Warning: There will be mentions of torture and injuries in this chapter. If you are squeamish or overall don't like that sort of stuff, I suggest you don't read this chapter.
Elsewhere in the ship...
Cerosix could have sworn he heard a scream after he killed the Akiridion in the cockpit. It was strange. It didn't come from the old lady, and it didn't come from outside. It must have come from whoever else the Taguiri siblings were hiding on this ship.
And he had his suspicions who it was.
But after moments of searching, he almost gave up.
That is till he remembered Colonel Kubritz telling him he had a tracker put on the boy. She had a tracker put IN Krel Tarron. The most vulnerable of the members of the royal family. He smiled sinisterly at the notion that he would capture the prince. And thus be able to lure out his sister in the process.
Cerosix pulled out a handheld holo-device from his belt of tools and proceeded to punch in the frequency of the tracker. He then held it up looking for the signal. Once he started picking it up, it produced a steady beeping noise indicating that it was working. He waved it around, hoping that the sounds it was producing would guide him right to his quarry. Which it guided him in the direction of the cockpit.
He then slowly made his way back to the cockpit where he had originally heard the sound. The beeping grew stronger and faster when he neared the door. Something was on the other end he was sure of it.
However, he was caught off guard when he entered the room and noticed a panel in the wall to his left open, revealing a cavity inside it big enough for someone to hide in there. After further investigation, he determined he was too small to fit through the opening. Cerosix decided that in order to figure out if anyone was hiding, he would have to reach inside.
And reach he did.
At first Cerosix felt nothing, he only felt the fabric of a blanket that had fallen on the floor. But then he reached in further and found something skinny and warm. It felt alive. A steady pulse radiated through out the interior of the object in question. It flinched slightly at his touch. Cerosix smiled and listened to the sound of the tracker in his other hand confirm that he had found his target.
"Found you!" And with that he pulled hard on the skinny object to guide it out the door.
"NO!" The voice which he recognized as the Akiridion Prince called out and simultaneously, the boy began to fight back. Cerosix felt weak kicks against his hand. It did little good to stop him.
"Come here boy!" And Cerosix swiftly pulled Krel out of his hiding spot. He then wrapped one of his massive hands around the prince's chest and torso and slammed him onto his back and into the floor of the ship. The prince momentarily relaxed in his grasp, dazed expression alighting his blue face. But just as quickly as it came, it left and he was fighting against Cerosix once more.
"Let me go!" Krel fought against the vice grip of the hunter as it pressed down on him. It felt like there was a massive weight baring down on his chest, causing his already injured body to protest it. His two lower arms were pinned to his sides, allowing him to use his top arms to claw at the hand causing the pain.
"Now why would I do that?" Krel looked up at the hunter. The cold orange eyes stared back at him filled with much pleasure at watching him squirm. Then the pressure grew.
Cerosix felt much glee in feeling the royal heir's body bend to the force he was pushing on it. He had been told the young prince was already injured. That much he could tell for himself. He could feel the small remnants of broken ribs and bones that had almost healed.
He then put all his weight into it, taking more delight when he heard the sound of the prince's ribs breaking all over again. It was like music to his ears to hear Krel scream. He even added pressure to his broken leg with his own foot after laying eyes on a brace that adorned it.
"Now I won't ask this more than once. Where is your sister?" He let up on the pressure to allow the prince to speak.
Krel heaved in one massive breath, despite the pain that filled his whole body once again. He fixed his eyes on the hunter and glared despite the tears that were also running down his cheeks. He remained silent. Krel was going to protect Aja no matter what the cost.
"Why do you protect your sister? It's only a matter of time before I find her." Cerosix applied more pressure onto the Akiridion's body.
"Family..gah...protects family! Not that you would...ah...understand," Cerosix smiled when it showed that Prince Krel was struggling with all pain. He was also struggling to breath. Which in some twisted way brought pleasure to the hunter's mind.
"Oh I think I do! Which is precisely why you're coming with me!" Cerosix reached back and with all his might punched the prince in the head.
A loud cry ensued, but then the prince's gaze and strength started to fade. Cerosix smiled and then proceeded to slam the back of Krel's head against the floor. The prince almost went completely unconscious but didn't quite. This suited Cerosix fine. He knew the pain from his injured chest would do the rest.
He slung Krel over his shoulders and was surprised to find how lightweight the heir to the Akiridion throne was.
Cerosix took one last glance down at the core of the elder Akiridion. Smiling he adjusted his hold on Krel before taking off outside the ship.
Outside the ship...
Kosciusko was down! His leg had sustained damage after a stray bullet hit part of this ship. This sent shrapnel flying thus causing some of it to be lodged in his leg. This didn't stop the fight however as Atala dispatched as many of the men with the freaky looking weapons as she could.
"Psst! Kosciusko!" He whipped his head around to face the landing gear closest to the boarding ramp. He noticed the princess standing there looking shaken. Unknown to him something bad had happened.
He subtly backed up, shield up and tried his best to hide Aja from the crowd around them.
"Aja, what are you doing outside the ship?" Kosciusko wanted to run with her back inside.
"The hunter...the hunter, he's inside! He killed Nana and is now after my brother and I!" Aja looked like she wanted to cry. Kosciusko just stared. Their beloved Nana dead?
"This can't be possible! Are you sure?" He shook his head, while simultaneously deflecting a bullet that had come too close for comfort.
"Positive!" And the tears began to fall.
"Atala!" Kosciusko called out. She made eye contact with him, "We need to retreat!"
But all eyes turned toward the hunter who had emerged from the ship bearing gifts.
"Colonel Kubritz, it's time to retreat," The trio of Akiridions watched as the hunter made contact with the ground once again, "I've got what I needed."
"Oh no! Krel!" Aja fought the urge to yell, but said it loud enough to where the older Akiridions could hear her. They all looked up and noticed the youngest Akiridion hanging limp over Cerosix's shoulder.
"Are you sure about this? Looks like you've only acquired one of our targets," Kubritz looked over at the ship.
"Yes. He'll be enough to lure our other target out in the open. Now don't question me anymore and let's get out of here," He turned back to face his enemies one last time, "Aja Tarron, I know you're out here somewhere. If you want to see your brother alive, I suggest you turn yourself in."
And with that the military entourage and the hunter left.
"No!" Aja finally ran out from behind the boarding ramp and collapsed into tears. Atala ran over and knelt down beside her comforting her as best she could.
"We'll get him back! I promise! But we'll need backup." She helped Aja stand and then walked over to her brother and helped him stand.
Aja looked out to where the hunter and the human military had retreated. She wanted nothing more than to run after them and free her brother. But she knew that was exactly what they wanted her to do.
"I think I know the people who can help."