Thank you for readind and bearing all the previous stupid cliffhangers. I'll try to cut down on them. Really.
Sorry, no Scar in this chapter. But much Stealth and his mischievous behaviour. Mwahahaa... Oh, and a little more swearing than usually.
Regaining consciousness was no picnic for Lex
Regaining consciousness was no picnic for Lex. The first thing she became aware of was that her head had once again received a painful blow. Then everything came back to her still numb mind in one rush.
"Scar!" Lex gasped and lifted her head to look around.
Straight away she groaned in pain and gave up the idea of moving. A wave of nausea prevented any kind of thinking for a seemingly long moment.
After recovering a little the woman dared to try the same again, this time much slower. She couldn't see any traces of Scar or the humans. The sun was still approximately at the same height so she couldn't have been out for too long.
Despair primarily in her mind, Lex forced herself to ignore the pressuring throb inside her head and sat up. Tears escaped from the corners of her eyes despite her effort to hold them back. All the tension that had built up that day, erupted finally as shivering sobs. Lex couldn't fight back anymore and so let all the bottled up emotions flow out with the tears.
Afterwards her head was throbbing even more, but at least she felt capable of thinking clearly. Scar was in trouble and she was the only one who could help him.
Well, not actually the only one.
The cave behind Lex was forbidding, especially now that she knew who was waiting there.
There just had to be another way.
The woman's gaze hit a nearby rock, where she was surprised to see her backpack. Pulling herself to her feet she took a couple tentative steps and noticed that she was able to walk. How nice of Antonio to return her things. She could thank him later by kicking him in the balls or doing something equally nice.
Lex sat down on the cold rock and started to go through the pack to make sure nothing was missing. The most precious thing she found immediately. The combispear was safely wrapped inside of a thick cloth that prevented it from poking holes in the pack. It was a miracle that the man hadn't taken it. Then again, why would he have wanted it now that they had Scar.
Next she found her lunch box which reminded her just how hungry she had gotten. Even though guilt gnawed at the back of her mind, it was obvious she couldn't help anybody with an empty stomach.
Lex ate quickly, at the same time weighing her options. She came to the conclusion that she had none. Nobody else could help her and the thought of finding and intruding some hidden laboratory alone seemed like a really bad idea. So did asking for help from Stealth, but she hoped that despite of the differences of the two warriors they couldn't leave a comrade to the hands of the humans. Lex had no clue what Scar had said to get Stealth to leave her in peace, but she was sincerely hoping that it would still work.
The woman took her flashlight from the pack and after considering for a while, the combispear too. If things would turn ugly, she wanted to be able to defend herself this time. In Stealth's current condition she was pretty confident that she could hold her own.
Feeling as ready as she possibly could, Lex left her backpack partly open and put the spear back in it so that it was sticking out enough for her to grab it fast if needed. She threw the pack on her back and was heading towards the cave entrance when she remembered something. Antonio had said something about trackers. Lex cursed the man as she took everything out of the belt's pockets and tossed the whole thing on the ground. She still couldn't believe that he had done something so awful.
In a gloomy mood, but more determined than ever the woman turned on the flashlight and tried to recall the correct route.
Thanks to the light Lex was moving faster than last time and started to get close to her destination. She had decided to say what she had to say quickly and without fear. Wisely, she had also decided to keep a safe distance to the unpredictable hunter.
"Stealth!" Lex shouted, seeing a dim light coming from around the corner. She didn't want to sneak up on the predator. Somehow she had a feeling that he wouldn't like being surprised. The woman pushed aside the rest of her nervousness and marched into the crypt-like cave, ready for anything.
The cave was empty.
That made Lex's heart skip a beat, though she otherwise maintained her calm. The warrior had to be there. He couldn't have gotten outside without her noticing. Maybe behind some rock pillar… What a foolish thought. Why would a seven and a half feet tall predator hide from her?
"Boo."
Lex almost jumped out of her skin when she heard the husky voice right next to her ear. She spun around and faced Stealth. The woman could have sworn that his mandibles were twisted in a broad sneer.
So much for the safe distance.
The huge warrior was blocking the only way out, but Lex wasn't thinking about that. Had he just taken time and hid only to scare the living daylights out of her?
"What the fuck!? Are you out of your freaking mind?!"
Stealth laughed the sarcastic and cold laugh that seemed to be distinctive for him.
"You humans… are pathetic... You walked… right by me… and didn't even… sense anything... If I… had been hunting… you would be dead now."
Lex couldn't stop herself from taking a quick peek at the many skulls that were laying in the corner. No! She had to concentrate. Scar needed help.
"Forget your over-grown ego for a moment and listen."
The predator's eyes narrowed a bit. The woman was pushing her luck. Why had the slave even come back by herself?
"There was an ambush waiting outside. Scar… Scar was captured."
The information made Stealth frown. "How?"
Relieved to see that the warrior was taking the matter seriously, Lex told what had happened.
"Fool", he snorted. "To be caught so easily."
Something in the tone of the hunter's clicks worried the woman.
"You will help him, right? We have to hurry…"
"Why should I?" A harsh voice interrupted. "It was… his own fault… not my problem."
Lex was shocked to hear this.
"You can't be serious. They're going to put him through some hideous experiments and you're just going to sit here. Don't you care at all what happens to your comrade?"
Watching the panicking of the human was amusing to Stealth. Of course he would have to go save that idiot, but he was in no hurry. Teasing the woman was actually quite fun.
"How would… helping him… benefit me?"
The predator tilted his head, eyeing Lex shamelessly.
"Now you absolutely can't be serious", she stated angrily
Stealth took a step closer to demonstrate how serious he was and Lex moved backwards out of his reach.
"Don't you even think of touching me again!"
"Or else what?" The predator purred. "Are you going to… challenge me… with that spear… of yours?"
"Yes if I have to."
"Then show me… are you worthy… of carrying that."
Saying the last word Stealth started to approach the woman again. Lex ran out of the way and slightly hesitantly pulled the combispear out of the pack and extended it. Knowing that the warrior wasn't in any fighting condition didn't help much after all. He was still 7,5 feet tall, probably about 300 pounds and coming at her. She couldn't think of any brilliant self-defence moves, but keeping the predator away from her felt like a good idea. The woman swung the spear at the hunter warningly. Stealth didn't take out his weapons, but started slowly circling around Lex.
"Why aren't you… attacking properly? Those darts… are still affecting… so I can't even… use my weapons… or move too fast. You have… the perfect chance… to defeat me."
As the woman just stared at him, unable to hide her fear, the predator smiled condescendingly and stopped.
"You don't… want to fight? Should I then… think of something else… to do with you?"
Lex could very well guess what he had in mind. But what could she do? If she attacked seriously, she might manage to hurt him badly and then he would be of no help to Scar. And if she didn't fight and Stealth would catch her… she didn't want to imagine that.
Stealth solved the problem for her. Unexpectedly fast, the hunter slammed the combispear aside with his hand, causing the woman to lose her balance for a second. Lex didn't fall over, however, or didn't try to stop the weapon, but spun a full circle, letting it gather speed before hitting the somewhat surprised predator in the side of his head.
A little payback for the earlier hit, the woman thought as she drew the spear back and waited to see if it had worked. Stealth shook his head a couple of times and fixed his eyes back to Lex.
Shit.
Lex considered performing a tactical retreat, until she heard an already familiar sound. Why was the warrior laughing at her all the time?
"Well done… little slave... You certainly… have got guts."
"Little what?" Lex snapped, irritated and unsure of what the predator was thinking.
"Lower your weapon... I don't… have the patience… to listen to… the complaining… that would follow… if I damaged… his property."
For a moment the woman didn't react at all. She had begun to understand how Scar had introduced her to Stealth. She would have to have a little talk with Scar about that.
Cautiously Lex lowered that spear.
"Does that mean we're going to get Scar back?"
"It means that… I will go… settle some scores… and maybe yes… help him while at it... As for you… do whatever you want… after you've… helped me with something."
Lex looked at the predator inquiringly. What could she help him with?
Stealth turned a little and motioned towards something on his back.
"I have medicine… in my med kit... It should help… but I can't… put it myself now."
"Why not?" the woman asked suspiciously.
"I can't… get a hold."
"What should I do then? And how do I know you're not going to try anything after I help?"
Lex wanted to hear the answer to the second question, even though she already guessed it.
"If I really… was going to… do something to you… you wouldn't be… standing there now."
Not the most calming answer, but Lex settled for it. She contracted the combispear and removed her pack to put the weapon back to place. While doing that she repeated the first question.
"So what should I do?"
Stealth found a good-sized rock and sat on it.
"Come here."
Lex moaned mentally, unwilling to get closer. As if she had any choice. Reminding herself again of Scar's situation the woman got enough courage to walk right in front of the hunter that was gazing her intensively.
"Push from… the both sides… and pull it off", he explained, turning sideways so that Lex could see something.
Expressionlessly the woman reached to do as told, but couldn't get it off. She leaned closer to get a better grip, feeling uneasy to be standing so close to the extremely muscular predator.
After getting the kit off, Lex put it on the rock and started to examine it. She found the opening mechanism and pushed it. The cover came up, revealing various bizarre pieces of equipment and little bottles with colourful liquids inside.
Stealth turned back to the woman and pointed at a large syringe.
"Take this… it's ready for use."
Lex took the syringe, looking at the huge needle with shock.
"If I get hurt at some point, just leave me be. I seriously will kick anyone's ass who tries to approach me with one of these, no matter how effective this stuff is."
The woman turned her eyes away from her worst nightmare and noticed an amused glint in the predator's eyes. She almost smiled, thinking how the warrior didn't seem so bad when he wasn't trying to rape or kill her. Still, Lex wasn't going to get careless. She was worried of his intentions after he would feel better.
Next Stealth pointed at his side. "Right here."
Lex bit her lip, preparing for the unpleasant task. She saw the warrior tensing and holding his breath. From that she knew that it would really hurt.
A quick push and the needle went inside the tough skin. The predator roared so suddenly and loud that the woman staggered backwards frightened and fell to the ground.
Stealth leaned on his legs for a while, growling something Lex couldn't understand. The woman watched silently as the warrior opened and closed his fist for a few times. Clearly content with the result he got up and grabbed the syringe that was sticking out from his side, pulling it out.
Lex was still sitting on the ground, but jumped to her feet when Stealth gave her an inscrutable look.
Now she would see if he had changed his mind.
The hunter seemed like he was going to turn away at first, but instead, stepped towards the woman. Lex could only wait anxiously, knowing that she didn't have a chance of defending herself anymore if the predator decided to carry out his previous intentions.
Slowly, as if a little reluctantly Stealth bowed his head slightly.
Lex let out the breath she had inadvertently held in.
"You're welcome."