Kira

Chapter 6. Space

The marvel of being surrounded by such advanced technology was swallowed in the black pit that swelled in Kira's chest. Black claws rising from the darkness held her fast, drowning any awe in the mixed emotions roaring in her chest. It was a frigid coldness that dwelled in the inky void. Its talons threatened to smother her entirely.

But it was the ice instantly frosting the viewing window that dragged Kira from the muck of her thoughts. She watched as the control panel flashed yellow and beeped, signifying that the process was completed.

The male hunter deftly tapped at the control panel of the cryogenic tube he had placed Kira's birth mother in. Inside, she looked almost serene and angelic thanks to the other yautja shutting her eyes and arranging her body in natural repose. Shards of icy darkness raked through Kira's heart, her claws squeaking down the thick glass as she laid her forehead against it.

Anything to get closer again.

Anything.

"Safe," The male's mask assured in its stolen voice.

Cotton coated Kira's tongue. Speaking was a chore trying to parse through her emotions. There were many things she wanted to say and do, but none of it could climb her scratchy throat. It felt like her vocal chords were coated in thick amber honey, weighing them down.

Kira nodded, slowly backing away from the tube. The male pressed a button on the wall and the tube darkened inside, shrouding the dead woman in shadow.

Taking deep, calming breaths, Kira turned and headed back to the cockpit. Her eyes fell on the strangle glow of white rippling space over the windshield of the ship zipping by as they hurtled through space. It looked like ripples in water under the sunlight. The gentle hum of the engines was a nice backdrop, far from the silence she expected there to be instead. Being in a spaceship, a real spaceship, one designed and built by her own people, fueled her awe and lust for knowledge.

She wanted to study the foreign symbols that represented her peoples' language, but the emergence of the male from the hall quickly had her sitting in the seat she had claimed and instead stared out the window, watching the bright white rippling outside.

He moved like a silent wraith. His size seemed contradictory to the way he carried himself, utterly soundless as he passed her to reclaim his seat. The sinister gray mask hid his expression entirely, so she had no way of knowing what he was thinking as he turned in his chair to stare at her. An inquisitive hum rumbled in his throat as he leaned forward and canted his head to the side like a cat.

This guy was clearly out of words at this point. He had only replied in voice clips and hums.

Kira wondered what their language sounded like, and most important, what was his name?

"W-What's your name? Calling you male or dude doesn't seem right." Kira said with tightened mandibles. She twirled a loc around her fingers as her eyes roamed his hardened body with curiosity.

"Di'kaadh," he replied in a gruff voice with a nod.

She almost smiled, "It's a pleasure to meet you, Di'kaadh."

He chuffed at the awkward sound of his name on her tongue, the bands in his locs clinking together.

"'Leaasurrrre to 'eet ouuu, Keera." Di'kaadh said, struggling to speak the English language.

Unlike her, he never had to mimic the sounds to learn how to speak it so well. It was unnatural coming off of his tongue, but she appreciated the effort.

"Thank you," Kira leaned back into her seat, letting her shoulders fall. "For taking me with you. There was no way I could stay there any longer. Not after Dr. Torres died and everything that happened..." Fresh memories of her adopted mother falling to her death burned anew.