, but still careful not to crush her.

“I like foreplay.” Aja thrills into her ear.

“I thought you might.” Kella giggles. She just knows that today was going to be a long and wonderful day.

“” “” “” “”

The next nine days came and went faster then they should have. After their first night and day of mating both Aja and Kella decided that they should wait until after the planned dinner to continue their little rendezvous’. But every now and then as Kella would go through her day she would feel that warmth in her knowing that her Aja was watching. Aja himself was busier then usual with the others coming to the dinner. The seven Elders actually took some convincing as to why they should attend. The Clan Leader however was pleased as he had not been on that planet in many, many seasons. But everyday Elder Rhd would contact Kella to tell her of any additions or changes and even just to talk, that being something both of them enjoyed. But the first moment she got, Kella had a special shoulder guard made that would start just below her shoulder and travel up to her neck. Of course it is white in color with engravings of Payas teachings over them. She made sure that it could be warn everyday as she doesn’t want to know what would happen if another Yautja saw her scars from Aja. Kella does have the option of getting them removed but she doesn’t want that. They are from her Aja, and they will always be there.

The plans for the dinner had gone smoothly with everything in place for the day the group is set to arrive. Word had gotten out about the dinner being for the Yautja so all of her requests were meet, even a few strange ones but no one asked questions. So Kella was a little shocked at herself when everything was done the day before the dinner. She barely had time over the past days for herself, let alone her Aja.

So when she wakes up this morning, already excited to see Aja again and meet other Yautja, she has no idea what to do for the day. After a long and soothing bath, Kella dresses warmly and decides to go to her favorite diner. Even though she hasn’t been around the world, Kella is sure that Walkers Diner makes the best pancakes in the whole world. After ordering a rather large stack, she sits by herself reading the newspaper, laughing to herself about all the dumbass theories as to why the Yautja are actually having ‘a get together with the Caretaker’. The best one to her is that she is being taken away so that the Governor can regain control of the District. But that’s where they mess up. Acropolis doesn’t have a Governor any longer and the peoples elections were in less then twenty days. Sighing with a slight groan of anger, Kella drops the paper and eagerly waits for her food when her eyes see him. Sitting in the booth directly across from her is none other then Adam Becks. Idly stirring his coffee over and over and reading the paper as well, Kella notes that he looks as good as ever with his tanned skin and short black hair. Just then, like he knew she was looking, Adam lifts his head and their eyes meet. Kella smiles warmly at him and then motions to the seat in front of her, silently inviting him to sit with her. Adam nods and stands up in his old fashioned business suit of black and white. He grabs his coffee, jacket and paper and then sits with Kella at her booth. Kella looks to her waitress and she nods in understanding that the two are together to eat.

“Are they right?” Adam asks, placing the paper rather harshly in front of her.

“Not even close.” She answers, sipping her iced tea.

“You should have told the Governor about you inviting the Yautja to a dinner party.” He sounds genuinely angry.

“If I remember correctly there is no Governor right now to tell. And the one who’s sitting with me forgot to tell me of the fact that he is going to try to fill that position.” Kella sighs, staring at him with blank eyes.

“Should I have told you?” Adam smirks, resting back into the booth and crossing his arms.

“You didn’t have to but it would have been nice knowing that you will most likely be the next Governor who tries to get me killed.” She says nonchalantly.

“What?” His shoulders drop, with Kella actually surprised that he didn’t know.

“Harper wasn’t the nice little man everyone thought he was. Personally I know of three hit men he has sent after me. Two of them I know and when they came to me telling of their deal with Harper I used it against him and tada…he’s gone and you are running.” Just then their food came with both of them getting the pancakes. They say their thank-you to the waitress and Kella digs in, noticing that Adam is still staring at her.

“He sent people to kill you?” He breathes.

“Uhuh…” Kella mumbles through a nice helping of pancake and syrup.

“What happened with the third one? You said he sent three after you and you knew two...” Kella raises her leg and shows him her scar from the gun and Adam gasps.

“Oh don’t sound so surprised you sissy!” She laughs, pushing the syrup bottle over to him and he, like a zombie, squirts it on. “Besides, I got the one who I was trying to kill me and used him to get Harper out of office too. Got you in didn’t it?”

“I’m not in!” Adam claims.

“Yeah, ok.” She laughs and spoons in another fork full.

“I suppose that I am already forming plans to help the cities children may be proof that I am in…but that doesn’t mean I am. But while on that subject, are you voting for me?” Kella looks up from her fork, syrup dripping, and tries hard not to laugh.

“We are eating and you are asking about votes? Come on man!” She shakes her head while Adam puts up his hands defensively.

“Alright you got me there. But I expect your name on a ballot with mine punched out. Ok?”

“Ok.” Kella sighs.

“So…” He trails off. “Am I going to get to see you again?” Adam asks out of the blue.

“You see me right now.” Kella smiles slyly at him. She knows what he’s talking about but doesn’t want to make it easy for him.

“You know what I mean Kella!” He laughs, rows and rows of dimples on his face.

“Not anytime soon.” She says seriously and he simply nods. But inside he can feel something hurt in his chest, like someone had just punched it. Adam looks down to his meal, suddenly feeling his appetite gone, and something else rising from his stomach. But to be strong he downs his coffee, making sure that what ever was thinking to come up has second thoughts. “So why should I have told the Governor about me inviting the Yautja to a dinner party?” Kella asks, changing the subject.

“The Yautja are our business.” Adam declares, getting a loud and true laugh from her.

“‘Our’ businesses? You have got to be kidding me!” Kella chuckles. “We are the business for the Yautja. We answer to them. We are owned by them. We do not ask for anything else but what is given. You know what happens if someone does! I think you have forgotten Adam Becks that this is not our planet. That this is not our world, our city, our food, our air! We are property, nothing more.” She continues to laugh despite the seriousness of her words. “The only reason you are going into that ‘Governor’ position is because the Yautja know that Oomans need Ooman ‘leadership’ to grow. But you are nothing but a lackey to the Yautja. What they do is none of our business. What I am doing is their business, not yours.” Kella sighs as she lets her giggles stop. And then all of the sudden she is mad. “You know…I think I too have forgotten that we are property. But I guess now that I have said it, I have to know it.”

“You and me both.” Adam whispers, resting back and looking out the window. “I know that this is not ‘ours’ any longer but that does not mean the situation cannot be improved. I believe the ‘property of the Yautja’ can do more then just sit down and take it. More then just watching and waiting for them. More then snuggling up to the ‘masters’ and feeding them to be in their favor.” Now Kella looks at him in the eyes, but he can’t take his look from the window, anger now flowing through his lips. “More then being the pauk-de Caretaker to a city that doesn’t need her. To a city that is so in the ruin that not even rodents are willing to call it home. How can you, the Great Caretaker Kella, choose to protect this city from its own population and yet dine with those who made it so? You are a hypocrite Kella Matthews.” Suddenly Adam stands up, still unable to look at her. “You go on with your day, go around ‘protecting’ or what ever the pauk you do to make you feel better about what’s around you. But I hope tomorrow when you feed YOUR OWNERS you remember that they are the Yautja, and we are just the Oomans. We are the business for the Yautja. We answer to them. We are owned by them. We are property, nothing more.” He grabs his jacket from the seat and storms out, making sure to slam the door behind him.

Adam stalks down the street, looking at all the things in the Alpha District that are truly wonderful. And only wonderful because of Kella. Just when he gets to his temporary office, until he gets into Office, he stops at the steps and replays his words for himself. As he slowly climbs the small stair case, he feels nothing but shame and guilt for his words to her. He shouldn’t have snapped at her like that. Adam barges into his office, yelling at the secretary to take messages, and goes into his private study. He allows his body to simply drop onto his chair, the black leather creaking rightly, and he rests his face in his hands. He knows that what he had said was uncalled for as he is simply angry, but no one disserved that. Especially Kella. She has done so much and he just slammed her down like it did matter what she had accomplished. Adam makes a metal note to himself to never again vent on her. No one can really say all the things she has done for the Alpha District, and the good that has come from it. And she disserves to be treated with respect from him and not with what he just did to her. He slowly gets up from his chair and walks to the window, leaning on it with one hand, and he sighs.

‘What’s wrong with me?’ Adam asks himself, trying to figure out why it hurt to bad when she said she wouldn’t see him again. Maybe he had said it wrong, maybe he shouldn’t have asked it in such a way. It is not like he simply wants to get into her bed as before, not anymore. ‘I suppose what I felt that night was only felt by me…” He sighs in his head before turning from the window to get some work done.

“” “” “” “”

For longer then needed Kella stairs blankly at the spot where Adam once sat, knowing that what he said rang true. She knows he is right, but it still hurts like nothing she has ever felt. No physical wound can surmount his words. Suddenly finding herself full, Kella pushes the plate back and drinks the rest of her iced tea.

“I don’t care what he said, you do great things Caretaker.” A small voice from behind her makes Kella turnaround to see a girl with long dark blonde hair looking at her.

“Thank you.” Kella smiles at her, she shifts in her seat so that she is better facing the young girl to find her not alone, a small boy eating away at the free biscuits the diner gives with a glass of water by him with her. “I don’t think I have seen you two around.” She says, motioning to the girl and boy.

“My brother and I just came to the Alpha District, he was hungry and we heard this place gives free stuff and water.” The girl smiles, Kella knowing she was doing her best. “I’m Karen and that’s Mike.”

“Hi.” The boy squeaks, his giant brown eyes looking through the long brown bangs.

“Hello. So where are your parents?” Kella asks but when she gets no response she doesn’t push to get an answer. She sighs heavily and stands up to walk in front of their table then kneels down to be at the boys’ level. “I want you to call this number and say that Kella needs you to help out.” She starts writing down on a napkin for the girl. “You know about the Yautja coming for a dinner right?”

“Yeah! They are so cool!” The boy yells out, Kella lightly giggling at his claim.

“Well, I need female servers, how old are you Karen?” Kella asks.

“I’m six!” Mike tells, gingerly placing a small piece of food in his mouth.

“I am Fifteen.”

“Good. Call this number and a man named Jamie will tell you where to be tomorrow for you to help serve. It’s not a compensating job but it will give you experience so that when you do apply somewhere you can tell them to call Jamie for your reference.” Karen just stares at Kella, her hair falling straight and into her face. “And then after you call him I want you to go here.” Kella continues writing an address. “It’s a place for kids like you.” She leaves it at that. “Okay?”

“But…but…I can’t leave Mike alone tomorrow…I don’t know anyone who can look after him.” Karen was so close to crying that Kella can almost smell her tears in her eyes.

“Well, you can bring him to the dinner tomorrow but as for you…” Kella look to Mike, a giant smile on his face. “I know the Yautja are cool, but you are not allowed out of the back. I know you are a child but I don’t want you to make the same impression I did and get unwanted attention.”

“Okay!” Mike wiggles in his seat.

“Good. Call them when you are done eating.” Kella says as she stands.

“Done eating? All we have is the biscuits and water.” Mike sticks out his tongue at the food.

“Hey Alice!” Kella calls as she starts to walk away.

“Yeah!” The waitress pokes her head out of the kitchen.

“What ever these two want, on me.” She gives the kids one last smile and leaves the diner to try and get her day to go better.

“” “” “” “”

Standing in front of her mirror, Kella places one shirt after another in front of her to decide on what to wear. The dinner was only a few hours away and she needs to be at the banquet hall in a few minutes to make sure everything is perfect. Choosing a long sleeve turtle neck with the back cut out, to properly show her back scars to her Aja, Kella then places on her shoulder guard to be sure the no one will be able to see the out line of her marks. The day is actually the warmest from the past days, but still rather cool that she has to wear a pair of white silk pants beneath her long loincloth. As she walks down the streets she stops by many houses and shops just to see how things are, a few wishing her luck tonight. As Kella makes it to the banquet hall, the large white building with columns reminiscent of the old Roman buildings, she has to smile as everything is perfect from the outside. But as for inside, she has yet to find out. Walking into the welcoming hall, she finds the large baskets of rose petals ready to be laid on the floor before the Yautja come. Her foot steps sound off in the halls as she makes her way through, her sandals making music on the marble floors. She turns into the kitchen to see chaos, but good chaos. The cooks and servers are already running around, making sure that when time comes they can have the meals up and out at a pin drop.

“KELLA!” A small voice sounds and all of the sudden her left leg has a passenger as Mike clamps on.

“Hello.” She laughs, picking him up into her arms and walking around with him. “Do you think they are doing a good job?”

“Oh yes.” He says, nods rather hotly.

“I have a special job for you and it’s really, really important.” Kella says, dropping him on one of the high chairs that is sitting by the cutting table. “I need you to be the Inspector of The Food!”

“What’s that?” The small boys asks, eye wide in wonder.

“Well, when the servers begin to bring out the food, I need you to look at each one and be sure that they are cool enough for the Yautja. Can you do that for me?”

“Definitely!” Mike yells. Kella looks around and all of the works nod to her in understanding as they know the kid was going to back with them. It’s best to give them a job to do to keep them occupied and feeling like they are needed and doing something special. And besides, the cooks and servers already liked Mike as he always had something funny to say.

“Now where is your sister?” Kella asks.

“I am here Caretaker.” Karen says with a giant smile as she walks closer. “I can’t even say…”

“Do you know what you have to do?” Kella interrupts, not one to really go for the ‘thank you for helping’ speech.

“Yes.” She answers, nodding her head.

“They will be here in a few hours so get yourself as ready as possible.” Kella says before giving Mike a pat on the head and leaving the kitchen. She makes her way to the giant hall where the dinner in being held and stares for a moment at how beautiful it really is. All white, a low table in the shape of a large ‘U’ sits in the middle of the room that can seat all the Yautja, and more if need be. It is perfectly shaped so that everyone can see everyone and the servers can work without having to weave through tables. Small but large enough pillows are scattered around the room so that if a Yautja wished for more comfort they only need to reach. She walks around the table, double checking where everyone would sit. The Clan Leader is to be in the middle with six Elders to his left and Elder Rhd to his right. Kella would be next to him, and then Bthm and the others she knows. Even though she knew she couldn’t make it so, Aja is sitting to the far left of the Elders, but she will have a good view of him. Just them she hears the door open and an old friend comes in.

“Hello Kella.” His old body makes its way to her.

“Hello Mr. Berlet, how are you?” Kella says, giving him a light hug.

“My old bones are just fine dear. Your shipment is here.” He smiles, an uncountable number of laugh lines with it. He leads Kella out and to the back where his old fashioned truck waits with over fifty bottles of aged C’ntlip. Now this little addition to the menu cost Kella a pretty penny, literally. Old coinage has become a collectable and so she traded an old penny for the drinks, a good trade. After all the bottles are moved into the kitchen she says good by to her old friend and watches his old truck putter away. Now all she can do is wait.

“” “” “” “”

The giant smile Aja can’t bare to stop is hidden under his as he and the other Yautja stand in front of the building they are to dine in. His Kella is standing alone before the, in total, sixty five Yautja. He has to admit that she looks absolutely stunning. Not only are her cloths wonderfully accenting her curves, the same curves that he will have this night, but her strength and courage is unbelievably arousing. Aja is standing with the larger group as the Elders are in front of him, with the Clan leader in front of them. Kichn, the Clan Leader, is dressed in his Awu’asa as every other hunter is, his mask already looking at Kella as a whole. Slowly Kichn walks forwards, his metal sandals filling the silent air, until he is right in front of her, almost uncomfortable so. Kichn suddenly grasps her chin, but this is expected as Elder Rhd told Kella so. He moves her head to the left, his long hand stretching from the back of her neck with his thumb almost painfully on her jaw. He then moves it to the right, Kella making sure that she is strong but not so with her muscles as any kind of resistance will seem rude. When Kichn makes her face forwards once more, Kella actually anticipating him to move away, like she was told. But he doesn’t. He slowly raises his hand up and then one of his fingers traces her sign on her brow, the sign of Protection. After tracing over the small mark several times, Kichn backs away and nods his head.

“I welcome you.” Kella says with a low bow. “It is my honor to serve you, and ask that I may.”

“You may.” Kichn nods his head again and she straightens out.

“Please follow me.” Kella beams and starts into the hall. Inside the flower petals are dropped after she walks though, trailed by the Yautja. They follow her into the hall where she stands in the center of the ‘U’ table, waiting for the hunters to take their seats. Once everyone has sat and taken off their masks, she bows once more.

“I welcome all to this banquet, to this feast that Elder Rhd and myself have designed. I have brought in the delicacies of this planet that I am sure you will adore. And if one does not like any dish provided, please tell your server and they will try to get one that you will enjoy.”

“Will there be kiwis?” Kella nearly flinches when someone asks that, but she soon sees that it was Pakka who asked.

“It was meant to be a surprise, but yes, there are plenty of kiwis.” Kella laughs, such a giant smile on her face that Aja nearly run over to her in that second to hold her. He has to look to the Elder next to him so that his mind will be momentarily distracted. “I hope you enjoy the few delectable meals we have for you, let’s get started.” And on queue the doors behind her open and all the servers come out with a bottle of C’ntlip in one hand and five glasses in the other. For every five Yautja there is one server so that they can dedicate themselves to the small group, with one or two having six hunters to serve. “For the few that are here that were with Elder Rhd when in my home, I hope you understand that the C’ntlip served there is of a later season the ones now. But I promise you that this will be just as good.”

“Started without us did you?” Elder Rhd thrills, gaining a few laughs as well.

“I personally taste tested everything that is being served. Whether or not that was necessary…” She trails, gaining even more laughs. All the servers pour and drop the glass before their patrons, leaving the bottle between the Yautja. When the servers begin to leave however, Kella goes with them, trailing Karen. Once they get past the doors, Kella grabs the girl gently and pulls her off to the side. But what she doesn’t see is that the door is still open and all the Yautja are still silent.

“Did you go to the address I gave you?” She asks Karen.

“We did. Caretaker Kella I can’t even begin to tell you how thankful I am, I mean…” Suddenly her lips begin quivering in the middle of her sentence and small tears form in her eyes. Kella instantly grabs her in a hug, rubbing her back.

“Shh…don’t cry. There is no need to cry.” She says calmly.

“But there is.”

“I can give you a few reasons not to cry. For one thing you are doing a great job, a wonderful job. Your bother, granted has a very important job… “Kella takes a second to look at the boy as he is sitting on a high stool so that he can look at all the food as it goes out. “…is doing fine here. And you should not cry in front of the Yautja. When they see any female in distress, they purr to make them feel better. And it is such a beautiful sound to hear. But also a little creepy as they do it to all females who need it, so you feel not so special.” Karen giggles loudly, her smile returning and tears disappearing. Kella runs a hand through her long blonde hair and sighs. “There now, go clean up and have a drink.” The girl nods and starts to move off when Kella remember something. “A NON-ALCOHOLIC DRINK!” She orders and Karen giggles once more before getting the food for her patrons. Kella takes a calming breath and walks back into the large hall to see all the Yautja staring at her, and the room silent.

“Is she your pup?” One of the Elders asks.

“Oh goodness no, I have no offspring.” She answers, nearly blushing red. The doors open again and the servers come out with a plate of fruits and berries in each hand. Kella walks around the table, with many hunters’ eyes following her, as she makes it to her own seat and sits.

“You still have not answered my question as so why you have no pups, Caretaker.” Elder Rhd laughs.

“I have not found an Ooman male that I would like to be the father of my pups.” Kella says bluntly yet coolly. Elder Rhd then introduces her to the Clan Leader and the other Elders, with some of them remarking how the presentation was already wonderful. When their own plates come to them, Pakka makes an odd announcement.

“We will wait for everyone to have their plates before we eat.” He says. It only takes a few minutes, and when everyone does have their food before them, they all look to him. “Now, grab this!” Pakka says, holding up a kiwi, and they all pick one up. “Now, place it in your mouth and bite down.” When everyone does it, Kella can only cover her mouth to keep from laughing as every Yautja has kiwi juice squirt from their mouths, an odd sound of the squish accompanying them. Kella can’t hold back any longer and bursts laughing, shaking her head to Pakka as with the table in the shape it is, everyone can see everyone.

“Delicious thing.” Someone calls out and with that conversations bloomed all over the table.

It didn’t take to long for someone to remark to Kella about how quickly she had organized the dinner, which then turned into why decided to become the Caretaker for the Alpha District. However when she explains that she didn’t truly decide to, and that it was something needed, they stopped prodding her for a further explanation. By the time the main course of both cooked and uncooked steak came, even the Elders that were originally reluctant to come had started to talk amongst themselves. While Kella kept to talking to the Clan Leader, Elder Rhd and even a few Yautja that were in her home, her first conversation with the others was not like she expected.

“Caretaker Kella reminds you of Her, doesn’t she?” An Elder says suddenly, directing his question to Elder Rhd.

“That she does.” Elder Rhd thrills, gracefully placing another chunk of animal meat into his mouth.

“Who do I remind you of?” She asks, genuinely curious.

“A Yautja Alpha.” A different Elder tells. “The Alpha, She stopped the war with the Creators before this planet was destroyed in the dispute.”

“It is not for her to know.” Kichn suddenly says, his voice commanding and strong.

“Why should the Caretaker not know?” Elder Rhd asks. “This was her planet when the Creators came, so she should know the history of it. And the Alpha once,” He doesn’t get to go on.

“ENOUGH!” Kichn roars, most of the hall going silent. And for a few minutes no one moves, everyone looking at each other in aw as no one really knows what to do. But Kella thinks fast in order to fix this.

“I thank you, though, for thinking I may remind you of an old friend. It is an honor to have such a connection to the Yautja. Besides the one I have now.” She laughs, a few laughing along with her and discussions were then back to normal.

“You connection goes far back, I suppose.” Elder Rhd thrills, taking a shot of C’ntlip.

“And that means?” Someone asks.

“Oh, the story of her grandfather is well known, even of Kella when she was a pup and that little incident, but it is not that which connects her to this group.” Elder Rhd tells slowly, smiling all-knowingly.

“And that means?” The same Yautja asks again, this time with amusement.

“After I marked Kella,” He starts.

“Father, don’t.” Aja tries, even going so far as to lean on the table but in that move his and his Kellas eyes connect for a spilt second.

“After I marked Kella,” Elder Rhd goes on, not even paying attention to his son. “She was to be sent to a place where she would be brought to her rightful home, but I could not myself so I volunteered my son to do it for me.”

“You did anything but volunteer me father, you ordered me.” Aja sighs, resting back onto a pillow.

“Aja transported her?” Kichn chuckles, his mood getting better and better as time goes on.

“He did. He carried her to an Office of the Oomans.” Elder Rhd laughs deeply at seeing Kellas face distorted in an unreadable mask.

“Oh…now that is just weird, you carried me as a pup?” She asks, leaning back to look at him, but Aja cannot look at her.

“Yes.” Aja says bluntly. While he had tried not to look at her, to seem distant, he didn’t need to try right now. He had no intention of his Kella knowing that he carried her as a pup.

“Oh goddess…” Kella sighs, trying so hard not to either laugh hysterically, or cry in embarrassment.

“Why so glum?” An Elder thrills in laughter, just one of the many laughing at her.

“Aja and Kella are not on the best of terms as of yet.” Elder Rhd says, this time more then a few can’t hold back their amusement as both Aja and Kella turn away form each other.

“” “” “” “”

Inside the kitchen Mike is doing his job well, making sure to look at every dish being served, careful that they are all perfect. After a few hours however he has to swipe back his brown hair from his eyes as he is getting rather tired and hot, but in that second he looks up and his stomach drops. He watches in complete horror as one plate leaves without the piece of parsley on top the cooked meat, he missed it. As the server and the plate go out into the main room, Mike thinks fast and jumps off his chair, running to the cook and stealing a bit of the garnish from the table. He runs as fast as he can through the taller people and gets to the door of the main room, waiting for the chance to go out. He looks out through a crack and finds the girl with his target plate, homing in on it. When another server leaves with her own plates, Mike comes out with her, hiding behind her legs and then under the table. He has to sigh thankfully that the Yautja being served the sub par dish is on the side of the table he is, and that the table itself is very wide so he doesn’t have to worry about crawling over any claws. When he gets to his best guess of where the plate is, Mike gradually look up over the table and silently congratulates that he is right where he is meant to be.

Slowly Mike reaches a hand up so he can simply throw the piece onto the dish when his small arm is suddenly tugged up, his whole body being ripped from under the table and into the open.

“What are you doing Ooman?” The Yautja holding Mikes hand hisses. But he doesn’t answer, only pulling his arm away from the hunter. Kella had warned him not to go out but he did and now he got caught. The hunter growls loudly, causing not only the pup to nearly burst into tears of fear, but the hall to go quiet. He yanks Mikes arm, causing him to flop onto the table when a loud ‘thunk’ of metal makes the Yautja stop. Slowly he turns his head to the left, and right next to where he was holding the pups arm is a large blade sticking into the table. When he hears a set of small feet walking towards them, the Yautja looks to see the Caretaker coming to them, a soft look on her face. As she gets closer, Kella gently places her hand over where the hunters is, silently asking him to let go. She sits down next to Mike, crossing her legs and wrapping her other arm around his waist. And when the hunter does let go, Mike bursts crying and jumps into her, clinging to her neck in desperation. She rubs his back to calm him, humming in his ear.

“I apologize for the disruption.” Kella says to the Yautja to her right.

“Why are there pups even here?” He asks, clearly angry at what has happened.

“He is the brother of a server, and I said it was ok to have the child stay in the back. But why did you not?” Kella asks to the small boy in her arms, his hiccups slowly stopping.

“His plate isn’t perfect.” Mike says, lifting his head from her neck and wiping a few stray tears.

“Well, it is okay if you miss one.” She laughs, hugging him lightly.

“But if I miss one and it’s the only one then I failed.” He says.

“Failed in doing what?” The Yautja asks, now more intruded in the exchange then angry.

“It is this pup’s job to make sure that all the plates served are to the best they can be, and I think he saw something of yours that was not right.” Kella says and looks to the table to see the bit of parsley. She picks it up and shows it to the hunter, he then looks at the other plates and sees that he is in fact missing that little leaf. “But as for you Mike!” Kella laughs and chucks him into the air, his tiny body flying high. Mike giggles loudly as he falls down into her hands, but Kella turns him around and grasps his feet in one of her hands and then lifts him, holding him with an out stretched arm upside down. And then Kella makes a surprised sound as she looks around her sitting body, under her arm and around her back, pretending to not know where he is. She shrugs it off in amusement, playing with Mike as his brown hair falls straight off his hanging body.

“You gave that job to a pup?” A Yautja to her left asks.

“He needed something to do and I know that pup could do it well. And he tried his hardest and I am proud of him.” Kella can practically hear Mikes smile to her side. “But I just don’t know where he went to!” She laughs, looking under the table for him even though she knows he is in her hands.

“Caretaker Kella!” Mike calls and she looks at him with surprise on her face.

“There you are! I have been looking for you! Where have you been?” She asks, still letting him hang upside down.

“Just hanging.” Mike giggles, his little voice echoing. Kella shakes her head and stands up, throwing him over her shoulder and walking into the kitchen.

“You say she has not mated?” Clan Leader Kichn remarks, not really directing his question to anyone in particular.

“She shows no evidence of being pregnant. As for her mating, that is not our business.” Elder Rhd tells, taking another bite of this thing called ‘potato’. He was lagging in eating his meal, but he only wishes to savor the tastes of the world. Aja on the other hand can’t help but let his mind wonder as his fathers words hit home. He has to hold back a laugh of joy because he is mating with her, and it is his business now. But not only that, after watching the exchange between the fellow hunter, the Ooman pup and her, Aja can’t understand why Kella has not had pups of her own. She can clearly protect them as a mother should, she has the ability and, as he has seen unfortunately, Ooman males to wish for her. Suddenly Aja growls loudly at the thought of Kella mating with that Ooman again, and even wondering if she would have his pups.

“Cannot hold your anger for the Caretaker until the night is over?” Bthm thrills from Ajas far right.

“Why do you hold such ill feelings towards the Ooman?” An Elder asks, but thankfully someone answers for him as Aja has no idea as to how to answer that.

“He is angry because I eluded him the second time I met him in my life.” Kella responds as she and all the serves come out. The girls retrieve all the other lagging plates before going back into the kitchen. Kella walks a little into the middle of the ‘U’ shaped table because it is time for her surprise.

“You escaped Aja?” Kichn laughs, the first real laugh she has seen all night.

“It was not easy, and I did not escape unscathed.” Kella laughs, not looking over to Aja and him not looking at her. “However, now that all are finished with the final meal, I think it is time to give all of you what only few have experienced.” And on queue the serves come back out with long square plates full of chocolate from all over the word. The girls place the platter of the brown food in front of their patrons and leave. When each group has their own serving of many different kinds of chocolate, Kella goes on. “I will ask that everyone would pick up the small square piece of the dessert that is on the far, top left corner of your plate.” When they all do with the piece of chocolate in their hands, she smiles at the few Yautja that were in her home that already have the chocolate in their mouth. “Now please place it on your tongue and close your mouth around it. Let it melt with the heat and enjoy.” Very slowly each hunter places their piece in their mouth and soon the whole room is as quiet as if it is empty. Kella just stands in the middle and looks around at all the Yautja, feeling so much pride of in the dinner that she has held. She sighs with happiness as her eyes find her Ajas, but she rips them away to make sure no one guessed anything else but hate is between them.

As the pieces of chocolate start to dwindle away, Kella goes to sit in her spot but simply rests there in silence, watching in aw as those who could talk, whispered. Whispering as if they talked to loudly the chocolate would vanish, or someone would steal it away.

It has been a wonderful night. And when the dinner is done, Kella and Aja will have an exquisite one.

Authors note: I sincerely apologize for the lateness of this update. I try to pride myself on updating at least every fifteen days but this is extremely late. So I am sorry.

A special thanks to:

On ff .net: ben revell (It depends what you think is a ‘big fight’) and Oak Tree Woman.

On aff .net: Muse of Scrolls and Death God Dist.

Pronunciations
Kichn - Kitchen