Two Hearts

Chapter 1 - Along Came the Human

Emily stopped under the metal awning to avoid the downpour of rain. The sky had been clear only a few moments ago, full of heavy grey clouds, until the deluge came breaking free. It was an icy cold that made her shiver beneath her mildly soaked clothing.

She was fortunate enough that much of the skyway was covered. It was made of that same metal the rest of the city was made up of, a black metal that the dominant species here favored. This metal never rusted, so Emily figured that was likely why. All of that Black sure didn't help in the sweltering summers, however.

Flipping out her pocket mirror, one of her few possessions, Emily checked her appearance before coming closer to the bar before her. Her hair was a bit frizzy but she was mostly unscathed from the deluge.

Despite being the only human on the entire planet, she still wanted to look decent. Showing up looking like a bum also wouldn't help in her task. Bringing up her wrist, she activated her holo-watch where it projected the "Help Wanted" digital ad. Yautja passed her as she stood there taking in the bar's outer appearance.

Like all other businesses, it was non-descript and only differentiated by the open slatted windows in front that let out the smell of food, alcohol, and the usual musk of Yautja. Worn posters decorated the wide metal slats, the long faded advertisements torn in places where they had been cut so the slats could open. A square metal sign with the name of the establishment hung off the upper portion of the facade, streams of water dripping down it and falling to the clear walkway, the puddles wetting the feet of passerby. The rain helped to give the whole bar a somber old-timey noir feel.

Emily could picture some twentieth-century detective sipping on a mug of steaming coffee while slow jazz music played in the background as he stared into nothing after a long day. Only, here, it was her...surrounded by aliens.

Steam rose from a ventilation grate off to the right of the building, adding to the grimy worn picture that she was already getting. Apprehension within her breast rose as she entered the bar — the door thankfully being automatic.

Inside, low tribal music played in the background and the Yautja seated inside spoke in soft rumbling clicks and growls to one another. Smoke hung in the air from a few Yautja in the far left corner taking long drags from cigars that were bigger than her wrist was round. The space was wide and flush with empty tables, no surprise for such an early morning, with wood paneling and furniture — something not typical to Yautja establishments.

Along the far wall was a wide wooden bar that had seen better years where some of the stools were occupied, the seats round cushions atop a metal pedestal. Behind the bar was several shelves attached to the wall full of different colored bottles. Each had a different label and all in the Yautja script. There were taps built into a portion of the wall itself where a Yautja was filling a giant mug before handing it off to a waiting customer.

He was massive. She had never seen a Yautja so big.

To her he looked like a human strongman or someone who enjoyed c'ntlip too much. He was easily eight feet tall with a wide barrel chest, thick meaty arms, a belly that reminded her of Santa Clause, and a slight double chin beneath his mandibles. His skin was a brownish tan with dark brindled pattern paired with intense green eyes that found her staring from the doorway.

Almost immediately Emily could tell this Yautja was not to be fucked with.

He wore the faded mark of an Arbitrator above his clan marking, a simple slash with two dots beneath it. His long black locs that fell to his belly were full of various colored beads and bands also showing his high decorated status. Having those piercing green eyes upon her sent a chill down her spine.