Two Hearts

Chapter 5 - The Gift

Bhehre slowed his stride so Emily could keep up with him as he walked beside her through the busy streets. Her needed skyway bridge had been closed so she led him on a different route. Along this way there were many different alien vendors trying to persuade passerby, each selling items varying from clothing, exotic jewelry, food, human items, and other miscellaneous items. Steam curled up through the vents built into the alleyways and mixed with the smoke rising from the food stalls.

The rain pushed people into a frenzy so the city was a little more crowded than usual. Alien races that seemed to not mind the cool rainy weather were busking hard to sell products to the Yautja populace. Neon signs in Yautjan glowed brightly despite the smoke and rain clogging the otherwise polluted city air.

Soon enough they had reached the next destination; their first having been her apartment, the whole of it no bigger than a singlet room given to Unblooded on a clan ship. He waited patiently seated on her bed while she showered and changed into clean clothing in her bathroom. There hadn't been much for decoration and not even a window. It was tiny and cramped, even for a human. Such a place was not a healthy environment for anyone.

As they walked through the doors of the building, Bhehre still debated whether it would be pushing it too hard if he asked her to utilize the empty room he had. He worried it would be seen as creepy.

They had already moved beyond having that boss and employee divide between them, so he worried about the other implications instead. He wanted her to freely want to do things and not feel coerced or suggested to. She was without a guardian and so was free to do as she wished. Lacking a guardian also came with no protection.

That was something he wanted to correct.

Inside, he noticed they were in the nearest government building. Here in the wide dark space, many Yautja walked to and fro going about their business. Beneath his feet the floor was a well-worn metal that matched the walls with strips of neon highlighting different paths that branched off into separate hallways. He followed Emily down the center one where they came upon a wide doorway that was open.

Along the walls of the rectangular room were numerous locked gunmetal boxes with different serial numbers printed on the label. Situated in the center was a lean Elderly Yautja with long white locs pulled into a que at his neck and dressed in a white shirt and breeches that highlighted his already dark grey flesh. He was hard at work under the bright artificial lighting as he switched rapidly between different projected screens before him.

Bright red eyes shot up to meet the two as they entered the room, the screens coming to a stop. He peered suspiciously for a few moments until he noticed Emily.

She had moved to stand before the desk that reached her neck, the thick rectangular furniture making her appear child-like in height. A blank look was on her face as she met the crimson gaze of the elderly Yautja. He stood there for a few moments longer, silent, until she spoke.

"Good morning, I received notification that you have a package for me." She held up her holo-watch and projected an digital letter with a serial number at the bottom, her arm high enough for him to lean forward and read it.

He grunted, turning away to retrieve a square box from one of the shelves and made his way back to them. Bhehre cocked his head as he took in the sight of the box and wondered what was in it for her to have to pick it up.

What secrets lied within?

"Sign here." A dark claw pointed towards a digital pad he handed her and watched as she signed her name in Yautjan.

The elderly male grunted again, "There is a message attached to this. The sender requested that you "sit down" before opening it. It is imperative."

Emily's eyes squinted in question before nodding, standing on her toes to grasp the handles and tug it off the desk. A surprised squeak left her mouth when it was apparently heavier than she anticipated. Bhehre was quick to offer her his assistance in carrying it out of the room.