Chapter 1: The looking glass
You are human. You are one of many homo sapiens, as you have called yourselves. For so long you have lived unaware of us.
To be human means to be soft, Wispy thin hairs over skin that gives at the barest touch. You are so soft that we call you Pyode Amedha. Soft meat is a novelty compared to the thicker meat normally eaten. We love the way your flesh feels under our hands, the way it feels in our mandibles as we rip into it.
But you are more than just food. To be human means to be prey. Not just any prey but one of our favorites. We take care to treat you decently. There are rules so that you are not over hunted. We enjoy the smell of fear on you, the way you try to escape us. You are so clever too, and quick to adapt. We have to work hard to keep up, stay on our toes, and struggle to stay one step ahead. That is what makes you so great. It's how we made you.
You have always belonged to us, you just never knew. All you know, all that you are is because we interfered. We caused it. We allowed it. We pointed you in the right direction. But we let your governments feed you lies, keeping you comfortable, keeping you soft. It made the hunts all the more entertaining for us.
Now there is a new purpose you can fulfill. You must know us now.
We have taken out your leaders and governments. We have disabled your world's
militaries overnight, before they even noticed. You fight and struggle against us but we came prepared, and we are patient. We will wait for you to wear out and when you do, we will be here to put you in your new place.
We will gather up the criminals and take them to hunting preserves. We will take any human we deem unsuitable as well. Remaining adults will continue their lives as they have been, but not as before. We will be watching now, keeping them in place. It is the younger ones like yourself we have the most interest in.
We will teach you your new purpose. You will learn our language and how to be respectful to us. You will know about "The Path" and honor. We will take care of and provide for you in exchange for what you will do for us. If you are good, we will give you things you would have never achieved without us. We will keep your natural curiosity fulfilled. You will be the cleverest little Pyode amedha that you can be. If you are the best, we will show you the universe and all that it provides.
It will be hard for all in the beginning, for us, for our males, and for you. Our males will be rough and harsh and you will see them as cruel. But just like with your people we will pick out the unfit and cull them. Our males will learn when it is appropriate to be strict, or when to use gentle touches to coax you.
I can assure you it will all work out in the end.
In the end, you will belong to me.
The sun was just peeking out from the horizon when the guards arrived. They entered the old strip mall that was repurposed as a marketplace. The technology in their wire mesh suits made them almost invisible by bending light . The only thing that gave away their arrival was a brief shape against the stirred dust.
A hush fell over the handful of pedestrians that were there. Sellers sunk behind their stands. Store attendants pretended to be busy. A lucky few managed to slip inside buildings to avoid the arrival.
Each guard wore their full armor. The masks had a dome that covered the large flat crowns of their heads. A clean cut muzzle shape covered their mandibles. Inside of the muzzle were controls that were manipulated with their mouths. Over the glass eye covers were mesh coverings. It made them appear even darker under the thick brow of the mask. They hugged tight to the face, highlighting each individual's features. Some were decorated, while others, like Ct'den, preferred the traditional smooth metallic design.
Ct'den walked on while the other guards surveyed the scene. There was a scream as one of the guards charged forward and knocked a man down with a loud thump. The armored yautja tore at the man's pants and removed an illegal weapon from the now ripped open pocket.
Anyone nearby scattered away, kicking up dirt in the process. Ct'den grumbled and turned his cloaking device off. There was no point in keeping it on now.
The guard pulled the man up and shoved him roughly. It was not their place to pass judgment but they could take any action needed to keep the herd in control.
As expected, the human babbled in shock and fled. It was a disgusting display but it was no longer the guard's concern after a report was made.
Ct'den gave an absentminded brush to his shoulder plate and headed to the butchers.
The balding man behind the counter wasn't surprised by the arrival. But when Ct'den lifted his upper mandibles to smell, he picked up on the scent of fear. With an annoyed growl he pointed out the cut he wanted and in no time was back on the street.
Before he could take off his headpiece, a beep sounded from inside of the mask. With his hands full he used his mandibles to work the controls inside of the mask to bring up a screen. Yautja words filtered across it along with the yautja spelling of human names. It was an attendance list from the school, and two of the students had been marked as missing.
The black thick-skinned alien snapped his mask off. The air tubes popped out of place with hisses. Ct'den tore into the bloody meat as he picked up his pace. Soon the store buildings and abandoned black roads turned to rows of brick houses.
Ct'den cut through someone's back yard, knowing it was the fastest way to his target. In the past it would have been scandalous and foolish to be doing such a thing in broad daylight, but now it was the norm.
He came to a halt at his destination, but the blue door on the tan house was ajar. Ct'den's dreadlocks raised in anticipation. Drawn in blood on the door was the mark of one of the local arbitrators.
In yautja society, arbitrators upheld the law. They were responsible for overseeing disputes between clans and keeping peace. In lower levels of the government they were in charge of judging one's honor and character. They executed those that proved to be unworthy. On earth, they watched over males that the females gave a second chance to.
Ct'den crouched down and snapped his mask back on one handed, and used the other to attach the tubes.
With the partial infrared vision they were born with, he could see right behind the door was a cold body. He pushed the door open a bit more but couldn't see any others. He moved in further with practiced quiet steps. When he found a small body on the kitchen floor, his suspicions seemed confirmed.
The guard remained crouched for a moment with his head tilted. This was likely not the work of the arbitrator. Ct'den made uncertain clicks to himself as he stood up.
He removed the name from the list; the full report could wait until later.
Ct'den left, and the further he went the more run down and uncared for the houses appeared.
The one he stopped at had signs of water damage. When he stepped on it, the wood porch creaked with threats to break underneath him. The door was of course, locked, but was no match for a yautja on a mission.
The house had a musky smell to it, likely from the over stained carpet but the space was tidy and well kept. Noises drew him to a room in the back. With head ducked to keep from hitting the ceiling, he crept to it. He crushed the handle with a gauntlet covered hand and yanked the door open.
There was a human scream. With quick reflexes Ct'den caught the thing flinging his way. He looked at the wrist caught in his hand. The more delicate brown hand let go of the tool it was holding, and the crowbar fell to the floor between them.
The African American girl tilted her head looking up, "Ct'den?"
The yuatja clicked his tusks together as an affirmative.
She had a moment to look relieved before she was yanked into keeping up with the guard's strides. She used her free hand to self-consciously smooth out her grey school uniform.
"Thanks for getting me out and all… the lock must have… you know…" she broke off into a nervous laugh.
C'ten kept walking and it didn't seem that he was paying any attention.
She deflated, "Yeah, I don't think they're going to buy that either. I'm screwed."
The yautja gave a small grunt and kept walking.
Loren Ave. Academy was a typical school. It was a one story white bricked building with a fenced off courtyard at its front. The Principal was a skinny middle aged woman by the name of Mary Kurt. She bustled past the two guards and through the double metal and glass doors. The click clacking of Mary's black pumps echoed on the tiled floors as she rounded into the offices.
The sectary looked up from behind the desk with a nervous smile. He made a timid nod to the supervisor's office door.
Mary's lips tightened into a firm line at the sight of the shadowy forms that she could see though the glass. She took a deep breath, and then knocked on the door, firm, three times. When there was no response she let herself in. Head immediately lowered, eyes focusing the floor; this was what they expected from humans.
"Supervisor, Elder Vhk'si, how may I be of service." She dared to let her dark brown eyes wonder to two pairs of monstrous feet. One set were the color of dark chocolate, and the black clawed toes curled into the cadet grey carpeting. The other wore a type of sabaton, metal shoes.
The owner of the bare feet made a dismissive click, one Molly recognized as a signal that it was safe to look up. "Princ'bal-Kurt," addressed a heavy and gravelly voice, "Warrior Kes-de'rit."
Kes-de'rit looked down at the human as she looked up, eyes wondering over his full awu'asa. The chest plate, gauntlets, codpiece, and leg armor all gleamed from a recent polishing. She made a quick glance at his expressionless masked face.
Principal Kurt looked to the older of the two creatures."He will be a new guard?"
"Sei-i." That was all she got out of the 6'10" monstrosity as he walked past her. He paused for a moment to slip on his sandals by the door before going out. The even taller guard followed after.
Molly gulped. By the time she made it to the office door, they were already out in the hallway and she had to sprint to catch up. Walking at a fast pace she had a good view now of their bouncing dreadlocks.
Vhk'si's eight inch rubbery tresses were graying at the roots. They were heavy with carved bronze bands, a testimony to his accomplishments. Kes-de'rit's dreadlocks were only neck length and splayed out. Like everything else about him they glistened from all the care he put into his appearance.
The elder came to a halt at the cafeteria. Like the rest of the school, the walls were a light grey. There was an accent wall painted cobalt with the school's logo in white.
Vhk'si made a sweeping motion with his hand, and that seemed to be all he had to say about the space. He turned and carried on.
The principle bit her lower lip as they turned into one of the rows of class rooms. Vhk'si picked a room in the middle on the left side and invited himself in.
The teacher at the front of the room paused, marker still against the white board. Vhk'si gave a warning huff, and the man was quick to collect himself and assume a submissive position.
The elder then surveyed the rows of fourth grade male students. Each were stiff in their seats and heads lowered. He turned and exchanged words with Kes-de'rt.
Principal Kurt couldn't follow the quick exchange of clicks and growls. Most of the students understood. They had better opportunities here to learn than the older generation.
Done with his explanation, the elder strode out to continue the tour. He took them towards the girl's classrooms.
A small group of older students were waiting in the hall under the supervision of one of the many guards.
As they passed by Vhk'si made a swipe for one of them, only for the redhead to dodge with a cunning smile.
Vhk'si made a playful chuff and gave his approval that she hadn't gotten caught off guard.
Molly had seen Vhk'si interacting with the students many times before. Sometimes he would take over a class or challenge a student that caused trouble. It put her at ease to remember that Vhk'si had never hurt a student before. He could be rough but knew a human's limits.
Kes-de'rit made a noise of disgust and looked away.
They made their way completely back around to the main hall, when the front doors opened.
A yautja guard dragged a student in.
"Not today…" Groaned Principal kurt, her face sinking in dismay.
The dark skinned teen gave a sheepish smile until Vhk'si made a sharp barking sound.
The girl straitened herself up, but kept her head lowered in respect.
"Orianna…" Vhk'si growled in warning, "This needs to stop."
"I don't know what you expect." Orianna's gaze shifted away. She tried to find anything else to look at. After all, there was nothing she could have done when she found herself locked in that morning.
The elder's dreadlocks flared and a few loud steps brought him to loom over the student, "Now."
She gasped and spluttered out, "no no… H'ko, please don't…" She cut her begging off short. She took a deep breath to calm herself, "School is done at the end of the month."
The wall of Yautja remained unmoved.
Orianna looked up in challenge. Her expression turned firm and determined. "Let me handle this."
Vhk'si scoffed in disbelief.
She growled, "I will handle this."
He kneeled to be at her eye level. "When it happens again, I will end this." The crab leg-like appendages on his face that were his tusked mandibles spread wide. A roar bellowed out from the inner mouth.
Orianna stood in place even though her heart beat quickened and leaned away from him.
Vhk'si straitened himself. His mandibles pulling back into their resting position and turned to the quiet observers.
When Principal Kurt snapped out of her stunned silence she snipped, "Orianna, class!"
She sprinted down the hall without a glance back.
A/N: I'm in search of beta readers for this story. If your interested, please contact me for more information.
