Crashed Cat (closed for dragonrazor)

[Sasha25]

Cheetara:
http://cdn.wg.uproxx.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/new-cheetara.jpg

The wreckage was still smoldering as Cheetara opened her eyes, the smoke hazy and rising into the thick green and blue trees that ringed the crash site. She swore under her breath, trying to get to her feet, but her leg wouldn't hold her weight. That meant no quick escape is something came along. She needed the medkit.

She crawled slowly towards the wreckage. There was just a little heat coming from the engines, so she surmised they had stopped running completely. The glass around the small passenger seat was completely gone.

"I'll never take a one person craft again," she growled as she tried to open the compartment for the medkit. She had left her Thunderan kin for a time, tired of the constant wars, and the lover that had spurned her. The thought of his look, of scorn after she professed her love, still made her stomach churn. She slammed her hand down on the compartment and it sprung open. Holding it tightly under her armpit, she crawled back to a tree stump, found the regeneration spray and covered her lower right leg with it. There was a tremendous burning sensation, then relief. She stood, flexed her legs and took a quick run, about a mile in a short cirlce, in about 10 seconds.

Taking a short breather, and checking her staff, she took in her surroundings. This planet's jungle seemed to go in every direction and was very thick. The sun was bright and hot, though she didn't feel bothered by it. While Cheetara knew her emergency beacon was working, she know it would be a long time before anyone found it.

She sighed, and fashioned a sling from cloth in the cockpit, took rations and the medkit and set out on foot into the jungle, ready to forget her former life.

 

[dragonrazor]

Space. It was a dangerous place. It sounded like a "Well DUH" statement, but it was true, and it was something that had occurred to Rouge Beltraine often. Rouge had lived for more than twenty centuries. But he still looked like he was barely out of his teens. An accident as a young man, barely out of college had left him ageless, and virtually immortal. That would have been bad enough, he thought, but it had also stuck him with the appearance of someone who was barely 19 years old. Things had not gotten better, he reasoned, as those around him grew old and died. Eventually, he'd struck out into space. After a long amount of time moping about his condition, he'd taken advantage of it. He'd amassed a fortune, and used it to further the human race.

Of course, that itself had led to numerous problems, as he'd learned long ago. It had left him so embittered with his people that he'd built his own ship, and flown off, never to be seen or heard from again. And as he lost control of the ship, starting to descend in a crash landing towards a remote jungle planet, he realized that might not have been the best of ideas. He swore, almost loud enough to be heard over the roar of reentry as the vessel plummeted from the sky. Even the sleek, aerodynamic design of it wasn't enough to correct the descent, and the fireball lit up the sky even in the middle of the day.

The crash didn't do much to the body of the ship, but the engines, maneuvering systems, and landing gear were completely wrecked. As Rouge surveyed the damage, another resounding 'FUCK' rang out. Even if he could repair the ship, the navigation systems and primary power core were trashed. He kicked a wall as he made his way through the crashed vessel, ironically enough half-buried in a pile of mud and leaves, and started to gather together at least enough gear to do a scouting mission.

As he pulled on the lightweight body armor he himself had created, he muttered incoherently to himself. The armor was closefitting, but breathable. A good thing, as the air of the jungle world was rather stifling. In addition to that, it was flexible, and allowed him to wear whatever he wanted over it. He tugged on a pair of heavy boots, an old duster coat, and a widebrimmed hat. Then he started to pack weapons into hidden holsters both in the coat and attached to the bodysuit.

When he finally stepped out, the sun had gone down. Before actually leaving the craft, he grabbed a pair of lights he'd designed, that attached to the armor right over the back of his hands, and a special pair of glasses that acted as night vision, among other things. His long brown hair, hidden under the hat and coat, and his tanned skin wouldn't be easy to spot, but his green eyes...without the glasses, they'd practically glow. Another curse of the accident, he mused, as he looked at his reflection in the hull of the ship.

 

[Sasha25]

The jungle brush seemed to get thicker and thicker the further Cheetara moved. While her leotard wasn't thick, the heavy air and humidity was finally taking it's toll. She stopped and sat in the thick dark green moss, looking through the ration box. Enough for a week, mostly likely, even with her high metabolism.

Water was the problem. The water packs were small, and two were broken. Eventually, she would have to try the water that had gathered in pools that dotted the landscape, all hidden by tall trees. Taking a drink from one of the water packs first, Cheetara ate one protein back. Horrible stuff. Hopefully some of the indigenous wildlife would be edible.

Now that she looked around, she realized that she hadn't noticed much wildlife. Perhaps they had been scared by the crash. Perhaps there wasn't anything but the plant life, but that meant the possibility of carnivorous plants. The cat couldn't help but feel a sense of exhilaration. This is why she left. To truly escape and find adventure on her own. She made her way through a pair of thick, rough-trunked trees, when a strange sound from above met her eyes.

Another ship. Her mouth dropped open and she retreated to a clearing for a better view. It was wildly out of control, or so it seemed. It was heading into the trees and Cheetara quickly lost sight of it. Was this a rescue ship already? Or was it someone following her? The ship didn't look Thunderan, but she could tell as it was flying through the direct sunlight.

With the sling back around her, Cheetara started to run through the trees. She would help if she could, or kill if she needed. The branches of the bushes and tree caused her fur to get very unkempt as she ran, at half her top speed.

Suddenly, she could feel the ground shudder as the ship finally crashed and she lost balance and fell. A thorn ripped a hole in her leotard and she swore loudly.

 

[dragonrazor]

Rouge finally set out, away from the ship. He didn't know what to expect, of course. It was a jungle world, so he figured there would probably be some wildlife. Though most of it would have gone into hiding the moment the ship breached atmosphere, he thought as he walked. He tapped a button on the glasses, and they linked with the ship's sensors, scanning his surroundings as he walked. So far, he picked up nothing but plant life. He knew that could change in an instant, however, so he drew a pair of submachine pistols from holsters that hung low on his thighs.

He'd designed every aspect of his body armor himself. While many humans made use of similar armors, his was a work of art. The holsters for the guns sat just below a pair of sheaths housing finely crafted longswords. Farther down, in his boots, were long, single edged daggers of the old hunting knife variety. Under one arm was an old handcannon revolver in a .50 caliber, and over his other shoulder, hanging just beneath his elbow, was a 40MM grenade launcher that currently held riot suppressant flashbangs. The only other weapon he carried, held at his back, was an AccMag railgun-based rifle of his own design.

He walked silently through the jungle undergrowth, examining his surroundings, when a blur of motion in his peripheral vision caught his attention. He turned to face it, watching for it again. His eyes narrowed when there was no more movement. So he tapped the button on the glasses again, and everything around him lit up in shades of phosphorescent green. One particular area was considerably brighter than the rest, indicating a large mass of heat. He smiled, and slowly walked over to it. He stood there, saying nothing for a moment, inches away from the heat source, and then finally spoke.

"You know, some people might take offense to being stalked."

 

[Sasha25]

The cat paused, smelling the acrid scent of metal, fuel and burning organic material. She wouldn't be able to scent any survivors with all that stench covering up the natural air. Crouching under a tree with large, flat leaves, she waiting. From the pouch at the side of her leotard, she draw out her staff, but kept it small in her hand.

The claws of her left hand dug into the ground, hoping for leverage if she had to fly out at a possible attacker. Nothing was moving; as before the wildlife seemed to run away from the crash. Now there were two, possibly more aliens on this world. Cheetara went back through her vision of the crashing ship. It wasn't large, so there could be a single survivor, perhaps two. The idea that her solitude could be broken made her angry, and she tensed even more.

"You know, some people might take offense to being stalked."

She jumped up, her face covered in the flat leaf. She brushed it away and looked around. The voice was mechanical, and male. There was so much foliage around that she saw nothing at first, but a flash of metal to her right make her turn and stare. something was emerging from from the trees.

It wasn't robotic, but armor. Well made, armor that covered a tall body. She noticed the energy weapons and growl. She despised them. A true warrior wouldn't need such weapons, but instead use hands, or swords, or staffs.

"Who are you," she growled as she extended her staff. She considered simply running away; the armor didn't seem to allow quick movement, though she could be mistaken. Cheetara kept on guard and assessed the surrounding. She could dart among the trees, though the man's weapons could probably blast them away. Better to speak to him first, then leave.

 

[dragonrazor]

Rouge tapped the controls again, going back to the slightly enhanced vision, and surveyed the figure that had been lurking in the brush. Tall, blonde, long legs. Long, lean legs. A runner, Rouge realized. And as he studied her further, he realized what he was looking at. An anthropomorph, or something close. A humanoid cheetah, which meant high speed, but only for short durations. Fast, but not very agile, most likely, as cheetahs had problems with directional control once they were at speed. That, and he wondered briefly how well she could actually run with a pair of breasts like the ones she had. He judged them to be at least a D cup, maybe bigger.

At her question, he pondered an answer, holding the submachine pistols trained on her. She had pulled out a staff, he noted. Old school, but on closer examination, it looked like advanced technology. So she was probably from an older species than his, he thought. A first contact scenario then, he mused with a smile. He spoke again, in answer. "Isn't it bad manners to ask someone else's name without giving yours first? No matter. I am Rouge. Rouge Beltraine. And what, might I ask, is such a beautiful woman doing in the middle of the jungle on a world that doesn't seem to have any technology of any kind."

He could tell she was sizing him up. She was a fighter then. Her race was most likely a warrior culture, steeped in traditions and tactics. Best to proceed with caution, and if she decided to try to fight, get underestimated by her. He holstered one of his pistols, and reached over to the back of the hand holding the other one. A simple tap activated the light on it, and he surveyed her more clearly, no longer needing the enhanced lighting.

 

[Sasha25]

That arrogant voice. Sure, confident, strong. He trusted his armor, and she was sure that it was of sufficient technology that he knew her strengths and weaknesses now. It wasn't the time to fight. She closed her staff and placed it away in her leotard pouch, but remained in a tense stance.

"I'm Cheetara of Thundera. I cashed just as you, about an hour ago. I watched your ship fall and followed you here. My intentions are my own." He didn't lower both his weapons immediately after she did and she hissed. Was it a lack of trust? Or was he just showing off his weapons like males always did?

"I'd appreciate it if you lowered your weapons Rogue, and showed me your face. I might not have introduced myself properly, but you won't even show yourself. Do you instead to stay in your armor for the rest of your stay in this place?"

Her claws were bared, as he well knew, but she lowered her hands to her sides. Her chest heaved with the tension of the situation. The armor made him seem tall, but it could be a small tiny humanoid inside with a big voice.

 

[dragonrazor]

Rouge raised an eyebrow at her words. She seemed insulted by his not lowering his weapons and remaining in his armor. Yep, definitely a warrior culture, he thought. He pondered what to do, but only for a second. He holstered the other pistol, and removed his hat slowly, revealing that aside from the glasses, only a VOX voice synthesizer covered any other part of his face. He tapped the synthesizer and the glowing ring of it faded. He finally spoke again, this time in his own voice, as he studied her further.

"Is that better, Cheetara of Thundera? I apologize for not removing the armor entirely, but if the flow of time has taught me anything, it's that one shouldn't be quick to trust one's surroundings, and even less quick to trust people. After all, my own people are a gaggle of dim bulbs content to war with each other for all eternity, even WITH my guidance."

He looked in the direction of a still-smoking crater, and assumed that she came from it. He tilted his head, pondering the distance to it, and then shrugged. "I don't suppose your navigation systems or engines are still salvagable? I think mine are shot. I could probably fix them, given enough time and spare parts, but working engines and a navcomp would probably make it easier."

It was then that they heard what he'd been afraid of. A far off roar, that of a distant predator scenting prey. He sighed, and tapped the controls on his shades again, turning slowly in a three hundred and sixty degree arc as he scanned. "What a lot of jungle. I wonder if this is what Earth was like millions of years ago."

 

[Sasha25]

Cheetara appreciated the gesture of showing his face, though Rogue's words were confusing. How old was he and what was he to his own people? As she heard the crash of a distant animal, she hoped that she would be able to learn more about him, even if to understand him as an enemy to fight.

"I think we should save any more formalities until we find a safe place, Rogue. The wildlife seems to be stirring at last. Your weapons are much strong that I, but I can move more easily through the trees. I will scout ahead about 20 feet. I'm guessing you can follow me using your armor. Do so. If I find the animal too close, I'll get out of the way."

She didn't wait for acknowledgement from Rogue, instead moving stealthily into the trees. She knew the crash would eventually draw attention, either from natives or the large beasts. Unfortunately, she couldn't even mask her own scent, not when she was so anxious form the crash and the meeting with Rogue. He would be able to follow her easily too, but that was the least of her worries. He had lowered his weapons and that meant something, if only that he didn't intend to kill her immediately. Perhaps he was honorable. Perhaps he would deign to remove his armor completely and face her as a man.

As she moved carefully through the trees, she smelled something in the air. The musk of a beast, an angry scent. She heard more thumping sounds in the earth and knew that it was massive. She dropped the sling with the medkit and rations, needing to focus on her battle reflexes. The beast was coming closer and she pressed to a tree, waiting. Hopefully the beast would sense Rogue before her.

 

[dragonrazor]

Rouge walked quietly behind her, watching her move through the trees for a moment. He allowed himself only a few seconds to study her hind end as she took off, before he started to pick up the pace. Following her was fairly easy, as he was able to track her moments. However, doing so without making much noise wasn't as easy. After a few minutes of failing to move quietly through the trees, he decided to try to make as much noise as possible. It would at least make him a target for whatever was hunting them.

Soon enough, a large, almost tyranosaur-looking creature started crashing through the underbrush after him. That got him moving faster. He started weaving through the trees where he could, and firing back at the creature with his guns when he could afford to. He knew the leggy blonde Thunderan woman was still out there. He had a feeling she was observing him. He gave an almost sadistic smile at that, ducking behind a fairly large tree as he reloaded the pistols he used. Then he unholstered the grenade launcher, spun the chamber, and launched a couple of rounds over his shoulder as the beast came around the tree. The rounds exploded near its face, the roar almost deafening and the flash glaring.

But they were just a distraction, as he darted past the creature's wildly swinging tail and head. He practically run up the creature's spine, drawing his swords as he crested the back of its head. The finely crafted swords flashed, drawing lightning down from the air as he swung them through the neck of it. The large head fell to the jungle floor with a thud, skidding to a stop right in front of Cheetara with him standing on its forehead. He knelt there for a moment, before standing to his feet, swinging the swords in a half-circle to sweep the blood off the blades, and then sliding them back into their sheaths.

 

[Sasha25]

With her back pressed to the large tree, Cheetara watched as Rogue rather easily took down the large reptile. She had wanted to join the battle, her teeth bared, her staff at the ready, but she would be no match for this beast without a sharp weapon at her disposal. It was massive enough that she knew she couldn't easily run around it, with trees flanking the one that she stood in front of.

The smell of the grenade explosions were mixed with the smell of blood, and Cheetara's own scent. Rogue was an impressive warrior. He seemed to move with ease, trusting his weapons and his skill. She couldn't help but be impressed, and some respect for this man grew inside her. As he stepped down, sheathing his blades, she stepped forwards, staff still held in case more beasts, or carrion came.

"You are quite the skilled warrior. Perhaps we could spar sometime, if we find a safe place. But I won't fight you with that armor. No weapons. Hand to hand combat only." She smirked, the frowned as she looked at the large reptile. Her people had a long history with sentient reptiles, their natural enemies, and she couldn't much stand the sight of it.

"Let's leave this place. The blood will draw more beast, and I don't much feel like fighting them all. Does your armor detect any place we could find shelter?" She draw closer, carefully, still wary of him. If he could take on the larger beasts, she could deal with the smaller, and perhaps hunt for their food.

 

[dragonrazor]

Rouge raised an eyebrow at Cheetara's desire to vacate the premises as fast as possible. He pondered, then tapped the VOX control, speaking into it. "Xavier, scan for nearby caves or ruins. Something we can hide in if necessary. If that's not possible, engage the holographics and give us a hiding place." There was a series of mechanical beeps, and he nodded, tapping the control again.

"What's the matter? I thought cats were carnivores. I've eaten worse than dinosaurs, after all." It was said in a teasing lilt, that disappeared as he got serious. He shook his head at her invitation to fight him with no armor. If she knew how the accident he'd had centuries ago had changed him, she wouldn't be asking that. "I really don't think you want to fight me without the armor. Anyways, we still need to find a more sustainable source of food. My ship has a few nanofactories that can be used to make food, but it's always a good idea to have a backup if possible. Xavier says to head back to the ship. He's detecting movement. A lot of movement, of varying sizes. And somehow, I don't think they'll take too kindly to seeing a predator like this beheaded."

He stood there only long enough to reload the two empty chambers of the grenade launcher, then started off in the direction of his crashed ship. As they moved through the forest, he pondered the likelihood of a rescue. Her people might be looking for her, and his probably would too, but he had removed any and all possible emergency beacons on his ship so that a crash wouldn't alert them. All they'd want from him is more weapons anyways, he thought with a dejected sigh, as they covered ground fairly quickly.

When they emerged from the trees, it was with a slightly sadistic movement that he noted the ship had managed to right itself using manipulator arms, and move itself to a source of flowing water nearby. It had then camoflauged itself as a glacial ridge, one of those large exposed sections of bedrock caused by retreating glaciers. He shook his head at that, then motioned inside, entering a hidden cave in a slight ravine in the illusion. He walked up the boarding ramp into the ship, and started stripping down from the armor, putting it and the weapons in their respective racks and on their mounts.

 

[Sasha25]

She followed him this time, as she knew he knew the way to his own ship. True, she was a carnivore, but she preferred the taste of small mammals and birds over reptiles. A personal choice to be sure, but as she had fought so many reptiles in battle, the taste reminded her of the smell of fires, of her brother's and sister's blood and she couldn't stomach it.

The ridge they approached looked completely natural, though as Rogue suggested, it was his ship. More technology. She sighed. Though she didn't like tech as much as some of her kind, it would serve to support them here in this wild. As they entered the "cave" she watched as a hatch opened and Rogue entered the true ship to remove his armor. She stayed in the "cave" and sat, facing away. It was never polite to watch a comrade or enemy remove his or her armor. That was private, ceremony, and if she did not like him, she could at least respect him as a warrior. It was only as she sat that she realized her rations packs and medikit were still laying on the jungle floor. She swore and hissed. As the tension of battle, and the crash left her, she wished for a bed and for a bath. Rogue would probably joke that cats would lick themselves clean; it seemed like his style of humor.

If only this ship could produce a pool or pond in this cave, she could at least wash the grime and blood off her fur. Of course, he'd like to watch.

 

[dragonrazor]

The computer inside the ship had closerange sensors as well, and it studied her body and biorhythms, recording them as a personal information profile. As it studied them, it knew that she was covered in sweat and grime, and it could tell that her muscles were overworked and tired. So it did the only thing it could. along the small stream flowing through the ravine, the ground changed. It created a large, in ground pool, with water flowing out the other end. After a few more seconds, steam could be seen rising from the pool, and a faint shimmer over the stream at each end, keeping the hot water in the pool and not tainting the rest of the water.

Inside the ship, Rouge had changed into a loose-fitting ship crew's jumpsuit. When he'd originally designed the ship, it had been as a small luxury cruiser. In spite of that, it turned out to be a very well designed personal vessel, and he'd even outfit it with weapons, though he never had the need to use them. Of course, without working engines, it wasn't like it would fly. As he descended the steps to find himself facing a hot spring (which had quickly taken the shape of a Japanese Onsen, complete with bamboo fences), he stopped, taking in the sight. Then he started laughing, realizing he hadn't even offered her the use of the shower in the ship. He turned to the ship, and spoke. "Xavier, did you decide the lady could use a soak in mineral water? You sly dog you. But I don't think you're her type."

The ship's computer responded with a resounding and very R2-D2 styled electronic raspberry, which only made Rouge laugh harder, as he walked back into the ship, rummaging around. He came out a moment later with a few big fluffy towels, and walked up to Cheetara, who hadn't yet noticed it. He dropped down to a seated position beside her, setting the towels down between them. "Here you go. You'll need these."

 

[Sasha25]

She had let herself slip into her meditation, as she always did after a battle. Her private space on Thundera had been natural, including a spring, rocks, so the sound of flowing water in the air had melded into that calm, quiet state. When she finally opened her eyes, she was shocked at what lay before her. Rocks, flowing water, the steam showing it was warm. And Rogue wearing a sleek jumpsuit standing nearby holding towels.

"This is remarkable." She said with wonder and stood up. "It's so much like my own private space. It's like your ship can read my thoughts." She frowned at that idea, but said nothing more.

As a warrior, Cheetara was used to bodies, both in battle and after, and her brothers and sister weren't shy about nudity, as in the heat of war, they often bathed together, or had to treat wounds quickly, which required the removal of armor and clothing. Without hesitation, she began to strip off her dirty and torn leotard, her large breasts spilling out, her long, thin legs revealed, her sex exposed. She didn't bother looking up to see Rogues reaction, simply walking forwards and sinking down into the steaming water, feeling instant relaxation and relief. She sank in completely, bathing her head then rose, flicking her pointed ear.

Finally she regarded Rogue, who was standing still, watching.

"So, what do we do next? Aren't you going to wash after the battle?" Her breasts rested at the surface of the water as she took in his face. He looked so young, but his demeanor was of an aged, experience warrior. So much was a mystery.

 

[dragonrazor]

Rouge raised an eyebrow at the idea that the ship could read her thoughts. It was amusing in its absurdity. Of course, he knew exactly what the ship HAD read. He designed it to adapt for the comfort of its passengers. But he said nothing, regarding her as she disrobed without hesitation. Either her people, or just her breed, was used to nudity, obviously, he thought. As he regarded her further, he nodded slightly at his earlier perception regarding her figure. Long, lean legs, and full, firm breasts. If anything, the leotard she had worn had DOWNPLAYED the size of them, he thought.

At her question as to whether he was going to wash up, he simply shrugged. She was clearly studying him, that much he could tell. How much could she see, he wondered. Could she see the centuries of torment as he had watched people die around him, growing old before his eyes while he remained young, like the Roman soldier of legend, Longinus, had after his spear pierced Christ's breast? The constant sorrow as humanity had gone to war again and again, even with his attempts to direct them to a more peaceful existence?

When he spoke, it was quietly, and with a bit more grace than it looked like he was capable of. It was also with a bit of that teasing lilt from earlier. "Well, there's a shower inside the ship. But I guess Xavier thought you'd prefer an Onsen. If you don't mind, may I take your clothing in to see if the microfactories can repair it? Otherwise, I'm sure I have a needle and thread somewhere."

He set the towels down, and turned away slowly, then looked over his shoulder again. "Unless you're asking me to join you."

 

[Sasha25]

Again, Cheetara considered him. While she had many post-battle baths with Thunderan males, she had not any with any other race. She had to admit that she was curious. And the more friendly tones that he was using certainly meant he was more facets than just his battle skills.

"Join me, if you wish, Rogue." She forced her voice to have no trace of harshness or frustration in it. "I would like it if my leotard was repaired, but if your ship can create something suitable as a replacement, that would also be welcome.

The bath was glorious, and just what she needed. The image of the huge reptile from the jungle was fading from her mind as she focused more on Rogue. She waited for him to disrobe and join her. She dipped her head in the water, brushing her hair back against as she rose.

 

[dragonrazor]

Rouge considered the request. Then he nodded in the direction of the ship. "Xavier, create a replacement, please. Use the same fabric as my own armor. You should already have her measurements by now, ya big perv." Again, the electronic raspberry. The noise was followed by a few clicks and whistles, indicating that the machine would set to work. Rouge went back into the ship, and it was a few minutes before he came back out. He carried a few more towels, one of which he wore about his waist.

It wasn't until he approached the water, and started to sink into it, that he removed the towel and placed it on a ledge beside the spring. He pondered the temperature for a moment, then nodded. "Xavier, how about something more soothing for a roof. Maybe some starmaps, or a thunderscape, or something." The air above the spring shimmered, before reforming into a flowing mass of glowing color. Rouge smiled again. "The Aurora Borealis. Nice choice."

He sank further into the water, and stretched out, taking a seat with his arms around the rim of the Onsen hot spring. He went back to studying the blonde, watching the lean muscles ripple as she moved. "So, do all Thunderans have such muscle density? I'd say it's at least double the density of the average human, judging from how yours move."

 

[Sasha25]

Cheetara's eyes watches as he moved slowly into the pool discarding his towel at the last possible moment. She wondered immediately if he was hiding intentionally. Nothing else about his personality suggested he wanted anything hidden. He was bold, brash and terribly honest. Again, this wasn't something that the cat was used to.

After battles that she had been in, she has seen warriors, male and female with many injuries, including to their genitals. While some of the males had gone into depression at such an injury, most coped well. There were replacements, and most viewed any wound from battle as something honorable. Lovers and wives usually didn't care if sex was not longer part of the equations. Sex was just one aspect of love. And sometimes sex and love were exclusive.

Cheetara thought all these things as she listened to Rogue. Then at his question, she responded.

"Most females warrior of my race are so built, as we train constantly and our world has always be besieged by those who covet our resources and weapons. Other females are more lithe and graceful. they are often more desired than we are. Some males are threatened."

 

[dragonrazor]

Rouge pondered that, then smiled. It was hard to imagine a more lithe, graceful creature than the one before him, he thought. But as she explained further, he listened quietly. It was a few moments before he spoke. It was in a hesitant tone this time. "I suppose that we should get to know each other better, considering we may be the only ones here for a while. So...Should we start the game of Twenty Questions now, or would you rather wait till we're inside?"

He saw where her gaze had alighted as he had climbed into the pool. She had almost seemed hungry to see under his towel. And she seemed a bit disappointed and confused by his not showing off. It was a bit unsettling and embarrassing, and he wondered if he should have put on a pair of swimming trunks. "If you want to know anything about me or my people, feel free to ask. Though there are some things about me that I'm not likely to share. There are things that even I'd rather not know about me."

He hoped that limited the personal questions, though from the look in her eyes, he had a feeling it wouldn't be much of a limit. This woman wanted information. To her, even though they'd be sharing space for a while, he was still an unknown. A potential threat that she'd have to deal with. He sighed inwardly at that thought. So much for a friendly first contact, he thought.

 

[Sasha25]

Cheetara frowned, something she was known for, even among her friends. Things he didn't want her to know. Warriors should be honest and share with their fellows. while Rogue had done most of the dirty work in the jungle, she felt at least that they had shared a battle, become closer because of it.

"I have nothing to hide. It's true we will be here for a long time most likely. I didn't say before, but I'm sure my engines are nonfunctional. Thought my navigation system looked intact, I don't think the shift is worth salvaging. I sent out a distress call, but I doubt it will be answered. I left to escape a lover who spurned me." She let a flicker of disappointment cross her face, before recovering.

"If you don't wish to share Rogue, I understand. You have the right to share a little, or as much as you wish. I know nothing of your people. But if it gives you any comfort, anything you tell me won't leave this planet. I don't plan of leaving it."

She crossed her arms over her breasts, still watching him.

 

[dragonrazor]

Rouge's brow furrowed at her thoughts of never leaving the planet. He wondered if it were even possible to survive here. After a moment's thought, he decided that it WOULD be possible, but they'd need to find a place that was more defensible, easier to protect against beast and bird, and elements. He considered her mention of a lover spurning her, and then turned his head to look out at the ship next to them. He closed his eyes for a moment in thought, fully aware of her crossed arms and the effect they had on her breasts.

After a few moments of silence, he spoke, again hesitant. "My people are...not a very friendly race for the most part. We have a rather paranoid streak ingrained deeply. More than that, we also seem to have a genetic predisposition towards war. Not the path of the warrior, but making war for petty reasons. I've tried for...a long time...to try to get that to change."

He turned to look at her again, before standing up. There wasn't a single sign of scarring or imperfection, something that should have been impossible. "My people generally have a lifespan of around seventy years. How old do I look to you? Would it surprise you to know that I was a young man more than two millenia ago?" He let that sink in, before settling back into the spring. "When I was thirty, I decided to do an experiment. I'd been out of college for a long period, and had been moping. So I decided to try to make a new type of energy source to try to break my people's dependence on fossil fuels. There was an accident. I dunno, maybe I made a miscalculation, maybe it was sabotage. But I was engulfed in light, and passed out. When I woke up, I was in a hospital. They explained that my body had started regenerating on a massive scale. By the end of that week, I looked like I was in my early twenties. Worse still, I found that, while I was not invulnerable, my body healed so rapidly that I might as well be."

He sighed at this point, before continuing. "I did some more moping for a while, before I found a use for it. I made a fortune by making use of my seeming immortality. Stunts, fights, martial arts. Stuff like that."

 

[Sasha25]

"You do look young, but such an accident..." That explained his old soul and his young but. He looked very fit, skin pink and soft, something she had seen very little of in her life. She was curious about it, though she wouldn't touch without permission.

"My people usually live for 100 years, though some live for 150. Those that reach such a great age are revered in our society, for longevity, experience and wisdom. No doubt with all that you have seen, you would be treated with great respect on my planets." She smiles gently. The tone of his voice suggest he didn't want or need sympathy, but her smile offered it anyway. She was not just a warrior, it was true.

"While my people are a war-like race, it can be said, we have never sought war. We always fight to the death for what is ours, but we have never moved to take from other. We only wish to live and die, in our own way." She paused, considering her next words.

"If we manage to get off this place, or you do. You could try seeking Thundera. While you would be viewed initially as an outsider, your skill and experience would gain you respect quickly, and you could find comfort there."

She stood, and turned to leave the stream, finding one of the towels and starting to dry. She needed rest now, and perhaps some food. At the edge of the pool, was a soft bit of moss that seemed comfortable enough, so without another word, she went to it, laid down and closed her eyes.

Briefly opened one eye, a habit from the battle field, she saw Rogue, still standing in the stream, watching her.

 

[dragonrazor]

Rouge considered her words. His explanation seemed to answer some of her unasked questions, which was good. When she explained more about her people, he realized that if humanity would actually listen, her people would have a lot to teach his. Of course, that was entirely dependant on something that was an impossibility. As she climbed out of the spring, revealing her body as she dried off, he pondered the possibility of seeking out her people. It was an intriguing proposition, he thought. And if they were anything like her, it would make for a far better idea than leaving on Earth had been. And her people weren't likely to question his agelessness, either.

He was surprised when she laid down, choosing a soft bit of moss. He stood there for a few moments, watching her. Then he shrugged, sinking back into the water and cleaning up a bit himself. When he was done, he climbed out, drying off with a towel. The last thing he did before heading back into the ship was walk over to her. "Miss Cheetara, I have extra beds in the ship, if you'd like one. I originally designed it to be a mass produced cruise ship, so it's got all the amenities and luxuries. And I can personally attest to the comfort of the beds."

He studied her for another moment, again impressed by her figure. Then he shrugged, and turned towards the ship, heading back inside before he got a hard-on from looking at her.

 

[Sasha25]

Cheetara wasn't really asleep, only feigning to see what Rogue would do if she made herself vulnerable. He was probably too smart for such a tactic anyway, but she needed to test it. At his suggestion of bed, she rose, silently and began to follow. She wondered how long it would take for him to notice, but his easy gait, and the beeping of the ship let her know that he was aware.

The proceeded into the actual ship, the image of the cave and stream turning quickly into metal, lights, humming. It was completely unnatural, in in her naked state she felt ever nor out of her element. Without realizing it, her ear flicked, her claws came at the ready and she was looking around as thought she was about to be attacked.

"I don't know if a comfortable bed is worth being in all this metal and technology," She hissed, loud enough for Rogue to hear.