Two Days Later

  "Don't go too far, Vor'taalnis. Stay close to me," Teresa says, struggling to catch her breath.

  "Doctor Boyd?" A familiar voice calls.

  Teresa furrows her brow and turns to face the sound of quickly approaching footsteps. Her eyes widen when she catches sight of Consuelo Martin, one of the orderlies from her time aboard Weyland Facility Thirteen.

  "Consuelo?"

  The female orderly rushes to Teresa, holding the hand of a tiny boy. Her son, from the looks of it. The child struggles to keep up, his short legs propelling him forward with an awkward lurch.

  Consuelo reaches where Teresa stands and takes the former scientist's face between her hands. After kissing both of Teresa's cheeks, Consuelo wipes furiously at the tears running from her own eyes.

  "I am so sorry, Doctor Boyd. I should never have gone along with what that evil woman wanted. I was only thinking of my son. I did not want to hurt you. I tried my best to give you some dignity. Can you ever forgive me?"

  Teresa shakes her head slowly, barely processing the words as they tumble from Consuelo's mouth.

  "I don't know," Teresa confesses. "It was all so horrible, and too fresh. I really can't say."

  Consuelo continues to wipe at her face. She nods up and down, brown eyes narrowing with sorrow.

  "I understand. I think I would feel the same."

  Consuelo motions to her small son. The young boy, probably no more than three years old, stares up at Teresa with a shy smile. A tiny red birthmark on the boy's cheek, resembling a bunch of grapes, causes Teresa to smile--just a little. It is a cute birthmark. Consuelo introduces her son in a soft voice.

  "This is my son, Chad. His father and I are divorced. He wasn't a good man. We moved to Weyland Station Thirteen to start a new life. I was planning to use the money to send him to pilot school. So that he can fly commercial freighters for the conglomerate. Doctor Boyd...That thing. The one who allowed us to live...Why did he not kill us like all of the men? Is he the father of your son?"

  "No," Teresa states, refusing to elaborate. "And...I don't know. A change of heart, maybe."

  "Oh," Consuelo says, averting her gaze, sensing Teresa's reluctance to confide in her. "I thought you might know...Because you have seen them before."

  "I don't have a clue," Teresa says. "Now...If you will excuse me, Consuelo, I have a meeting with the settlement leadership. It was...Nice...Seeing you again."

  Consuelo's face contorts with the level of her sadness. A soft sigh escapes the former Weyland orderly's lips. She grips her tiny son's hand tightly. Vor'taalnis offers his small human counterpart an awkward smile and wave. Chad grins back, eyes narrowing with childish glee.

  "Of course, Dr. Boyd," Consuelo says. "It was nice seeing you again as well."

  Teresa offers Consuelo a thin smile and leads Vor'taalnis toward the Temple of the Ancestors. Elder Scar has offered to tell her the history of the yautja, as best he knows it. A chance for Vor'taalnis to be close to one of his own kind. An elder. She wouldn't miss it for the world.

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  "Teresa Boyd. I am honored you came," Scar says, a genuine smile spreading his mouthfolds wide.

  "Of course, I came," Teresa chuckles softly. "You are the closest thing to an expert on this planet. Where else can I learn the history of the yautja? How else can I pass it on to my son? His father is--. I don't know where he is. It is better that Vor'taalnis learns who and what he is from one who knows."

  Scar steps forward and comes to within three feet of the ooman doctor. He looks down into her face with a great fondness.

  "I wish I could call myself an expert. There is one here who has more knowledge than even me. A scholar. Halyiis has the combined knowledge of both the ooman and the yautja. But, I will tell you everything I know. Your son will never feel alone here."

  "Thank you," Teresa says, averting her eyes.

  Scar reaches out a clawed hand and returns her face to its former position. His kind smile makes Teresa's stomach do flips, and she suddenly has the need to gag.

  "Oh no," Teresa utters softly. "Please excuse me."

  Without waiting to explain, Teresa rushes from the temple, leaving Vor'taalnis in the elder's shocked company. After a brief moment, Scar's expression changes, as it dawns on him what has occurred. He offers Vor'taalnis a wide smile and drops to one knee. Using the language of his forefathers, Scar addresses the yautja childling. His smile widens, when Vor'taalnis animatedly replies in kind.

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  -

  Teresa leans against the side of a wooden building. She has just puked up what little she ate of breakfast, and holds her stomach with a shaking hand. Closing her eyes, she struggles to regain composure.

  "Are you alright, Teresa Boyd?"

  Teresa looks up to see who has spoken. Vildif. After their uncomfortable meeting the other day, Teresa worries that the young settlement leader may be put off by her.

  "Yes. I've...Well, I thought you knew. I'm pregnant...Heavy with descendants. Again. I'm not feeling too great right now."

  Vildif steps closer to Teresa and she straightens, her eyes meeting his as best they can. She studies his hybrid face with acute interest. So much like his father's--with the exception of the brown mottled nose at the center of his face.

  "Yau-tala can give you herbs to lessen your symptoms. I will get them for you, if you like?"

  Something about the young leader's demeanor seems almost too friendly. Teresa's mouth opens, as she prepares to speak, and Vildif's eyes travel to her lips--Teresa's suspicions are immediately confirmed. The young settlement leader has become infatuated with her. Definitely not a good situation.

  "It's fine. I'll go by her cabin and grab them later. I have to get back to Elder Scar. He wanted to teach me about yautja history. I will see you some other time. Thank you for the advice."

  Teresa hurries away before the young leader can attempt to persuade her to stay. She reenters the temple to find it empty.

  "Elder Scar? Vor'taalnis?" Teresa calls, panic in her voice.

  She strolls quickly down a large hallway lined with wooden and stone statues. The statues are of various yautja in fearsome poses. Some warriors wear the usual plasmacaster on their left shoulders. Others sport different types of deadly weapons.

  Teresa peeks into a large room and spies what appears to be a transparent tube in the center of the floor. She slowly makes her way into the room. Inside the transparent tube is encased a beautiful woman. Her long black hair adorned in mock yautja fashion. Teresa stares at the woman in shock, noting the mark of Scar's clan on her left cheek.

  "Oh, wow. His vil'par. His mate. He preserved her? Did he really love her that much? I guess so, if he stayed here for her. Oh...Wow."

  Teresa touches her right hand to the transparent tube. Not glass; something else. How interesting. Teresa is still studying the tube when a clawed hand touches her left shoulder. She spins to see who has touched her, eyes wide with panic. Elder Scar chuckles softly, causing Vor'taalnis to do the same.

  "I did not mean to frighten you," Scar says.

  "You didn't. Much," Teresa lies.

  "Mmm," Scar replies with a knowing grin. "Your son became worried. I told him I would find you. And I have. You were admiring the shrine to my vil'par?"

  "Yes. Yes. It's very beautiful. I don't think I've ever seen anything like it. How did she die?"

  Scar lowers his amber gaze, his mandibles drawing tight. There is a long pause as he stares at his lost beloved, a heavy sigh forcing its way from deep within his wide chest.

  "She died after the expulsion of our third childling. The childling died as well. I created the altar to honor the love...And loyalty...That we shared. So she will be with me always."

  "I can't imagine what that must have felt like...To lose one you loved so much. She was very beautiful. She is beautiful."

  Scar studies Teresa's face very carefully before continuing. The ooman's scent has changed yet again, growing sweet and inviting. Her flesh becomes infused with deep color and her breathing quickens.

  "Come with me to the eating hall...And I will tell you all about my vil'par. Everything you wish to know."

  Teresa nods in agreement and reaches for Vor'taalnis' hand.

  "Okay."