Dark Space 49: Invasion

by G. K. Scott

  Sad how his dreams only brought about suffering none of it can be changed and I feel sorry for all those who had live through something that I lived through on Callisto. I only hope that they get through their nightmares, which will no doubt haunt their dreams for a long time. I just want Oran to become an image that fuels hate in them! At least then they’ll all learn that the dream that he offered them was no more than a disgusting illusion to pull them in and do his biddings. I want to see the assholes faces when he realizes his dreams have been truly shattered! I want to see everything he is crumble in to turmoil when the hunts over! Yes I want strip him down to size. Vengeance is not what’s drives me though, I have no personal vengeance for Callisto. Callisto was the best thing that ever happened to me in my whole life it changed my life and opened my eyes. I want to bring him in so he can join Oni Jui among the dishonoured. I want to see both of them get there end and no that they’ve truly fallen.

  The hunter’s way is not about vengeance it about honour and doing what is truly right. To become a better hunter through acts of honour, to bring in trophies be they alive or dead funny how looking at his crashed escape pod brings out none of the anger in me. He’s just another trophy myself and Jeuki will bring in alive. The elder and the other young bloods have cloaked again as have we. That stupid pod has messed up the floor through it didn’t crash land the space shield slowed it down as it came through. It just hit the ground with a really dull thud and scraped up most of the floor before coming to a slow stop. This will be such an interesting hunt. He can’t see the front controls panels we turned them off, so there’s no light. Only the light of the patterned walls which curl and twist which is really disorientating the first time you see it it had my head really spinning when I first entered this ship in what feels like a whole other lifetime ago now. Emma looked up slightly. She watched as Jeuki moved slowly back from the escape pod keeping silent. She moved back with him she had no idea if Oran had any guns or armour but the truth of the matter was that they didn’t know. It was better not to take any chances on this man. He would no doubt be keeping something up his sleeve.

  Oran opened his eyes sharply looking through the window of his pod. This was smaller than a sleeping chamber; he was stuck in a sitting position in the cramped little thing. Maybe having these things wasn’t such a great idea after all. What the hell had just happened? One minute he been floating in space the next he’d been sucked in to something. He groaned painful all his limps hurt from the crash, he looked at the fogged up window rubbing it. All he could see was red and black patterns above him. He pulled his hand down prying the chunky breathing device free, which was close to his knee. He pulled up the thick collar feeling it clamp to his throat instantly. Having one of these around was very useful even if the escape pod needed work. He grunted aloud he’d kill for a cigar right now he turned kicked the door watching it spring open. He coughed feeling the collar tighten as it adjusted to match he air before going back to normal. He sat up staring at the room around him.

  It was huge, four massive decorative patterned pillars rose up from each corner meeting at central point. Where some kind of pattern twirled in red loops meeting in the middle. He could see two larger pillars at each end, there were also two panels but they looked decorative. He slowly got to his feet, staring the huge room it was a hunter vessel. Just like the one he’d gotten hold off, which had been destroyed along with the Iron Year. The other vessel didn’t look like this though it had been more metallic but had the same patterns. This looked like some sort of relic. Maybe it was a far older predator vessel, he stepped slowly out of the pod. His gaze turned as he swung a hand down grabbing his pulse rifle. He looked at the smoke, which was moving around his feet, he looked up again a wide grin slowly spread across his face. “Nice home you have here Wingates! You might want to redecorate the floor since I wrecked it!” He laughed tensing his fist causing his version of the wrist blades to fly out. “You know hiding isn’t like you!”

  He grunted moving away slowly forward looking at the open door ways their where about five in all. He moved around slightly. “Tell me how old is this ship? I mean the other one wasn’t like this.” He grunted getting no reply. “Jeuki you must know the answer to that question!” He turned again. “What is it with you ugly bastards? Don’t you like to face your enemies!” He turned hearing a clicking his gaze moved as he noticed something glowing and green on the floor. He moved slowly forward seeing a being in the smog. He could see it was tied up. He pulled up the gun only to stop as a familiar face came in to view. The three torn mandibles carried on clicking but the hunter didn’t look up. Oni Jui’s huge body was tied up by the arms Oran narrowed his gaze seeing only stumps where hands had once been. The hunter had been stripped of all his armour apart from his hanging cloth. He could see glowing green blood dripping from the chest. Oran looked at him seeing that the hunter was ignoring him.

  He prodded him with his gun watching him look up sharply. “I excepted you to kill Emma Wingates! Yet here you are! Your nothing but a failure!” Oni Jui moved his head slightly. “Why do you think you’re here? Have you asked yourself that yet?” Oran folded his arms he sneered slightly. “Why am I here Oni Jui tell me?” Oni Jui leaned forward painfully. “To join the dishonoured fool!” Oran rolled his eyes. “You know I can’t believe I ever used you to do my biddings. I mean you are so pathetic!” Oni Jui flared his mandibles. “I killed Emma Wingates! The elder of the clan brought her back to life!” Oran laughed slightly. “Don’t lie by covering up your failure with stories!” Oni Jui pulled back lowering his head again. “Fine have it your way, don’t believe me, and believe that you’re here for battle and that you can overcome both Jeuki and Emma!” He looked up moving his head. “Want to see your destiny! Then go in to the room on the right!” He coughed slightly. “All your answers are in there!”

  Oran growled moving away from him. “Your pathetic you couldn’t even kill one puny young woman!” Oni Jui looked at him. “So are you ooman! You couldn’t even stop your own people from turning against you! ” Oran turned in anger only to stop as Oni Jui’s laugh hit the air. He snarled aloud turning away from him again. He slowly moved toward the room his gaze drifted as he stepped in side, it looked no different to other room except for it’s multiple rising pillars which rose up in the centre of the room. He could see what looked like inner rooms in side each wall he turned slightly did anyone live here? The place seemed devoid of life. His gaze shifted as he moved inside one of the inner rooms, he could see something white inside. He found himself staring in surprise as a sight met his gaze that chilled him to the core. Skulls many different skulls all lined up and all pushed in to place in what looked like a trophy area. None of them where human they all looked alien.

  He backed away slowly, his gaze turned as he saw another trophy room next to it. He moved towards it slowly, only to stop still as a terrible site hit me. A human skull with metal plating complete with its spine and electronic cords which where still pulsing gazed back at him. The metal eye moved to look at him only to go still again. He swallowed Lexington his cyborg project; the brain inside the skull was still alive which meant despite not having a body Lexington could still see him. The skull wasn’t cleaned yet, unlike the others but it really stuck out horribly, no doubt the main attraction of the owner’s trophy wall. A prized item which was being shown off this had to be Emma Wingates trophy wall the other larger one was Jeuki’s. He moved back swinging around no one was in the room. It was still as quite as ever even his inferred sight lens wasn’t picking up anything. He backed away slowly only to stop as the third trophy wall came in to view he found himself moving towards it.

  The horrifying sight of the hybrid queen’s head hit his gaze. It was the only thing on the large trophy wall it’s huge mandibled jaws spread wide in death. He turned sharply. “You killed her! You killed my beautiful experiment!” The next moments caught him by surprise as an agonizing jolt of pain hit his stomach. He howled in pain slamming in to t
he wall. Emma watched as Oran hit the floor due to the force of Jeuki’s backhand across his stomach. She moved her hand up slowly tapping in to her wrist armour causing her cloak to go off. She turned seeing Jeuki do the same, how ironic the asshole had gone to the very room which he’d soon be a part of, only he’d be a living trophy. Oran coughed painfully while looking at both figures in front of him he narrowed his gaze. “Well, well we finally get to meet again how nice. I should’ve killed both of you when I had the chance.” Emma felt her fist tighten causing her wrists blades to fly out. “Frankly I wish I’d killed you in your office.” Oran laughed getting to his knees.

  He grunted aloud. “Well at least we agree on something.” He pulled himself up fully grabbing his gun. “So which one of you wants to play first, or is this a take it in turns thing?” He smiled slightly. “Come on do I have any takers? Or are you both filthy little cowards?” Jeuki flared his mandibles in anger. “You disgusting ooman!” Oran shrugged slightly. “Your mates disgusting Jeuki, your just ugly.” He pulled up his gun. “As a matter of fact the whole of your god damn race is ugly.” He laughed slightly watching Jeuki flare his mandibles again. “I mean the mandibles and razor edged teeth just really don’t make you a man. Despite how long your man hood might be.” He turned sneering at Emma. “I have to ask this, did you choose to date him because no one on Callisto would have you?” He slowly stepped backwards. “I mean you couldn’t make it with an male in the human race so you went for an ugly bastard who might I add you’d need to put a bag over his head while having sex with!”

  Emma sneered slightly. “Oh you’re real amusing, the fact that you killed every living male and female on Callisto who was human doesn’t say a lot about you does it?” Oran leaned forward. “Frankly I would’ve loved it if you’d died with them Wingates, your such a pain the ass! Rebel really just isn’t a good enough word for you is it?” Emma turned sharply. “No it isn’t, but then I guess murder isn’t good enough a way to describe you when I think about it.” She flicked her wrist blades. “You’re a tyrant and a dictator, just like the ones you read up on in old earth logs.” She felt her hand form a fist. “The only difference is you like being god on your ships, instead of having a country.” Oran sniggered slightly. “Oh and let me guess you’re the white knight who’s come to stop me, how righteous of you.” He raised his hand. “So I guess your trying to make up for murder by being a hero to your race.” Emma laughed slightly. “If you’re referring to my murdering of Lexington, personally I think he makes a nice trophy centre piece.”

  She felt her grin widen. “As for the human race seeing me as hero, I don’t care how they see me.” Oran snarled aloud. “You should because if I die people close to me will hunt you down.” Emma flicked her wrist blades. “Your all ready dead, your god like empire is in ruins and your own people don’t like you anymore.” She sneered slightly. “No one will miss you much unless you owed them credits.” Jeuki laughed slightly. “When you finally die, you’ll be no more than a distant memory to your race.” Oran snarled aloud. “Really I see it more in that I’ll just kill the both of you and your friends! Then I’ll always be remembered for coming home in your ship!” He raised his gun slamming down the trigger full force he watched as both Emma and Jeuki leapt in opposite directions as the bullets smashed in to the wall behind them. Causing sparks to fly as they slammed in to the ships plating. He snarled angrily, feeling his shoulder cannon move as he aimed it at Jeuki who was getting up.

  He suddenly felt a horrible spike of pain as Emma’s wrist blades came out of nowhere slicing across his leg. He looked up seeing his plasma bolt fly out only to hit the back wall full force. Emma moved closer only to end up ducking as the pulse rifle fired a string of bullets. She felt the pain as some off the bullets slammed in to her shoulder plating. She looked up only to see Jeuki leap clean over her as Oran’s round ended. His huge fist came down slamming to the man’s chest. She watched as Oran flew backwards-full force slamming in to the floor. Oran groaned in agony, he pulled himself up watching as Jeuki leapt back allowing Emma to get up and run at him. He growled firing the shoulder cannon again watching as it hit one of the pillars close to her, causing the floor to vibrate with the impact. He pulled back as a silver dust moved through the air only to clear quickly. He turned in the smoke filled room only to see that both Emma and Jeuki had vanished out of sight. He turned his gun looking around him.

  He looked at his lower armour plating; a trickle of red blood was dripping from his torn suit underneath. Bitch! He coughed what ever that was that had come of pillar it was nasty. He felt the lower cannon move up as the other one recharged, he wished it was more powerful. Then again any more power and he’d blow a hole in this ship. He turned again still nothing what the hell was going on here! Jeuki looked at Emma who had positioned herself behind on of the pillars. He flared his mandible for a second trying to remain quite, from his position behind the other. Emma looked at Jeuki for a moment they had to get the gun out of the bastard’s hand. She looked around seeing Oran was starting to come closer. There was also the issue with his armours shoulder cannon which seemed to fire one sharp bolt, then recharge while the other fired. If he carried on firing it he’d destroy the trophy room! She sneered meeting Jeuki’s amber gaze, she watched him point at the Oran’s gun.

  She smiled nodding slightly, before turning to see Oran move closer. She slowly eased her spear free, this wasn’t hard they just had to catch him off guard. They couldn’t fire ether of there shoulder cannons here the blast would cause serious damage as well as blow a hole in the ship. She looked up slightly seeing Jeuki ease his cutting disk free. Oran moved his gun again. “Why don’t you come out and play!” He moved his weapon again. “What’s wrong Wingates? Was a more than you’re used to handling!” He moved forward slowly so he was between the first two pillars. He looked up sharply hearing the clinging sound of a weapon. He grinned widely. The next moment caught be surprise as something shot through the air full force, he backed of in panic feeling his shoulder cannon fire hitting what ever it was. The round weapon spun through the air as it was knocked of target. He watched as it slammed in to one of the outer walls, which protected the trophies full force.

  He growled seeing that it was a cutting disc he moved his gun slightly. He took a slow step forward the next moments caused a spasm of pain as blades dug in to his back. He howled hearing his back plating crack as the blades pushed through forcefully. A spear end shot of nowhere slamming in to shoulder cannon causing sparks to fly. He felt the agonizing burn as the devices lower cannon burst in to flames, which slashed across his face. He growled in agony slamming his blades backwards hearing a cry of pain. He felt the blades in his back pull free instantly. He grabbed the still burning shoulder cannon with his good hand yanking it free of his shoulder full force. He watched as the burning device hit the floor its second cannon bursting in to flames.

  He pulled back in panic as one of the cannons exploded in a blast of white flames closely followed by the other. Emma moved back she looked down slightly at the blood ran from her upper leg. She closed her eyes tightly as white light blasted past her.

  Jeuki leapt forward slamming in to Oran who was still covering his face. He watched as the he hit the floor full force skidding across it hitting the wall hard with his shoulder. He moved forward grabbing the fallen man by the throat, he flared his mandibles before throwing him full force across the room. He growled aloud feeling his knuckles crack. Oran felt the force as he slammed in to the floor again he came to a painful stop near the pillars. He raised his head tightening his grip on his weapon all he could feel was pain in his shoulders something was broken he was sure of it. Emma moved painfully to one side ignoring the blood running free from her leg, she turned looking at Oran. The man’s hand was burnt, as was part of his face below the cheek. She sneered watching his gun move again as he pointed it at them. She felt her fingers close around her staff holding it tighter. Jeuki turned yanking his disc out of the wall before turni
ng to face Oran who was slowly rising to his knees. Emma turned sharply hearing the gun click as it loaded another round.

  Emma didn’t even think as she pushed Jeuki full force as the gun rounds went off. She watched as he hit the wall avoiding the round of bullets which smashed in to her armour plating as she fell forward. She found herself screaming in pain as one of them slammed in to her arm directly bellows her shoulder plating. Oran pulled up sharply watching as the Emma fell to her knees in agony. He found his smile widening as he raised the gun so it was aimed at her head. He looked up but not quickly enough as Jeuki threw his cutting disc full force. He could only cry out as it made contact with his upper armour plating. He felt the floor as he hit it full force. The bullets of his rifle flew upwards hitting the ceiling above which caused silver dust to fly through the air. He found himself heaving in pain as his pulse rifle stopped firing. He turned looking at his chest the huge silver disk was embedded deep in the plating. Red blood was leaking out from under it. He pulled the gun up again as Emma came running forward.