by G. K. Scott
“Thirty seconds to self destruct.”
She sat up what was the point? She was going to die any way. Her gaze turned to one of the open storage units for storing experiments. Funny how those things would survive the explosion but she wouldn’t. She stopped turning sharply looking at the storage unit. It was big enough for a person. She got up grabbing the first shelf with one hand throwing the contents out. She grabbed the second and third one kicking them out “Twenty seconds to self destruct.” She growled quickly changing the temperature inside from cold to room temperate. Before jumping in to it and slamming the door behind her. “Ten seconds to self destruct.” She closed her eyes pulling the bolt across. This was the end.
8
Emma opened her eyes slowly it was dark the last thing she remembered was locking the door to this storage device she was alive! Somehow she didn’t want to be. She put her hands on the lock only to pull away feeling the burn. She eased up her foot in the darkness feeling the lock click she slammed her foot in to the door only to find it wouldn’t move. She kicked again she was trapped! She looked up hearing something hit the ground outside the storage unit. She heard the lock creak as the door was pulled off and thrown. She was being rescued the ships in space must’ve got there distress signal. Her heart sank in horror as a clawed hand suddenly leaned in grabbing her by the throat.
She was heaved up meeting a horrible masked face with its red gleaming eyes. It was a hunter with gleaming silver armour. She felt the air start to dissipate as the clawed spotted hand squeezed tighter. Despite the light of the world around her and fires all she could do was cry. This was how it was going to end being strangled to death by a hunter alien. Jeuki squeezed the prey’s throat. Fifthly little ooman! His great elder was died and all because of oomans! He squeezed tighter he was going to break this one neck slowly and painfully! He’d searched among this burning wreckage for hours trying to find an ooman and now he’d found one!
He could still feel the burn in his armour, which was smouldered with the heat. He had gotten trapped behind a huge door, which was metal of some kind. When the weapon had gone of the huge door had landed on him along with these odd storage cases which this ooman had been trapped in. The flames had not touched him at all. Not that it mattered all his kind where died and oomans were to blame! He ignored the gargling sound the little ooman made as he held it higher. He growled this would be just repayment for his own kinds death! He could see the ooman going limp it would all be over soon. He turned suddenly hearing hissing. He didn’t get a chance to move as a large hard meat slammed in to his back. He dropped the ooman instantly, he clicking out his wrist blades. Then thrust them in to the long black head watching them go right through. The hard meat fell at his feet as he yanked his blades free. He turned only to see another hard meat jump through the air.
It hit his chest plate sending him crashing to the ground. It’s tail swung around hitting his mask causing it come off. He watched inferred vision turn to blurred normal sight. The next moments caused him to roar in agony. As a blurred black-clawed hand slammed in to his crest the claws slowly moved down his face. The pain was horrible as the claws made their wounds. Emma got up watching the two aliens struggle as the black nightmare scratched the hideous looking hunter with it four mandible teeth and inner razor jaws. She got to her knees she was getting out of here! She stopped noticing that the hunter’s yellows eyes go wide as the black nightmare opened its dripping saliva jaws. She looked around seeing the a burnt ugly skeleton near by it’s armour blackened. A spear was sitting next to its hideous four-mandible skull. She grabbed it, she was stupid so stupid. She turned thrusting the weapon around watching as it went right through the black nightmares long head. The black nightmare screeched as it died.
Jeuki turned throwing the dead hard meat of his body. He did it quickly avoiding the acid that was flowing from its head. He watched it hit the ground the spear embedded in its head. His gaze turned sharply the ooman had saved him! He slowly stood up ignoring the feeling of cold blood running down his mandibles he watched as the ooman fell to its knees. Emma lowered her head this was her end. This was what her end would be, death as a hunters prey. It was stupid to think he’d let her live. She’d just interfered in his kill. She’d only done it because she’d didn’t want to see another being die. Deep down she knew his way of killing her would be quicker than the black nightmares. She was just choosing the better of two evils. She lowered her head closing her eyes. Why couldn’t the asshole just get it over and done with? What was he waiting for! She heard a crunch causing her to look up as the hunter pulled the spear free from the dead nightmares head. She breathed in okay well at least that would be quicker. She didn’t dear look in to the yellow eyes.
“Take…!”
She looked up slowly meeting the hideous face did he just speak in her language? The hunter was holding the spear in front of her his mandibles flared as he spoke again. “Take…!” He wanted her to take the spear? Oh this was just wonderful, it was probably a fight she couldn’t win. She would take one swing and he’d put his wrist weapons through her lower half. She stood up slowly taking the spear. She closed her eyes waiting for an end only to open them seeing the hunter turn away. She looked at the weapon in her hands. She turned in confusion watching the hunter pick up his fallen helmet. “Hey! What are you doing? Kill me already you son of a bitch!” The hunter turned looking at her before roaring aloud. Emma pulled back in fright. The hunter just stood there looking at her. He moved forward his mask in his hands the glowing green blood was still dripping down his face. “Move… ooman!” Emma didn’t dear go against that remark. She was too afraid and scared, she slowly moved forward seeing him follow her. They both moved slowly across the burning wreckage in silence.
8
Marcus sat in shock as Emma went silent. Julia looked up from her pad. She had to break the silence in the room. “I’m so sorry.” Marcus breathed in. “All those people my god. I had no idea it happened like that.” Leo breathed in. “So Jeuki was going kill you.” Jeuki looked up sharply from his sitting position. “I was angry at the time. It’s something I’m not proud of.” He looked down slowly. “Cold blooded murder is a something my race doesn’t tolerate. What I tried to do was a crime and I’m glad I didn’t do it. If it weren’t for Emma I would’ve been able to fix the ship.” Emma leaned forward putting a hand on his shoulder. “It’s okay Jeuki, I’m not mad at you. I know that you never meant any wrong.” Lucy suddenly burst into a fit of laugher. “You hid in a storage cupboard. That’s bloody hilarious.” Leo turned in astonishment watching Lucy snigger. “Cold hearted bitch she nearly died quit your laughing!” Emma narrowed her gaze she slowly got up of the bed. She watched the blonde girl turn as she walked towards her.
Without warning she grabbed the blonde girl’s lab coat collar slamming her in to nearest wall. “Be quite!” Julie turned sharply as Carlos moved forward towards Emma. “Hey easy now Emma she was being an idiot, there’s no need to get violent.” Lucy found herself caught in a strong grip. “Hey get of me!” Emma leaned closer “You think that’s funny?” She narrowed her gaze even more. “I’d like to see you laugh your stupid face of when you’re looking in to the jaws of death.” Lucy struggled she didn’t like the look the woman was giving her. It was unnerving. Emma watched Jeuki stand up. He moved up behind her he slowly put a hand on her shoulder. Jeuki leaned over slightly “Unworthy ooman let her go.” Emma shoved the blonde girl back slowly turning to face him “ Your right Jeuki unworthy.” Leo sniggered looking at Lucy who was rubbing her collar. “You so asked for that.” She grunted aloud. “Shut up!” Emma turned slightly meeting the blonde girls brown gaze. “I pray you never see what I saw. You won’t laugh at all you’ll want to do is cry!”
Carlos breathed in deeply. “Look I feel it’s been a full day and we are very tired.” He smiled slightly at Emma and Jeuki. “How’s about I lead you to your quarters. We’ve got a nice big one ready for the both of you.” Jeuki looked up slig
htly. “Rest would be good.” He tapped his upper right mandible. “Leave our ship alone.” Carlos pulled up his hands. “Of course no one will touch your ship.” He turned slowly. “Please follow me your quarters.” Julia watched the two left the room. She turned looking at Lucy. “I can’t believe you just did that, what are you stupid?” Leo rolled his eyes. “Insensitive is far better word.” Julia turned slowly putting all of Emma samples in to the holes in the medical computer.”
Marcus cleaned his glasses. “Lucy of all the things you could’ve said. Why oh why did you have to say that?” Lucy looked down. “Oh please I saw the funny side in something just thought the woman might have a sense of humour that’s all.” Julia sighed aloud watching as the scans started to come on the screen. “She nearly died I doubt a sense of humour is something she has anymore.” Leo slowly looked through his note pad. “Maybe she’ll perk up later.” Julia carried on typing as more medical states came up. “Well she seems healthy but it’ll take me a while to get through all this. Plus I need to match her last check up to this one. Oh and will someone try and find out about those scars on her back. It’s burning a hole in my brain.” Marcus nodded “We’ll try.”
8
Oran looked at the huge ultra strong glass screen. He watched as huge crested head rose up its massive crest filling part of the room. It opened its four huge mandibles with the inner jaws. The huge toothed tongue flew out. He could see the huge spines that held it up as its huge egg lying abdomen pushed out another egg. He could see the Knopf helpers with their mandible faces and strong bodies moving around the egg-laying chamber. The queen hissed out her orders to her workers who instantly did all her requests. It was such a beautiful sight an animal that could become the greatest living weapon known to man if she could be controlled. Her weaker version the normal alien queen was still bolted down in the room near by. If Urto’s control device worked on her he could then think about using it on this stronger queen. His scientists had told she had the attributes of being bigger and stronger. Whether she was more intelligent remained to be seen. She was getting ever more impressive by the day though. He watched as one of the main doors where opened causing a few of her helpers to go running in to it. It was slammed down hard behind them. Those where Oni Jui’s presents. They were now stuck in a confide room waiting for him and his so-called hunt. Two Knopf’s wouldn’t be missed there were plenty more on the way.
This queen was a faster at laying than her weaker counter part he breathed in two days from now the test would start on the weaker queen. He turned seeing Oni Jui jump down, going inside the metal room. He ignored the hissing and screeching from inside. He could see scientist surrounding the hunting pen as Oni Jui killed his prey. No doubt the asshole would want bigger and better prey soon. Still these were just the nursery helpers for the hybrid queen, not the soldiers. He watched Oni Jui step out of the pen with a ripped two off alien heads. He watched as the normal queen in the other room moved her head to look at him. He noticed this ever since he’d been watching the other queen grow. He ignored her hissing which was made difficult by her mouthpiece. He doubted she knew what was going on. Or that another queen was around it was probably just primal instinct. She was an animal after all. He turned back watching the nest bellow as the hybrid queen turned slightly away from him. looking in another direction to the right of him he grinned again such a beautiful animal much better than he could’ve hoped for.
CHAPTER 7
EVERYTHING I’VE BECOME IS HOW I’LL STAY YOU WON’T SWAY MY INNER CALLING
Location somewhere in the galaxy, in the large quarters on level ten on board the Iron Year science vessel.
Boring white wash walls, why am I finding them so sickening? They just clear back at me all plain and simple. They aren’t crafted or beautiful ether. Our ship is a thing of beauty. I could spend hours just tracing me eyes along the beautiful curves and patterns. Even when the lights go out there’s something to look at something to enjoy, unlike this room. Did I really live in place like this? Did I really enjoy it? I can’t believe I used to buy in to all this cheap manufactured crap. When I think about I must’ve been really ignorant and foolish. I prefer to sleep under the fur sheet of the bedroom on our ship. In my old quarters I had polyester but these sheets are cotton I would’ve killed for these on Callisto but fur is still better. This just shows what human society is all about, pack as in to rooms big or small. Were some of as can’t breath or move and are forced to like it. We might as well be pigeons because this is no better than a coop. A clinical little coop were everyone has to get on and like each other. Then smile like idiots and try to be professional.
Plus this isn’t a big room it might be a high-class room but it’s still small! Jeuki can only just get through the door for one thing. Saying that people in general don’t consider the thought of a six-foot tall alien staying in human quarters she looked at the two double beds, she could fit on ether of them but Jeuki was going to have problems. Because the bed size wasn’t big enough she looked at them sighing aloud. “Great just great.” Jeuki turned slowly looking at Emma. “Are ooman rooms always so small?” Emma looked at one of the welcoming packages which had fruits, biscuits and chocolate in it and a Champaign bottle it also had a letter on top. “No this a large quarter but they do make them bigger.” Jeuki looked up at the roof, which his head was close to “I see.” Jeuki leaned over looking at the four odd packages on the bed. He picked up one up. “What are these?” Emma pulled open the first letter looking at it. “There welcome packages you give them to people who are important guests.” Jeuki picked up a strange card the ooman material had writing on it. He let his gaze wander over it. “Welcome to Iron Year space girl and big alien friend.”
He picked up another one there where at least six of these things. He read another “Welcome home fellow travellers.” He picked up another “Hello armoured clad warrior woman. I have a question. How tight is your armour? Because I’d really like to take it o.” Emma grabbed the card out of his clawed hand tossing it. “You know maybe another one would be better to read.” Jeuki blinked. “Was that an ooman male trying to be rude in a sexual way?” Emma felt herself blush she looked down trying to hide it. “No he was being an idiot.” She pulled up another card. “Hello visitor this is from the labs on level thirty. Don’t let level twenty have all the fun we want meet your big friend. Don’t hold out on us.” She tossed the card over her shoulder picking up another “This from the marines on level fifty…” She threw the card to one side. “Screw that I’m not reading their moronic card full of sexual stupidity.” Jeuki picked up another card. “Hello gorgeous welcome back to humanity, hope your having a great time are you dating the big guy?”
Emma slowly eased the card out of his clawed hand. “Oh just what we need more stupid letters.” Jeuki snarled aloud. “Rude ooman.” He picked up another note. “Welcome and greetings from level ten we love and the big guy!” She breathed in deeply looking at the final note. “Welcome to Iron Year this is from the shopping area on level forty. Me and the girls and guys sent you a teddy and some flowers, come buy something.” She turned seeing the fluffy bear sitting near by. “Oh geeze…why a teddy bear? I would’ve preferred a working longbow.” Jeuki looked around slightly. “Teddy bear?” Emma picked up the fluffy bear handing it to him. “It’s an ooman gift mostly for children but young girls like them. Human children play with them and young girls just cuddle them for personal comfort.” Jeuki looked at the soft object it was strange looking and felt more like the fur they slept under. He brought it up sniffing it. It smelt funny, what a strange thing to give Emma. She didn’t need a fluffy thing to cuddle up to he was all the comfort she needed. He put the toy down looking at all the other items in their wrapping. “What are those?”
Emma pulled one of the packages “Food, but it’s more treat like than good for you. With the exception of the fruit.” She leaned over un clipping her shoulder-mounted gun she slowly placed it on the bed. “Want to try some?” Jeuki cam
e closer kneeling down. “What’s the block stuff.” Emma pulled up a chocolate bar. “This is naughty human food it’s called chocolate.” Jeuki looked the strange food he pulled it up only to have Emma stop him before he put it in his mouth. She leaned forward. “Wrapper you take the wrapper off.” Jeuki looked at her in utter confusion. “Wrapper?” Emma pulled silver wrapping off the bar handing it back to him. “You don’t want to eat the silver wrapper it’s not nice.” Jeuki looked at the bar. “Oh I see you take the silver skin off.” He put the food into his mouth chomping down. It tasted oddly sweet almost sickly sweet but it wasn’t horrible. It was oddly nice. Emma leaned over taking her sandals off. “More?” Jeuki finished the bar he pulled up his clawed hand. “More.” Emma pulled out another two bars giving them to him.
She’d never cared for chunky chocolate anyway her gaze turned to the biscuits, which she started to chew on. They where okay but not quite to her taste she tossed them aside grabbing an apple. Jeuki’s gaze turned to some sort of bottle near by. “What’s that?” Emma pulled up the Champaign bottle. “Human alcohol.” She looked at it. “It’s not as nice as that juice like alcohol your race makes from fruit.” She somehow wanted to forget the first time she’d gotten drunk on that. She had no idea how powerful it was. She’d ended up passing out after two drinks. It was like some ultra powerful cocktail. That to a Yautja was just a very mild alcoholic drink. To her it was like a knock out drink with incredible power. She’d been completely off her face during the first cup. Which Jeuki had found oddly amusing. Because of her insane drunken babbling about how screwed up the universe was. She could barely remember that night abroad the ship only waking up to find that it had taken her almost twenty fours hours to sleep off the alcohol after passing out. And she still had a hangover from hell, which had lasted for a whole day.