by G. K. Scott
Jeuki ran a claw gently down her cheek he leaned forward running his lower mandibles across her face. “Your alive, that’s all that matters.” Emma ran her fingers up his mandibles seeing green blood on one. “You’re hurt.” Jeuki shook his head. “It’s doesn’t matter, it’s just a wound.” He felt her grab his plating trying to pull her self-forward. He turned bringing her slowly forward in to a hug. He ignored the two young bloods behind him, as he heard one of them take of there helmet. He moved his hand slowly down her back while grabbing her armour plating. “You need to rest.” Emma coughed slightly she run her fingers over his armour plating. “I’m fine just help…me put my armour back on.” Jeuki lifted her up slightly feeing her kiss his mandibles softy. “Of cause.” He turned slightly. “I’m so glad they brought you back. I don’t know what I’ve done with out you.” Emma coughed again feeling him slowly push her front plating back on. She leaned up putting her arms around his neck hugging him tightly. She just didn’t want to let go. She ignored the feeling of her back armour as it was locked with her front. Right now she didn’t care. All that mattered was she was here right this second. Her mind was full of things she just didn’t want to think about things that made no sense at all and didn’t seem real. Being in Jeuki’s arms was real and she needed the feel off it right now.
8
Eddy turned in his chair watching as the Bishop model android walked in to the room one of the best android models in his view as well as the most trustworthy. Modelled after the late Charles Bishop Wayland who’d died during an expedition to Bovuetoya Island in the Antarctica back on earth during the twentieth century he watched as the android turned to look at him. “Your orders sir?” Eddy eased up his note pad. “I need you to take this information from my notepad and copy it in to an encrypted files which no personnel other you or myself can access.” He watched as android pulled the note pad free. “Yes sir.” Eddy eased up his hand. “Leave one file open though, the twentieth file so it can run through out the ship on my command.” Bishop turned slightly. “May I ask why these files are only to be encrypted by myself sir?” Eddy smiled slightly. “Because they concern the people who made you.” He watched, as the android nodded in understand meant he leaned back in the chair. “You are truly the best model in my opinion Bishop. You’re the finest of the androids ever built.”
He grinned slightly. “The last Ash model I worked with was difficult, annoying and had an attitude problem. Compared to him your model is a work of art.” The Bishop model turned slightly. “I prefer the term best person to model general sir. I may be synthetic but I still value my existence like you do.” Eddy looked up slightly watching as the android turned a panel and began to insert his notepad. Eddy looked up slightly. “My apologises as a general I should no better than to use that term logy. You’re as much a member of this ship as any other.” The Bishop android turned slightly. “An easy mistake to make sir. I’m more sorry you had to work with an old A2 Ash. I thought they’d gone out of survive because they tend to be twitchy.” He began to type in his fast mode ignoring some of the crew who where looking. “I heard in one case an A2 models commands conflicted with its programming so badly that it tried to kill it’s crew.” Eddy sighed aloud. “I heard about that incident as well which is why I had even less fun working with him. His private owner really liked him though and just wanted refits to keep him going.”
The Bishop android turned his head slightly. “Some of as do tend to have a strange appeal sir.” Eddy laughed slightly. “I’d have to agree.” He turned watching as sergeant Sierra turned slightly. “Sir we are starting to lose hold of the tunnel!” Eddy looked up sharply. “You will hold that tunnel for as long as you can! You will not retreat until there is no other option!” He growled aloud. “I will give every last round if it means saving one more life on board the Iron Year.” He watched the young man nod before turning barking orders in to the panel. He watched as a female marine looked up from her computer screen, which had information coming up on it. “Sir we have requests from the ships outside to come in! There desperate!” Eddy turned in the chair. “Let in all civilian, scientist and cargo ships in first! Tell all drop ships and other marine vessels who can to protect them!” She slowly typed in to the computer before looking up. “General sir I have a marine drop ship called the Ultra Sera trying to get in contact with you. They say they know you personally…should I put them through?”
He turned again meeting her gaze. “I do know them put them through.” He listened as Marcus’s voice came through. “You know what when we meet I need to thank you for saving as.” Eddy leaned back in his chair. “Ah so you both made it, I assume Lucy is with you.” He listened as Lucy’s voice hit the air. “Yeah I’m good here Eddy.” Eddy leaned back in his chair. “Has Emma and Jeuki’s ship left yet?” Marcus voice hit the air again. “No but through this magnificent ship I’m getting info that other ships have seen the hunters in dock nine fighting some sort of Knopf queen.” He watched as the sergeant Sierra turned sharply “Knopf queen! There’s a queen on board!” Eddy looked up sharply. “Quite Sierra!” He watched as the sergeant went silent. “Sorry carry on.” He listened as Lucy’s voice hit the air. “They were winning Eddy, believe it or not.” Eddy laughed slightly ignoring everyone’s confused looks. “Damn Emma Wingates, she never ceases to amaze.” He put up both hands. “What of Oran’s vessel?” Marcus’s voice hit the air. “It’s not out yet…should we intercept it if it tries to come aboard?” Eddy shook his head. “No I can handle that, I just need you to fly next to Emma and Jeuki’s ship when it’s clear of Iron Year. Your ship has the ability to dock with it, it was part of the refitting.” Lucy’s voice hit the air. “Well you just update as when they get out.” Eddy smiled slightly. “Will do.”
CHAPTER 24
THE VIOLENT FLAMES DIE WHEN THE WINDS OF CHANGE BLOW THROUGH THEM
Location somewhere in the galaxy, standing in dock nine on the Iron Year science vessel.
I died it almost doesn’t seem real. It feels like a memory that I didn’t quite live but I was standing there. Watching some strange things happen that I really can’t comprehend. Even if I wanted to I couldn’t find the words there just not there and there even harder to speak. I mean how to thing or even speak about something that just seems so unreal, almost dreamlike? It could have been a dream…I say dream but that ugly looking Yautja felt more like some nightmare. A nightmare I don’t feel ready to relive in my mind. What in the hell was that anyway? I mean it was just horrible all I could smell was rotting fresh and burning bone was it came closer to me. The smell made me sick to stomach it was that rancid. Hell I’ve seen people with there inside hanging out and there bodies cut in two yet it didn’t get to me like that being did. That being chilled my insides in every possible way. The worst thing about all this is I saw my father, which doesn’t seem possible because he’s dead! There two many questions going through my head right now.
There are also not enough answers, which only makes me feel even more insecure about what’s just happened. Geeze…I could even smell the rusty iron smell on my dad’s clothes. I can always remember that smell so clearly, I mean he used to come home from work and I used give him a strong tea and watch him put his work jacket on the chair. I got used to that jackets smell over the years, I mean no matter how much it was washed the smell of gritty iron never really came out. I remember that when he passed away that jacket was left on his chair, which nether Ian or me sat in. It’s almost like a monument to his memory nether of as want to forget him as long as we live. He was there when no one else was. He was there to scoop as up as little kids and play catch with as in the Eros desert. He was the one who made all the problems go away. He always stuck up for as despite the flack he got from others about our childish misbehaviour. I’ll be honest that was more my misbehaving than Ian’s.
He didn’t carry any spite for our mother despite her walking out which he never really talked about. No he was just happy to have as and be a good father. H
e only ever wanted what was best for as and he always pushed our interests. I mean Ian he taught him the finer points of mining the raw metals and drilling. With me he made sure that there was enough money that I could buy books and study as well as go to the science institute. Makes me remember how much I miss him now thinking about all this. I’d almost forgotten because I was so wrapped in up in turmoil over these months about everything else that I ether couldn’t face or was afraid to. Makes me realize that I can never forget where I came from and whom I’ve met along the way. You meet so many people in your life that sometimes you just forget the importance of your roots and where you came from. It’s something I’m not going to forget again or let it vanish in my mind. I had so many good memories on Eros.
Memories I wouldn’t trade for the world, just like the time I’ve been with Jeuki. Those memories are so important to me, I wish dad had lived to meet him I guess if what he was saying in my vision was true they would’ve gotten real well. Now here I stand back from the dead just happy to back more happy than I’ve ever been. I wish I’d seen Jeuki smash in Oni Jui’s face I would’ve like that, still I’m just glad he won the battle and is alive and well. I wanted to help him smash that son of bitches face in. Still from what I’ve just been told there’s a punishment waiting for Oni Jui, which is horrible beyond words. A traitor’s punishment only kept for bad-blooded hunters. I can see the fear in his eyes he’s a mess. He has two bleeding stumps where his hands where. He has lost a lower mandible and has broken armour in which green blood is running through the chest plate. I feel sorry for one of the young bloods, the poor guy took a beating and one of his lower mandibles is badly broken.
He’s taking it well though despite that he having trouble speaking in his own races language. I admire that he came to help Jeuki at the cost of breaking something. I know he’s the one who called me puny, I got the impression he didn’t like me. Not that I blame him I guess his race must find excepting Jeuki’s relationship with me hard. I’m just glad my lungs have stopped aching it’s felt hard to breath in I kept having to breath in through my oxygen mask. Emma turned slightly as Jeuki clamped her shoulder cannon back in to place he slowly fixed one of cords to her sight lens. Emma looked up at him. “Thank you.” Jeuki tapped his upper right mandible. “You feel any better?” Emma moved her hand up running it across his lower mandibles. “I’m fine I just need help to stand.” Jeuki looked down slightly. “Is the pain in your chest gone?” Emma nodded slowly. “I just ache, I’ll be fine.” Jeuki opened his mandibles slightly in concern. “Will you be alight to pilot the ship?” Emma patted his chest plate. “Jeuki I’m fine, just help me up.”
Jeuki slowly stood up taking hold of Emma’s waist and pulling her gently to her feet. “If you feel light-headed just say something. I don’t want you to pass out.” Emma grabbed his plating pulling him down slightly; she gently kissed on his mandibles causing him to go quite. “Stop worrying about me Jeuki. I’m here and I’m going to be fine.” Jeuki nodded calmly in understand meant he pulled up slightly watching as Idosoi winced in agony as rubbed some of blue liquid on his broken mandible. The young blood leaned down, taking one of the other tools from Erisoki med kit. He felt sorry for these two they didn’t have the advanced med kits that both Emma and himself and Erisoki had. They only had the lesser version, which came of the back but opened sideways and was more crude and lacking in painkillers. He watched as the young blood pulled out some liquid bandage ripping it slightly. He sighed as the younger hunter fiddled with it trying to wrap it around his broken mandible with out success.
He had the same problem when he’d been hit the face by the power surge. He moved closer watching him look up trying not to show his pain. He patted his shoulder slightly. “Let my mate do it for you, because her hands are small she can wrap it very easily.” Idosoi grunted in annoyance. “No offence but I don’t need her help.” Jeuki leaned forward narrowing his gaze. “Okay how’s about we just let you not tie it right. Causing your mandible not to heal properly then you’ll find you can’t speak properly for the rest of your life.” He opened his mandibles slightly. “Imagine that being mocked for your speech just because you didn’t let my mate tie it.” Idosoi growled aloud. “Fine! I get the message.” Jeuki turned seeing that Emma was looking at Oni Jui who was still kneeling in total submission in front of Erisoki. He eased up his clawed hand. “Emma could you tie the bandage for this young blood he’s having difficulty?” Emma turned slightly ignoring Oni Jui’s sudden howls of agony as blue liquid was put on his wounds by the other young blood.
She looked around seeing the other young blood look up at her. “One second I just need to do something first.” Erisoki turned watching as the female ooman stood still in front of Oni Jui. He moved his gaze slightly what was she doing? She couldn’t kill him by the law of the Tosuji clan it was forbidden. As he was waiting for his punishment, he though Jeuki had told her that. Emma watched as the young blood moved back slightly. She could see both were watching her intensely she watched Oni Jui’s gaze met her own he flared his mandibles in disgust. She pulled back as the young blood smacked him with his staff side hard causing him to lower his head instantly. Emma narrowed her gaze in anger. She felt her wrist blades fly out as she clenched her fist. “I can’t wait to see the look on your face when they punish you Oni Jui! I want to see the look of fear when you see your death staring you in the face.” Oni Jui snarled raising his eyes slightly. “Disgusting ooman female.” Emma leaned closer. “You call me disgusting yet you don’t even kill your prey with honour.”
She smiled evilly. “Doesn’t it just get to you that a human has more honour than you do?” She laughed slightly enjoying Oni Jui’s anger as he flared what was left of his mandibles. “Your own prey out classes you…that must get to you mustn’t it you filthy coward.” Oni Jui looked slightly. “You’ll never be a real hunter just an ooman wearing Yautja armour!” Emma leaned closer. “You don’t even deserve your armour, I pity the hunter who ever gave you the right to wear such armour.” She narrowed her gaze. “I mean you’re always going to be scum. You know what the best thing is about you being scum? You get to meet your end knowing that a human who’s hunter got to see it!” Oni Jui snarled aloud. “Filthy little ooman!” Emma leaned forward grabbing his helmet from its clamp. She watched him roar only to be smacked harder by the young bloods staff. “I might be a filthy ooman to you but I’m the one who’s going to keep your helmet as a trophy item! Since I’m the one who put blade marks in it.”
Oni Jui flared his mandibles in anger. “You didn’t kill me ooman, you don’t have the right!” Emma eyed him before slamming the helmet across his face causing him to howl in pain. “I have every right! You’re a disgusting unworthy bastard who killed me! I have every right to take away anything I want from you since your dishonoured!” She snarled smacking him again full force with the heavy helmet. “I’m so glad my mate was the one to bring to your knees! Believe me I wouldn’t have been so merciful. I would’ve killed you outright since you worked with one of my own kind to make a hybrid hard meat queen! My species my not approve of me but I hate that they’ve had to suffer on this ship because of what you and Oran started!” She turned away watching Oni Jui shake his head painfully. “Still I’m more hunter than you’ll ever be, despite how I feel personally your clan has laws and I have to follow them.” She turned eyeing him. “I’ll follow them even if means I don’t get to kill you, despite that I think you should die.” Oni Jui snarled in anger. He pulled back as he was hit full force with the staff.
Jeuki watched as Emma clamped the helmet to her side. “Okay I’ll tie that bandage for you now.” Jeuki eyed Oni Jui’s helmet hanging off her armour. “Trophy?” Emma watched as the young blood leaned down so she could tie his bandage. “The gash marks over the left eye where made by me, I assume that makes it mine.” Jeuki nodded slightly ignoring Idosoi’s yelp of pain as Emma tied the bandage tight. “All his armour will be stripped anyway as soon as we get out of this place. So
you can take what ever you want, I want his shoulder cannon personally.” Erisoki breathed in deeply clamping his med kit back in to place. “We need to leave now!” He watched as Adarmi dragged Oni Jui to his feet. Jeuki watched as Idosoi picked up the huge queen trophy. “Ready here.” Jeuki looked at Emma. “Were ready.” He turned looking at their huge ship, which was still in its place along a long stretch of docking bridge. “We are going to out of here as fast as possible!” Erisoki watched Jeuki and his mate run forward he ran after them watching the others follow.
8
Oran eyed the door in front of him, which was a jar. He growled aloud kicking it open he was sick of locked doors and dimming lights. His gaze turned as he gazed at the docks central control room. The darkness of the room was irritating who the hell had turned off the lights anyway? He moved forward to the panel typing slowly. His gaze turned as he heard a scratching sound behind him, he growled watching as the lights came back on. He turned swinging his shoulder cannon around as a set of black four mandibled jaws came at him. The next moments caused them to be blown apart as the first cannon fired followed by the second, which hit the Knopf’s head. He watched as it hit the floor its acid blood slowly burning through the floor. His gaze turned as he looked at the bloody footprints, which had been made by him. He followed the red blood slowly to what looked like a torn apart body. He moved closer, it was hard to tell who it was the face had been ripped clean off ravelling a screaming skull.