Chapter 5

Oomans struggled to cope with sudden changes.

It was a common fact and known though out all the Yautja Clans, from Elders to unblooded pups, but still, I'ka and He'ry were shocked at just how this sudden change had shaken Shara, no matter what she tried, nothing helped Shara regain her senses, she could hardly make it through one hall of the ship without using the wall to find her way.

She wasn't able to go outside as she lost all sense of direction without aid, her hearing faded in and out depending on where one stood when speaking to her and that frustrated Shara as she had to constantly face the one talking to her and while usually no one moved, during the numerous attacks from Xenomorphs Shara often became deaf and unable to react.

She had become so jumpy that every slight movement or contact to her made her react in fear.

Mar'us often found her struggling to focus on meditating when he or Karn came into the room they were sharing, they had quickly fallen into the routine of knocking on the wall and door frame before entering to give Shara fair warning they were coming.

It didn't always help, but it was better than nothing.

Currently, Shara was sat on her bed, her armour missing while Mark tended her scar lightly.

"There has to be a way to get back my normal senses." Shara said wringing her hands. "I can't even go outside like this!" she added in frustration.

"We'll work something out Shara, we always do." Mark tried to assure lightly putting his hands on her shoulders, "Now settle down and relax, you can't meditate when you are so highly strung."

Shara made a sound of defeat but sat down and tried, tried to relax into meditation… deep breaths… let all thoughts leave her mind…focus on the flickering candle…

Something dropped down the hall and made a loud Clank and made Shara jump in fright and the wall was suddenly made home to a new dent as Shara slammed her fist in to it. "Damn it all!"

Mark sighed. "This is getting us nowhere… maybe we should try something else."

"Like what?" Shara asked. "I can't leave the ship like this, I can't even see!"

"You see how THEY see." Mark said. "If they can live like this you can learn how, even if it is for a short time." He added.

"How?" Shara asked.

"The Outcast." Mark said.

"What are you suggesting?" Karn asked.

"Learn from her, you spared her life and thus she owes you one small favour." Mark stated.

"Can it be done?" Karn asked.

Mark nodded. "When we were young, Your father and I saw things VERY differently, he didn't believe my ways were right, using knifes, old chants, Herbs and Native ways to fight and plan where as he used the latest equipment, guns and everything that came in bottles and pills." he said, "We tolerated each other until one mission got us both trapped in the middle of nowhere, nothing but our uniforms, two ration packs and one colt 45. Took us three days to get back to the base and during that time, your father learned more about the Native ways of my people then he thought was possible. He learned from me and over time I also learned from him."

"That's why you were named my God Father, I know." Shara said shoulders shaking and her breath shallow.

"If Carlos could stand my guts for a few days, you can stand the Outcast's ways to get your senses back." Mark said putting a hand on her shoulder. "I am not asking you to make her a friend, I am asking you to consider that until you have your normal senses or can learn to use these new ones… She is the only one who could offer you any help."

Shara was quiet and then sighed. "How am I going to find her?"

"I may be able to help you with that." Guan-thwei said as he came down the hall, "Mar'us and Karn will come with us," he added.

Shara nodded, wincing as she realised she had in fact broken her hand when she punched the wall. "Ow…"

"I thought punching walls was my job." Karn clicked.

Shara couldn't help but smile at that.

"Do you think we will get our marks?" He'ry asked while sharpening his weapons and cleaning them. "I mean I know we weren't meant to be here with the Elites but this s our trail."

"We can't just up and demand to go hunting He'ry," I'ka said. "You've heard the stories about what happened on Earth right?"

"Yes I have and I know it's wrong of us to be here, but… if we don't get our marks what will happen? We can't just go off on another trial, the time will have lapsed." He said.

"We'll get our marks He'ry, just…. Might not be the way others get them." I'ka said. "As long as we make the kill, it counts as our trail, we can get out marks when time allows." She reminded.

"Get your weapons ready and load up." Bull Dog stated as he passed the door. "We're going hunting." He added.

"Yes Sir." Both unblooded stated.

Shara's head was spinning as Karn and Mar'us lead her through the trees and tall foliage, the moving shapes and line were hard to follow and every smell was over powering to her.

"She's here." Guan-thwei stated and Shara looked up, panting heavily and shaking as she searched around the area, there signs of the Outcast here, but no sign of her just yet.

"We will leave you to talk, but if you need us, call on us." He stated, before shooing Mar'us and Karn away, leaving Shara by a tree.

She heard them stop a few feet away and cloak, likely they were going to stay in the tree tops.

"Outcast…"

Silence for a few minutes, just the odd rustle of trees until a light hiss to her left somewhere drew her attention.

The hiss came again this time in front of her and Shara looked up to see the outline of the Outcast sat before her, tail low at her left side. /"You have… been injured?"\ She asked.

"No… I cannot focus on my senses… they have changed…" Shara explained.

Outcast's head cocked to the side slightly. /"Changed?"\ She asked.

"I see how you see… I don't know how… how to use them…" Shara stated.

The Outcast seemed unsure then Shara felt something brush against her mind and for a second she saw herself in outline.

/"You have… Hive Vision… How…?"\

"A dormant side of me has been awakened… I don't know how… but I can't work like this… I have never been shown or taught how…" Shara explained shaking again.

The Outcast gave a light click and hiss. /"You need… teaching…?"\

"Or some way to reverse what has been done..."

The Outcast began to move left and right, as if thinking. /"How long… you have seen… this way?"\

"A few days…"

/"No nest to… change?"\ She asked.

"What?" Shara asked.

/"When we change… grow to new form first thing to change is senses… make us… slower, venerable… We go into hive to grow… stay in nests that make us become stronger… Nest make us grow or… keep us same, is all wish of Hive mother… then all is well again…"\ The Outcast explained. /"Can make changes go away… or increase…"\

"I… will become more like you?" Shara asked.

/Only if you chose it, my soft blood.\ Shara felt a shiver up her back as Outcast looked around and hissed lashing her tail.

The shiver was suddenly shoved away as Outcast gave a loud and ear slipping screech, making Shara's visions fade and then focus instantly on Outcast.

"What… did you do?" She asked.

/"Hive works as family… he frighten you… you will end Queen… I need you not scared."\ The Outcast stated. /"I will help you change senses back."\

"How?" Shara asked.

/"I make you Nest… you rest in Nest and change… be safe from Queen's thoughts and safe from him…"\ She stated. /"Need small place to make nest…"\ she added looking around the area and then seemed to jump up into the trees and start to make a resign structure.

"How long… will it take…?" Shara asked.

/"You chose how and what changes… you chose how long."\ the Outcast said.

Shara nodded and watched as more lines and scents slowly flooded over her, some that helped her calm down and others made her feel slightly anxious.

The nest was cocoon like in shape, but had enough room inside it to be comfortable.

/"I will stay and watch over you."\ The Outcast stated as Shara slowly, reluctantly climbed into the nest. /"Will leave only if your friends come to you."\

"Thank you…" Shara said lightly as the Cocoon was sealed, save a small breathing hole at the top.

Mar'us looked to Guan-thwei and then back to where Shara was now inside the cocoon and the Xenomorph settled beside the cocoon, as if guarding it, every slight sound was inspected and judged, every movement in the cocoon was watched while the Xenomorph behaved in ways Mar'us had never seen before.

This was going to be a story to tell when they got back.

"You're not getting help with this one." Striker said as he and Vi'cor stood by the entrance to the cave they had found with some native creature marks around it. I'ka and He'ry with them along with Bhu'ja, Dart, Tracker and Bull Dog.

They had found signs of the Xenomorphs impregnating the native life and if He'ry and I'ka weren't marked soon, they would likely fail their trail.

"So just hunt and kill?" I'ka asked wanting to be sure they weren't going to be getting in over their heads. "Mark ourselves and get back to the ship with proof we killed them?"

"Hunt and kill." Striker nodded. "We are here only to keep Kujhade away." He added.

I'ka shuddered, the eldest of her brothers had made attempts on Shara AND on her and He'ry since his arrival.

"Ok… so we just pretend you aren't here." He'ry said.

"Basically." Vi'cor said as they cloaked.

He'ry looked at I'ka and politely gestured for her to go first, "Ladies first."

"Where did you become a gentleman?" she asked as she knelt and checked the round for tracks.

"Since your father would kill me if I didn't show a lady proper respect." He'ry reminded.

"You have a point." I'ka said as they headed off to find their target.

She could sense the Outcast near her, moving now and then as if checking on any unusually sounds, she could also sense her friends close by, all watching over her as she rested in this odd Cocoon.

She was in some form of sleep… or was she awake….? She wasn't sure if she was honest with herself, but at least she could feel and… see the changes in her body, her eyes were starting to show colour, dimension and shapes again…

It seemed the Cocoon had some form of mind of its own, sensing what was desired and slowly changing what it could.

The biggest change was that her senses were also changing to allow the dormant genes she had unwittingly gained from the Xenomorph Queen on Earth to mix with her already formed Human/Yautja Genes.

She needed them if she was to keep ahead of this new Queen, she knew that now and maybe she could make other uses of them… if not she would at least be able to cope with it all.

Thoughts were slow to come to her as she relaxed, resting for the first time in at least a week, allowing herself to think over what had happened.

The Queen would be ready for any attack that came to her now… And she would have a plan to capture Shara… She'd threatened her with dreams and now she was here, hunting her like she had her mother and the sisters that had almost ruled Earth.

While she lingered in this state Shara recalled the years that had passed since they had become members of the Clan and how she and her friends had become able hunters and mates to those who had accepted them to be part of their family.

She remembered watching I'ka grow up from a curious and adventurous Pup into the able warrior and huntress she was now…

Shara tensed suddenly.

I'ka had been part of her dreams… and she had been an adult…

That mean that…

Outcast looked up in shock as the Cocoon started to shake and crack lightly, carefully she backed away and watched for a few moments.

I'ka and He'ry paused as they heard a hissing behind and in front of them, instantly the two were back to back and scanning for anything that wasn't friendly.

"You got 'em?" He'ry asked.

"No, you?" I'ka asked.

"Nothing…" He'ry said. "Not good… where are they?" he growled, making sure that he didn't leave I'ka back uncovered.

"Duck!" I'ka yelled a huge black form lunged at them from the right, instinctively they both lashed out I'ka striking right and He'ry left, He'ry's combi stick found home and the Xeno-bear… lion… where ever it was gave a blood chilling scream as it dropped to the ground, growling for a second or two before it stilled.

I'ka felt He'ry shove her aside as a second beast lunged, this one aiming for her as the two rolled out of the way and stood, I'ka's hand tightening on her combi stick as she struck out and an the beast through the throat, wincing at her weapon snapped and she had to throw herself to the side to avoid being crushed by the beast as it fell.

"He'ry?!"

"Here!" he answered, as the two scanned the area again. "You alright?"

"Yea… just a little… shocked." I'ka said. "It broke my combi stick."

"As your mother would say, better the weapon then your bones." He'ry said. "You feel like we are being watched?" he asked quietly. "By more than just the elites?"

"Yea… I am not about to take my mask off." She stated.

"My Scans aren't picking anything up…" He'ry said as they looked around.

I'ka nodded, she dared not take off her mask but she also didn't to call out to her brothers. Until she heard a blood chilling roar from Vi'cor echoed around them.

"Vi'cor!"

Shara had all but ripped the cocoon open and hit the ground running, she remembered calling back a thanks to the Outcast as she raced off and knew full well Guan-thwei Mar'us and Karn were following her.

She had to find I'ka and whatever force it was that had shown her where to go she would thank later.

"How could I be so STUPID!" she demanded," I should have known this was her plan."

"What is it Shara?" Guan-thwei asked close behind her.

"The Queen wanted me away from I'ka so she could target her! All this was just a ways to buy her time." Shara stated.

"I can't get through to the others!" Karn called as he jumped a fallen log.

"Canyon ahead!" Mar'us yelled and wisely Karn and Guan-thwei slowed to make the jump, but Shara speed up, using a crumbling ledge as an extended run way before making the jump. Hitting the ground running on the other side.

"That's new." Guan-thwei stated to himself.

"I'ka?!" Shara yelled out. "I'ka answer me!"

"Shara! Over here!" Bull Dog bellowed over the echoing shots around him, cursing as he blasted the Xenomorphs.

"Where's I'ka?!"

"They got her and He'ry!" Striker roared. "By the ridge! North!" he added as Shara threw herself over Striker's back, using her knife to ut the head off a Xenomorph and gut another as she ran past it, heading for I'ka and He'ry as the two young bloods struggled to fight and stay stable on the ridge edge.

"Behind you!" She yelled.

I'ka and He'ry roared out as they were suddenly grabbed by something and lifted up away from Shara's reach by a giant winged Xenomorph.

"Shara what are you doing?!" Bull Dog roared as Shara grabbed the flying Xeno's tail and clung to it as it took off.

"Get your claws off them!" Shara snarled, digging her knife into the tail of the beast as she climbed up it, forcing the beast to trash in the air and try to dislodge her.

"The hive!" He'ry yelled in warning as they were carried onwards, using his own knife to try and cut the beast claws, only to find it broke on contact with it's hard skin. "Not good."

Shara growled and grabbed the Xeno's wing tip when she saw the chance. "Hang on!" She yelled as they began to rapidly fall from the sky.

A loud roar echoed around her and Shara screamed in pain as something burned into her back, ripping the armour free and cutting into her already scared flesh, forcing her to let go of the Xenomorph opened its wings fully and began to rise again.

"Shara!"

"I'ka!" He'ry yelled as he was suddenly dropped as well landing heavily on top of Shara as the two crashed through trees and caused a small crater in the ground.

"No!" Shara hissed forcing herself to try and stand only to drop to her knees again, her back wet with blood and her body sore and broken somewhere, she ignored it and tried to get up again only to fall again. "No… God DAMN IT!"

"Shara!?" Bhu'ja called as the others arrived, Dha-ta dropped to his knees beside her with Ben, trying to tend her injuries and stop her moving too much.

"She got her… She's got I'ka…" Shara said still trying to get up and go after the blooded female.

"We'll get her back, Shara…" Striker growled, holding Shara so she couldn't leave. "We'll get her back…"

"What do we do, if we just storm the place they'll kill I'ka." He'ry asked, clearly worried for his fellow Blooded.

"We have to get you healed up." Dha-ta said, "We will come back as soon as you are ready to fight." He added as a very reluctant Shara was led away with Striker.

I'ka came too and felt some relief when she realized her mask was still on her face, even if she was restrained to a wall somewhere.

She began recording she knew doing that would let the others in the ship know she was still alive.

She just had to wait for the right moment, her parents and brother had always told her that…

Just stay calm and wait…

The Outcast watched silently as Shara staggered out of the ship, bandages around her back, hidden slightly by the armour she was now wearing along with many weapons.

She followed Shara slowly, not wanting to anger her but not wanting to miss the chance to see the Fake Queen that had destroyed her Hive die.

As Shara reached the hive, she paused and looked back, right at the Outcast and then, as if she had done it thousands of times before, Shara gave a very… Xeno like hiss.

/"Not here to fight you…"\ Outcast said, lowering her tail to the ground and practically laying down to show her submission.

"How did you get out of the Hive?" She asked.

/"Tunnel… this way."\ the Outcast stated leading Shara to a covered opening. /"Is not wide… but take you into Hive…"\

"Are you coming in?" She asked. "If you are stay out of my way, if not stay out of sight."

/"You… are alone?"\ The Outcast asked, was Shara truly planning to take on the Queen alone?

"It's me the Queen wants and she is going to get me, just not the way she wants." Shara said. "Make your choice." She added already heading into the tunnel.

The Outcast watched her go then looked at the hive.

"What do you mean she's gone?!" Striker demanded down the comms as he and Bull Dog tried to ram the door open to get out of the ship.

~"I mean she's gone! She's not on the ship!"~ Dha-ta said. ~"She took all her weapons and we are missing two Detonators."~

"What is she thinking?!" Striker growled.

"Has anyone seen Mar'us and Karn?" Bhu'ja asked suddenly.

"Ummm… they went on Patrol when we got back…" He'ry said from down the hall as he helped Vi'cor to his room to rest from his injuries.

"Paya damn it all…" Striker growled.

"What is she thinking?" Karn asked.

"Whatever it is, she will need more help than that Lone Kainde Amedha." Mar'us said. "Plus, I'd never live it down if she died on my watch." He added.

"You like her." Karn stated.

"She's family." Mar'us said. "I can't just ignore that."

Karn smiled and followed Mar'us, only to pull him back swiftly as Kujhade headed towards the tunnel and went into it.

"Oh no…"

I'ka winced as the Queen tried to rip the mask from her face, failing badly yet again as the mask held strong to her face, far more secure than others thanks to Shara's pleading with the Elders to insure the masks couldn't be dislodged.

Unfortunately that hadn't stopped the Queen striking her with her tail, not enough to kill her, but enough to cut and damage skin and break bones.

She could see other Hunters near her, ones she didn't know from her own clan, all with their chests ripped open from inside…

She prayed for them to find rest and that the Paya have mercy upon them.

A loud roar echoed through the hive and she trembled, part of her recognized that sound as Kujhade's challenge and that drew the Queen away.

"Shara… I don't know what you are doing, but please hurry…"

Shara pressed herself into the walls of the Hive as she heard and felt the Queen storm towards and past her, intent killing Kujhade for his unannounced intrusion of her Hive.

The Outcast was ahead of her, leading her through the dark Hive using her tail as there was no natural light and while Shara could see some things, she couldn't see all the dangers as the Outcast could.

"Hang on I'ka… I'm coming."

A loud hiss made both of them freeze and watch as no less than four Predaliens stalked the corridors ahead of them.

Outcast lead Shara into a hidden section of the hive and used her tail to point to the door way beyond the Predaliens. /"This lead there… unwise to fight them now."\

Shara nodded.

I'ka looked up as she head a deep hiss and tensed as she saw a large u'darahje enter the room from above her, its body was almost perfectly hiding him against the walls of the Hive, that made her worry that there may well be others like this who were unseen threats…

It looked at her and the used its tail to trace the edge of her mask, searching for the way it would come off with a deceptively soft almost caring growl as I'ka tried to stay calm.

The u'darahje seemed to be trying to complete the last the Queen couldn't, though it seemed more delicate it its actions and that scared I'ka.

A painful groan made her look up as Kujhade as dragged in by the Queen, beaten bruised and broken but still struggling to defeat her, despite the fact his Mask had been ripped off.

I'ka swallowed a lump when she saw the Queen reach into an Egg nearby and forced the Face Hugger onto Kujhade's face with a sickening hiss before tossing him aside and focusing on I'ka with a deadly hiss.

Shara shuddered and sent a prayer to the Paya for Kujhade as sshe witnessed what happened to him.

/"What will you do?"\ The Outcast asked as Shara slipped into a huge open chamber of the Hive.

The Queen's Chamber, the place where all who wished to challenge the Queen for her place placed their challenge. "The only thing I can…" Shara said, looking up to the Outcast. "If I fail, this place will be destroyed with me… if you intend to survive, leave if it starts to get bad for me."

/"You will not fail."\ Outcast stated.

Shara smirked and then took in a deep breath.

The Hive echoed with a strange but determent screech, the echo making Xenomorphs shake, the Princes shuddered and even the eggs tremble.

Only the Queen stood against the challenge and seemed to smile.

Ooooooooooo... wonder what will happen now?

R and R for me guys and we shall find out.