Rhage had been furious when he found Artemis had disobeyed him. She could've been killed or brought to another location where he couldn't find her. There were too many problems that could arise. He had asked one thing of her!

From his greater height he glared down at the little female, enjoying the challenge burning in her eyes. She stood tall despite her fear once more.

He understood she was rightfully fearful of him after he ripped the spine and skull clean from the human guard. The look on her face was one he wouldn't soon forget. In that moment he had seen true fear. Fear of him. Even when she had found him standing above her she saw hurt and betrayal in her eyes.

Did she doubt his honest intentions to protect her? She doubted him and he didn't like it.

"Do you doubt me, Artemis?"

She was taken aback by his question as he knelt on one knee before her. Even on his knee he was taller than her. They were somewhat eye to eye, her neck not as craned as it once was.

"W-what?"

"Do you doubt me?"

"About what?"

"My intentions. You believe I manipulated you. I have not." He stated.

Artemis bristled visibly. "Yep." She crossed her arms across her chest, "You ripped out a guy's spine with your bare hands! I quite like having a spine."

Rhage cocked his head as he gazed at her curiously. He couldn't help but chuckle in amusement at her little pout. She cast her eyes to the side and huffed, "Stop laughing at me."

"I am sorry. I find you adorable. I have proved that I will not harm you, yet here you are now doubting me."

"Welcome to human emotions, bucko."

He chuckled again rising to his feet, turning towards the door and beckoning her to follow. Together they returned to the main room where he had found Artemis.

"Did you kill all of the guards?" She asked as he input the command for his mobile nuke and tossed it outside the ship.

"Yes." There were likely more but he only needed to kill those who were dumb enough to challenge him. "Sit. We must depart now or we will not escape the blast radius." Rhage directed her to a seat along the wall where she strapped in, the safety harness locking her safely in with a press of a key on the control panel as he input the launch protocols after retracting the ramp and closing the bay door.

He sat in the pilot chair and prompted the ship to rise, the craft breaking clean through the brittle metal roof of the hangar his ship had been stored in by the honorless humans. Within seconds they were exiting the atmosphere.

Behind him he heard Artemis laugh softly. Turning his head to the side he watched her grin brightly as her hair floated all around her.

Rhage had not yet initiated the gravity drive. Seeing her react as such made him recall that she had been born on her home world and never left it. This was the first time she had.

"This is amazing! No wonder astronauts keep going back!"

He let her enjoy the sensation of floating for a while longer before he had to activate it for his own sake. The sensation of floating had never been particularly enjoyable.

Eventually he came to a point just past Earth's moon where he initiated a jump, a blazing ball of yellow light being shot into the distance where it ripped open a hole in space like a claw mark. The edges billowed with black cloud-like matter as they flew through it. On the other side was his home world, Yautja Prime. Two ships came to join his as he dipped into the atmosphere of the massive jungle planet, the surface a welcoming comfort after being away so long.

On his view-screen a video call was being requested from one of the accompanying ships. He let it come through, a Yautja with his mask on appeared on the screen before him. The newcomer fisted his chest with a slight bow of his head.

"Welcome home, Leader Rhage. I take it your hunt was successful." The deep voice inquired.

Rhage glanced in Artemis's direction to find her watching curiously, a hand absentmindedly caressing her swell. "Yes. I bring with me a mate. A human who carries my pup. She is four Earth-months along."

"I received your message concerning the actions of the humans who held you. Per your request, a few ships have been dispatched to hunt down and kill any remaining humans from the facility. A group of Unblooded shall be joining this mission. This will be their first test chaperoned."

He grunted in acknowledgement. "Which Unblooded?"

The other Yautja, Sargoz, tapped on a holo screen that floated beside him and read off the names, all of them ones Rhage had seen train in the clan kehrite, a large training facility. He himself had joined in on the training sessions a couple of times as an observer. At least one of the young males would make a great Enforcer should he wish if he successfully completed his chiva, the right of passage into adulthood by killing Xenomorphs — kiande amedha to his people.

"Good. I send my regards to the hunting party. May the youths prove themselves worthy."

"Paya be blessed." Sargoz commented as the ships broke through a bank of clouds to reveal the massive city that lay far below, the city seamless with the surrounding jungle as if it had naturally sprouted from the ground itself.

The dark metal buildings glittered in the rays of the twin suns. Every building was curved and almost blended in if it weren't for the dark black-ish metal they seemed to be made out of. A few looked to be made out of bone-like material that looked white, each standing out among the dark color of the bustling city. This had been home to Rhage's clan for centuries.

It was home and a testament to his legacy. One that would survive long after his final greeting with Cetanu, the Black Warrior, the Yautja god of Death.

"Clearance for landing has been approved. The dock at the palace has been readied for your return. Peace be with you and your mate, Leader Rhage." Sargoz bowed his head once again, a fist hitting his chest before the feed cut and the viewing window once again empty save for various vertical red symbols that told coordinates.

"Who was that?"

"Sargoz. Border patrol." He explained as he side-eyed his mate, seeing her eyes widen with curiosity.

Rhage decided to take the scenic route, turning his hands clock-wise on the maneuvering controls to angle the ship to fly in a great circle around the city. As he did that he activated a new invention his best engineers had come up with. He heard Artemis gasp as the center of the floor turned transparent giving a wide open window-like view of the city far below. His ship was outfitted in the latest technology, such luxuries that came with his status.

"This is so cool!" Artemis whispered, totally enthralled with the view. The floor went back to normal when Rhage put in the command, finally having to head home.

"My ship is outfitted with the latest advancements in technology."

"Wow. It's impressive, Rhage." He grunted instead of speaking as he focused on lowering the ship onto the floating platform near the top level of a large black building that resembled a rounded tower. The building was the tallest and most impressive in the city. Landing pads hovered here and there next to cat walks connected to the structure at various heights.

The ship landed smoothly without a bump or sound and he powered down the ship immediately. He had nothing to bring with him other than Artemis who he released from her seat. His small mate slid from the seat and stretched her limbs as he fiddled further with the controls. Once he was done he stood to tower over Artemis, the little female shrinking away as he knelt in front of her.

Pointing a finger at her, his black claw gently prodding the area right above her heart, he slowly made clear his words, "Artemis, stick by my side and no harm will come to you. You are not considered worthy prey to many but there are those who do not like your kind regardless. Listen to me, mate."

She nodded her head, fear present in her dark blue gaze. He knew she feared him in some capacity; this was something he would work on. Her fearing him would not do either of them good.

"I will."

With a nod he rose to his feet, one large hand gently wrapping around her tiny one, and led the way off the ship. This high up the air was slightly cooler as the breeze blew through the metal grating of the walkway.

A small party awaited them at the open door into the building on the other end. His best warriors awaited, one carrying his long blue cape that he attached to his shoulder pauldrons where it hung down to his ankles. As they passed through the hall and down a set of stairs, various passing Yautja paused to nod respectfully with a fist on their chest.

His men filled him in on the latest news as they made their way to the command room.

"All has gone smoothly, Rhage. In your absence we did have a warrior go Bad Blood but he was taken care of quickly and accordingly. Apart from that there has been nothing else that is pressing." Explained Dhare, his eldest pup and second in command.

His son looked a lot like him in coloring but without his mask his eyes were the same golden color as his mother's. Dhare had the same pattern of his father but the colors brighter and not subdued like Rhage's, an indicator that he was much younger than his sire. When he earned the title of Elite, Rhage immediately requested his son work with him in running the clan. His son handled the day to day operations that Rhage didn't have time for, such as small disputes over land and hunting rights to a particular planet. Occasionally he handled disputes among mates, essentially being a marital counselor in that case, the mediator.

"Excellent. It feels good to be home once more. I am pleased everything has gone smoothly." Rhage entered the double-doored control room after Dhare once it was deemed safe.

Inside was a large round table that the males sat around as Rhage clicked a few buttons on the control panel. A hologram of Earth appeared, the image fully colorized and hovering above the table. The table was made of a metallic material as well as the chairs, each large and angular, the perfect size for the large Yautja that occupied them. There wasn't anything adorning the walls and instead just blank black walls where at the end was a massive window that stretched across the entire end from floor to ceiling.

Rhage watched Artemis out of the corner of his eye as he recounted his time on her planet to the others, leaving out the parts about each other. What happened between them was none of their concern.

Artemis walked around the room and came to sit on the floor cross-legged as she stared out the window at the view of the alien city far below. They were up high enough that the people moving here and there in their day to day life looked like ants. The twin suns made the metallic buildings glitter like stars in the black and white city.

"Why does your mate sit on the floor?" One of his advisors, Khaj, commented.

He turned in his seat to observe the small female clad only in a white shirt and pants, her dark hair freely flowing down her back. The others turned to watch her, each of them still wearing their mask by request of Rhage. He wanted her to get used to his people before the big reveal later that night.

It was a kindness she deserved.

"I do not know. Her species, as you know, has peculiar ways." Rhage watched as Artemis caressed her swell absentmindedly, her small hand moving in gentle circles. "She has never left her planet. This is quite thrilling, as one can imagine, being on an alien planet for the first time."

The other males grunted in acknowledgement. Their noise seemed to draw his mate's attention, her head turning to glance in their direction but jumping in surprise when she saw all of them watching her through the lenses of their masks. The Elder Yautja was quick to correct that with one growled word when he noticed her discomfort. Quickly they focused on the map that hovered above the table, lines of their alien language under various images of the facility the two had been held in.

"Artemis, come here." He curled his fingers towards himself as he beckoned her to him.

She grunted as she rose to her feet and made her way to the table. One of his arms wrapped around her middle and set her on one of his thighs. In his arms she looked like a child but he enjoyed her little body against his much larger one.

Artemis was quiet as he repeated the intel he had gathered on the facility. He brought up maps and images he had stored onto his bio-mask once he retrieved it. His advisors listened closely, joining in when they deemed it a good moment to ask a question or comment. By the end the group was satisfied that the mission had been a success. During that time Artemis sat in silence and watched, unable to understand their rapid language of clicks and throaty growls.

• • •

Rhage was in his element. He commanded the room with just his presence alone. Each of the male Yautja that sat seated at the table helped to propel their conversation as they discussed something, the holograms of pictures and maps of the facility she was held in floating above the table. Words in their cryptic symbol-like language accompanied various maps and photos labeling things.

From what she gathered he seemed to be recapping some information he had gathered on their way out, some seeming to be earlier. The Yautja may have been caught on purpose it seemed in order to get intel of some sort.

In one of the photos was the W-Y logo she was used to seeing on the guards and scientists. Seeing it sent chills through her body, something Rhage seemed to pick up on as one large hand spanned her back and moved up and down soothingly, as if she herself was a child. It seemed to work, her body subtly leaning into his touch. The warmth of his skin felt nice and comforting.

With one final growl, the meeting seemed to be over as the group started to leave until it was Rhage, the younger looking male that had entered the room first, and herself. Rhage and the male talked for a few minutes until he switched to English where she could understand.

"Artemis, this is Dhare. He is my closest advisor and eldest pup." Dhare nodded towards her in a human way.

"It is nice to meet you, Artemis." His voice was low and growly like Rhage's but scratchier. Dhare looked exactly like his father save his brighter coloring and black dreads compared to Rhage's slightly washed out coloring and cloudy blue dreads. The mask he wore, like all the others had worn, was sinister looking with eyes that glowed green every now and then.

She also noted how big he was, like Rhage. Equal in width and muscle mass.

Were all Yautja shredded tanks of a species? She wondered.

Artemis had come to admire Rhage's body especially. The guy was built like a walking tank but she liked it. She felt safe around him, despite how scary he was. He was intimidating.

"Hi. It's nice to meet you as well, Dhare." She offered Rhage's son a small smile.

The Yautja nodded his head and left after he exchanged a few words with his father. From what she saw, she noted how close Rhage was to Dhare and it warmed her heart that at least he was involved so closely with one of his numerous kids.

"Are you tired?"

"Yeah. There's been too much excitement for one day." Artemis replied in a small voice as Rhage set her on her feet so he could get out of the chair. Sweeping her off her feet once more, he carried her in his arms out of the room and down a few hallways and up a few flights of stairs. He entered a large black door that opened with the press of his hand on a panel that was nearly invisible it was so flush with the wall.

They entered a giant two story living space that reminded her of a loft with a metal staircase leading to the space above, part of it open above the common area where large emerald green couches sat opposite of each other. Large windows spanned across the far right side of the room that showed off the city in the setting sunlight outside, lights appearing on buildings that twinkled. Inside the loft-like apartment they were in it was warm but not hot.

It was a comfortable warmth.

The walls were made of dark metal, such as everywhere else. Ambient lighting lit up the space, the light enough to light the space but not overly bright like back on Earth.

As Rhage carried her through the space he passed an area that vaguely reminded her of a futuristic kitchen. Sleep was nagging at her mind more so she didn't think much more of it as they passed. She was thankful he was quick because soon they entered a giant room after a short walk up the stairs. The room was massive with a giant bed sitting in the center against the far right wall where even more windows, like the ones on the first level, spanned the entire wall.

Artemis had a nice view even as Rhage gently set her on the bed. A pile of pillows filled the head of the bed in various different animal patterns she didn't recognize, but she immediately scooted to the pile and situated a few how she was comfortable with usually. Once she was satisfied with the set up on her side of the massive bed she turned to find Rhage removing his armor as if it were glass, each piece set into a space on the far wall in large boxes that moved back in autonomously.

In the dim lighting of the room she couldn't see every detail of his body, the shadows hugging his tall wide form, but little scars glinted all over his body in various spots. His wide muscled back was covered in them, a long jagged one spanning the entire length at an angle.

She wondered what kind of life he had lived. Of course she knew his kind lived for the sport of hunting other species, sure, but she wanted to hear tales of his battles. His life must've been fascinating and so full of adventure. An adventurous life full of danger and thrills; like a never ending roller-coaster.

As she admired his body from afar, his long dreads swaying back and forth as he moved with that catlike grace his species seemed to have, she felt a twinge of an emotion she was not yet ready to explore; especially with Rhage.

They barely knew one another.

Artemis swallowed the lump in her throat when he turned to her in just a navy blue and gold loincloth that stopped near his knees and more than enough covered his privates. The fabric swayed about as he came to crawl onto the bed, slowly advancing towards her on all fours. His heavy weight made indents in the alien mattress as he came to sit before her. He was a big but he somehow situated himself so that she could be eye to eye with him, at least she thought so.

"Take it off. My mask." His deep voice sounded thicker than usual, as if his throat was clogged with emotions. "Please."

Artemis would finally see what Rhage looked like beneath the mask. Whatever happened she hoped she wouldn't hurt his feelings if she had a bad reaction.

She nodded and cautiously reached out to run her fingers over the mask, inspecting each inch of the thing before finding two little tabs that were flush with the metal on the sides of the mask. Very carefully she pressed down and the mask released from his face with a hiss. Weird tubing popped off on one side as she tugged on the mask. The tips of her fingers brushed against his skin as the mask came away from his face, his skin warm to the touch.