by G. K. Scott
Jeuki looked up slowly. “No but she might have been.” Erisoki eased up both hands. “Did you train her to hunt because she became honoured prey?” Jeuki flared his mandibles. “Yes! And I would do it all over again if I had to! She cared more about me than her own race, who have condemned her to death. She is the most honourable ooman alive!” Erisoki put a hand on his chin, in all his years alive he’d never seen anything this strange. He could see in the young hunters eyes that he meant every word. He knew the elder Ioji who had ruled before him would have been angered by this. He was not Ioji though and he believed in firm leadership without punishment like his brother had. Punishment should only be handed out for harsh disrespect. This young warrior had done nothing disrespectful. He had done what his code had said which was when prey becomes honoured it can be trained if the hunter chooses. It was a firm code that had stood for thousands of years. The only complication was that this warrior had wanted the ooman to be his mate.
Jeuki lowered his head as the elder rose. “I know my fate, I know what I’ve done and it dishonours my clan.” Erisoki put a hand on his chin. “I believe the elder before me would agree with you but I don’t.” He folded his arms. “As a warrior I’m sorry for the loss of your ooman female. I hope she dies a death worthy of any hunter.” Erisoki breathed in heavily. “No your wanting to mate with her will be over looked. If honoured prey becomes a great hunter then it’s one of us despite its species. My opinion is final Jeuki I’ve lived to many years to concern myself with little details. The code is what matters to what’s felt of this clan. Our honour codes are what bind as. Not our species.”
8
Fern poked Emma with her gun. “Stay awake!” Emma half opened one eye. “Go…away.” Fern pulled up her gun. “Would you like me to blow a hole in your wound bitch?” Emma sniggered slightly. “By all means…fire away…” Fern watched the woman laugh at her she pulled up her guns hilt. “Don’t you laugh at me you stupid little…!”
“Leave!”
Fern turned watching as Eddy walked in through the door. “Did you not hear my orders?” Fern pulled back slightly. “Did Lexington give you permission to take over?” Eddy growled eyeing her. “Yes he did!” Fern grunted aloud. “So what’s your form of torture?” Eddy pulled off his jacket. “Well I’m going to get my desserts aren’t I Fern!” He pulled up his hand. “I mean she won’t have sex with me so I’m going to get what I want before she dies!” Fern pulled back. “I understand sir.” She slowly stepped back grinning. “Make her scream.” She slammed the door shut locking it. Eddy smiled walking up to Emma he watched as she opened one eye looking at him. “Bastard…” Eddy smiled he slowly pulled up a cloth wiping the blood of her face. He leaned down meeting her gaze. “No …all I ask is one kiss.” Emma found herself laughing again. “Oh please I heard what you said…it’s nice to know that I’m nothing but an object to you to get what you want!” Eddy eased her face around. “You’re wrong.” He smiled brushing his fingers down her cheeks. “I want one kiss. I know where your partner is if you kiss me I’ll tell you.” Emma narrowed her gaze. “You can’t be serious! Why should…I trust you…asshole?” Eddy growled aloud. “I am serious! I’ve never been more serious in my life!” Emma raised an eyebrow. “Why a kiss?”
Eddy grinned. “Because I need to know something...” Emma started laughing again ignoring her pain. “Fine.” Eddy leaned forward he gently met her lips kissing gently. He snapped his eye open gently breaking free. “I knew it!” Emma breathed in gently. “Knew what? Oh please just kill me…or do what ever it is that you’re going to do!” Eddy slammed his hand down on the panel he watched as the chain tension went full loose causing Emma to hit the floor on her side. Emma groaned that hurt! She tried to get up only to be pulled to her knees by Eddy. The marine slowly unlocked her chains, which fell to the floor. Emma blinked in surprise he wasn’t going to harm her? Eddy turned Emma’s face around. “You do love him.” He shook his head. “I just wanted to know and your kiss was how I could be sure.” He grabbed her around the waist pulling her up to her a half standing position. “You should go to him, he’s on the lower level it referred to as level ninety. It’s not on any maps.” He grabbed a syringe of the table injecting it in to her neck quickly. “This will stop the bleeding.” Emma breathed in trying to ignore the pain. “Why…why are you helping me?” Eddy smiled slowly easing out one of the wrist weapons with its locked blades along with its counterpart which he’d hidden in side of his jacket. “The general has lost his mind.”
He passed her the wrist armour watching her slot it on, which caused it to instantly come to life. “I didn’t sigh up here to harm people I sighed up here to help people.” He grunted aloud. “If I’d have known what this post involved I wouldn’t have taken it. I’m a marine not a murderer and I refuse to join in this disgusting charade any longer.” Emma slotted out her wrist blades. “Thank you.” Eddy grinned slightly. “No thank you because of you I’ve learnt something which I didn’t realize and it’s made me see clearer.” He pulled up his gun. “Find him, and be with him Emma. Like you I’m going to disappear as soon as you’ve escaped. I’ll be sure to help Lucy and Marcus on my way out.” He ran a hand through her hair. “Just don’t forget that I would’ve loved you just as much as he does.” He took a step back. “Your armour is in the other room just knock out Fern and take it. She has a weak right side.” He watched as invisibility cloak moved over Emma causing her to disappear. “There’s a veneration shaft in the same room, follow that one down till you get to the main ventilation shaft.” He grinned slightly. “It’s huge you won’t miss it plus they’ll be maintenance workers all over it and be careful of the lifts.” He watched the door bolt move back then open as Emma moved through it. He smirked as he heard a cry of agony from the next room followed by a crash. He slowly blew a kiss. “Go find him Emma.”
8
Lucy looked at the chains which where bolted to the cabinet. “Great the last hours of my life I get chained up and locked in this room.” Marcus sighed aloud looking at her. “Well I get to spend those last miserable hours with you Lucy.” Lucy groaned feeling the pain in her shoulder. “Those two assholes, I can’t believe they did this!” Marcus grunted aloud. “Did what, betrayed us? Or are you more annoyed you have to spend those last hours of your life with me.” Lucy turned slightly. “The betraying part spending the last hours of my life with you isn’t a bad thing.” Marcus sighed looking at his chains. “Since we’ve only got a few hours I want to ask you something?” Lucy pulled on her chains. “Yeah go ahead…I’m not going anywhere.” Marcus sat back tugging on his own chains. “Why are you so damn cruel towards everyone? I mean you seem so damn unhappy with yourself.” Lucy looked at her bleeding shoulder. “Because no one cares about me, I’m worthless I have one use and that’s looking at cells!” She groaned looking at her shoulder. “I mean once I leave these stupid labs at night my dull one women life starts. I don’t even have friends! Christ I envy Emma! At least she found where she belonged, something I can’t seem to find.” She hit head against the cupboard. “All I wanted was something to give my life meaning and I have nothing.”
Marcus looked at her. “My god you do have feelings. Leo always told me you where just an evil ice bitch.” Lucy found herself half laughing hysterically. “Oh that’s funny. I think the true ice bitch is Julia that woman you liked.” Marcus snorted aloud. “I can’t believe I ever liked her. I imagined dating her hell I was an idiot for believing she was my type.” He turned slightly. “You’re not worthless you know your best cell scientist I’ve ever met.” Lucy hung her head down slightly. “Oh please you’re just being nice because were not going to be alive much longer.” Marcus shook his head. “No I’m serious okay I thought you where a bitch but I’ve always admired your work.” Lucy tugged the chains. “I don’t know anything about spaceships I envy you.” Marcus turned slightly hearing the sound of soft crying. He nudged her leg slightly with his. “Hey come on now don’t cry.” He nudged her with hi
s body. “Tell me what is that would give meaning to your life?” Lucy looked up feeling the tears run down her face. “I want to travel the galaxy study different life forms.”
She lowered her head “I want to visit worlds I don’t want to be stuck in this ship I hate this ship, I don’t have money or a spaceship and I can’t pilot one ether.” She growled aloud. “I just wanted to go exploring with someone but I don’t even have friends.” Marcus shook his head. “Well you know something I’d be up for that.” Lucy found herself half laughing through her tears. “Oh please Marcus…” Marcus pulled on his chains. “No I’m serious hell I was wrong about you really wrong. I owe it to you to be a good friend since I ignored you for two years.” He looked up. “Mark my words if we get out of here I’ll happily take a ship and see the world with you.” He grunted aloud. “Believe me when I say this I don’t have any friend’s ether those who I believed where my friends weren’t.” He shook his head. “Yet the one person who I ignored is better than those friends who fooled me.” He pulled on the chains. “I’m a man of my word.” Lucy grinned slightly. “Thank you Marcus for cheering me up.”
CHAPTER 13
THE BURNING HEART AND SOUL OF A WARRIOR
Location somewhere in the galaxy, crawling though the ventilation shafts on board the Iron Year science vessel.
Blood it moves through our veins like a fire through a tunnel. It fills you and gives as the very energy you need to breathe. Yet loosing your life’s blood is a painfully and horrible thought the more you loose the weaker you get. I know Fern’s loosing hers right now the bitch! I’ve still got her bloodstains on my wrist blades. Not that I actuality care or feel guilty for my actions. I know as a human being I should care because I’ve seriously harmed one of my own species. I shoved by wrist blade right in to her blind side and she no doubt lying on the floor bleeding to death. Still she would’ve done worse to me if she’d been given the chance since she’s no better than Lexington. She’s just a murder like he is, and they both try to make out they do what they do because there marines. As if having a gun and a title means your actions are justified. A plasma gun makes harming someone who’s chained up and helpless justified! True warriors don’t harm the weak or helpless and they show respect for their counter parts.
They are not warriors! They will never be warriors! Their bad-blooded prey which is why I don’t care if I have to kill every marine on this ship with the exception of Eddy I can’t believe he helped me, I can’t believe he let me go. He’s probably risked Lexington’s wrath. Lexington I hope he comes looking for me. I’m looking forward to turning his head in to a trophy. I want my necklace back as well! That was mine! Jeuki gave me that he made it with his own hands as a gift! I would sacrifice a thousand life times just see that look in his face when he gave it me. He was so thrilled that I’d even take it from him. I should’ve told him how I felt! I should’ve told him what he meant to me! I should’ve said I love you. Why did I just spend so many months in denial? Why did I reject the truth? Oh that’s right I believed I was out of mind for loving another species, that it was wrong. It is not wrong, love is love the bounders and appearances shouldn’t matter. I mean what was thinking some of human race sleep with the same sex.
People harass them because they think it’s wrong or disgusting. All it is, is prejudice from people who are narrow-minded people who can’t think outside the bottle. This is no different the only differences is species, and you know what I’m going to be with Jeuki! With him is where I belong and with him is how it’s going to stay! Screw what everyone else says! Emma stopped sharply feeling the pain from her wound. She stopped pulling up her left hand tapping the controls so she became visible. She eased her hand around the back of her armour pulling the med kit free. Her gaze wandered she had to stop the bleeding Eddy’s syringe had only stopped half of it but she was still leaving a bloody trail. She slowly put the med kit down next to her pushing the button. She watched as the sides pulled open revealing the long syringe and other items. She eased her hand down pulling the little vile blue glowing liquid free. She poured it on her hands rubbing slightly before putting it across the stomach wound she found her self-wincing painfully.
She’d had this done a few times by Jeuki but had never really done it herself. She bit down breathing sharply the worst of this was not over and she knew it. She closed the bottle putting it back her hand slowly wrapped around the long syringe pulling it free. She pressed it watching the clear liquid fly upwards she swallowed. It was just a syringe! All she had to do was take the pain. She eased it down to her midsection. She found herself closing her eyes as she slammed the needlepoint in. The next moments caused agony as her body went in to a spasm only to be followed by her ear-splitting scream which echoed through the ventilation shaft. She jerked the syringe free trying to keep herself focused despite the relenting pain going through her body. She quickly put the empty syringe away pressing the med kit down to close it. Before slotting it back in to armour. She blinked after the second dose of this drug she hadn’t passed out. After this dose she probably wouldn’t ether. She slowly began to move feeling the pain slowly go numb around her stomach. She just had to keep focused and keep moving. She groaned slowly moving forward watching the shadows move in the low light. They called this a ventilation shaft? It was more like a rabbit hole! She couldn’t wait to meet up with the main ventilation!
8
Samantha pushed the door open. Her gaze moved as she pulled up her gun where was Eddy? He was meant to be guarding this door! She slowly looked down noticing something red on the floor. She moved forward turning up light of the marine quarters. She found herself pulling back in horror the huge central table had been turned over. Her gaze moved only to see that the door to the interrogation room was wide open. The huge chains that had held Emma Wingates in place now lay on the floor. What in the hell had happened! How had that woman gotten free? It was impossible those chains where strong metal the strongest around! She turned hearing a groan. She kicked one of the chairs out of the way seeing a pool of blood soaking the floor. She slowly met Fern’s glazed eyes the woman was lying in a pool of her own blood clutching her side trying to breathe. Samantha pulled back slamming her fist in to the escape alarm. She listened as the echo went off. In three minutes from now every marine on the ship would know there had been a prisoner break out.
Lexington slammed the door open. “What’s is going on!” He stopped slowly seeing the horrible site in front of him. Samantha slammed her fist in to the panel then quickly pressed down on the speaker. “This is level fifty marine headquarters! I need a medic now! It’s an emergency!” Lexington slowly leaned down looking at Fern. The woman coughed her pale face showing how badly wounded she was. “Fern what happened?” Fern coughed again. “Emma…Wingates.” Samantha leaned down. “Sir all the armours gone… she got free.” Lexington found himself roaring in anger he turned kicking a chair in to the wall. “That bitch! How is it even possible she was locked up tight!” Fern coughed again. “Ed…” Lexington turned quickly leaning down looking at the wounded marine. “What Fern, what do you need to say?” Samantha watched as Fern’s head suddenly hit the floor. Her eyes slowly dimming her bloody hand slipped away ravelling two huge slicing wounds each an inch thick made by Emma’s Wrist blades.
Samantha grabbed the fallen woman. “Fern! Fern! No you can’t do this!” She shook the other woman trying to gain a response. Lexington grabbed Samantha’s shoulder pulling her away from the dead woman. “She’s dead! She bled to death!” Samantha watched as the medics burst in around surrounding the dead woman. Lexington pulled up his gun watching as the medics tried desperately to revive the fallen marine. “I’m going to kill her! I’m going to rip out her heart the little bitch!” Samantha eased up her gun. “I can’t believe this! Fern she didn’t stand a chance!” Lexington slowly followed the wall up noticing a bloodstains leading in to the open ventilation shaft. Samantha looked up. “The ventilation.” Lexington watched as the medics stopped a
s they finally lost there already losing battle with the dead marine. Who despite all there technology they couldn’t save. Fern’s severe loss of blood had preventing them from reviving her. Despite the blood and stimulates they’d pumped in to her body. Lexington turned narrowing her gaze. “The bitch probably killed Eddy to! I want every marine available posted at the central ventilation shaft! We are going to find her and kill her!” Samantha turned slowly. “I’m right on it sir! I’ll see that Fern is avenged!” Lexington felt his knuckles crack; the bitch wasn’t going to get away with this!
8
Oran watched the screen come on in his office. Lexington’s face appeared on the screen. “What is it?” Lexington looked up slightly. “Emma Wingates has escaped.” Oran narrowed his gaze. “What!” Lexington pulled back. “She managed to get free somehow it was when I visited your office to discuss the matter of her armour.” Oran slammed his hand down hard on the desk. “Your incompetence is costing me! I need her and I need those codes!” He growled aloud. “Your telling me in the time you tortured her she didn’t tell you anything?” Lexington shook his head. “No sir.” Oran felt his hand form a fist. “You stupid son of a bitch I would have you killed if you weren’t special!” He leaned forward. “You are going to find her, you are going to hunt every deck!” Lexington looked up slightly. “She has that armour on she can disappear with out a trace and that’s not counting her weapons. How am I meant to get around that? The scientist down below must know?” He pulled up his gun. “She’s already killed one of my men in cold blood!”
Oran growled leaning closer to the screen. “Water! The armour acts like a shield bullets bounce of it, get her soaked she looses her advantage.” Lexington turned sharply. “I got you sir.” Oran leaned forward. “Take in to mind general she not killing your people in cold blood. She’s hunting them your nothing but prey in her eyes.” He sighed aloud. “I mean she only going to take the heads of the people who she really doesn’t like. Which mean’s your is probably on that list.” He lit a cigar. “Your enhancements should be more than able to with stand her hunting tactics.” Lexington looked up slightly. “Where do you think she’s heading sir?” Oran turned sharply. “To find Jeuki you idiot!” Lexington sharply turned hearing something behind him. “I have to go sir! Two marines are down!” Oran watched the image vanish he slowly put both feet on the desk. “Oni Jui!” He watched as the young hunter appeared behind him. “There you are, well since you are heading towards the lower level to mock Jeuki, how would you like to go hunting?”