I LIIIIVVVEEEEEEE. Here's another awesome chapter for you guys AND it's officially the longest chapter I've written –that's why it took so long-
A special thanx to all my AWESOME reviewers for reading so far…
Queen of the red skittle
DalouA
M1dn1te
Undead666
Zillah 91
Dawley
Prairiefire
Telboriel
PrimarchRuss
Bill Everyman
Bastet1023
This is for you DalouA and Undead666 AND M1dn1te!
R&R
oOo
Urban Legend.
Back to the Predators…
All three Predators took camp in a high tree and Sarket was tending to his wounds. With the sealer in his hand, Sarket pressed the button to make the hot beam sear his flesh and he flinched, hissing in pain.
Drekane snorted at Sarket's weakness, "Oh get some balls you twit."
Sarket growled threateningly, "I'd like to see you try it when it's so close to your pride!"
"Ki'cte!" Ray'jin barked. He was far too tired to listen to a pitiful dispute in the middle of the night.
Sarket shot a last look of disdain at Drekane before deciding to change the subject and turned to Ray'jin. "If you don't mind me asking." Sarket started, "Why are you so interested in that winged ooman?"
Ray'jin was caught off guard but recovered quickly and tried to come up with a reasonable, and truthful, answer, "I'm not sure why, but there is something about her that seems almost…familiar."
Sarket looked at him puzzled, "What do you mean?"
oOo
On the Predator ship…
The computer chirruped after some time to announce that the upload, scanning, analyses reconfiguration and reconstruct was completed. A holographic image slowly started to materialize to display a rough representation of the organism from which the DNA was obtained, much like digital cloning, but only the image of the organism and a rough construction of body structure and internal organs and skeletal structure can be obtained from bio extract, not all of the information can be read as there is too much to interpret. All body function right down to the functions that take place in each cell has to be obtained through extensive research with the proper bio extract available.
But it was enough to grab the Elder's undivided attention.
He looked on in aw at the rotating image materializing in front of him. It emerged at a slightly faster rate to resemble an ooman, as that data was already in the system, but it slowed and slowly changed. The hazy red indicated flesh and defined the probable location of organs while a much brighter red, which indicated the skeletal structure was growing brighter which meant that the bones were denser than normal. The skeletal structure started changing further and two limb like structures started to 'sprout' from below the shoulder blades. The part of the ribs joined at the spine caved in slightly to create shallow groves along the spinal column. The rib cage expanded slightly to accommodate a larger than normal heart and lungs. The limbs protruding from the back extended fully outward to reveal what they truly were…
Wings.
The Elder was awestruck, he couldn't believe what he was seeing…
"Could it be…? Impossible…"
He leaned in closer to study the image. His brow furrowed in concentration. The gears in his head were turning. Something was tweaking at the back of his mind…
The Elder was cut from his trail of thought by a loud chirrup from the computer. He looked properly at the screen again to see details of the bio extract come up on the screen.
OOMAN … 98
UNKNOWN … 2
GENDER … XX
"Interesting" The Elder clicked to himself with a claw under his chin, "Better contact the others then…"
oOo
Back to the Predators…
Ray'jin thought for a moment, "I can't place my claw on it." he admitted, 'It seems like…a memory from a dream…'
FLASHBACK…
It was night and it was time to rest so that we were ready for our next day of training from mother. I was one of three. We were all young pups then, I being the second oldest to my other siblings. We all lay curled up in our warm furs ready to sleep. My oldest brother around two cycles older than me was fast asleep, as his day of training had worn him out. I of course, with my young mind, was very eager to train the hardest I could to become a great warrior amongst the clan. The thrill of hunting something bigger and stronger than me excited me so I was too anxious to fall asleep with ease. Mother was holding my sister who was a cycle younger than me in her nightly routine of purring to lull her to sleep, but not this night. My sister was also too anxious about what the next day will bring.
So mother did the next best thing she could think of…
"Would you like to hear an ancient tale that has been passed down through many generations?" I heard her say
I huffed silently to myself with no interest in an overrated story and turned over to stare at the wall. This was my corner and on this wall hung some of my small souvenirs of my attempts at hunting. The small skulls decorating the wall ranged from the common native animals and lizards and the same wall hung all of my dahdtoudi given to me by my sire and mother.
I then became aware that mother was speaking again…
"This ancient tale tells of a prophecy that came to be eons ago by a race that existed well before ours".
I still had my back turned to show I had no interest but I was now listening to her words.
"These beings derived from the center of this great galaxy, were all the energies that exist there changed their way of life and gave them the power needed to 'see' far ahead into the future. They could see for billions of cycles ahead and see things that were going to happen that didn't even concern them for these visions took place in different regions, different worlds, old and the new to come in this galaxy. When we were capable of exploring the stars, we searched them for different prey to hunt. We found a few species that could provide the hunt, and as our search continued across the stars, we met Them. Our first meeting was strange because they accepted our presence almost too quickly. As if they knew they would meet us one day. Their leaders made contact with us in ways that drew us to learn about them more. The old records claim that they were a honourable species and told everything about them to the first explorers, but their race was in peril. They were going to die. They knew that their time had come, but not by our hands, but by the very hands that keep this universe together. The very essence that keeps them alive was diminishing, their star was dieing. In return for their tales, we offered to help relocate them but they refused to do so. Even with their great technology behind them, they chose to die with the very thing that was the bringer of life on their world. They believed that if they were brought forth after its birth, then they should be taken back when it died. They refused to be the only ones left behind of their system and take a world that didn't belong to them. We were amazed at how these species had so much honour and we felt compelled to ask for something, anything that could remind the future of this species greatness. They said that material things, even stone will diminish through time but words would last forever if they were not forgotten, so tell your children and those to come of our tale. That way, we will continue to live…in memory.
The first explorers were taken further aback by this answer, but saw reason and truth in their words. They accepted without question and promised to retell the tale to their young to come and to those that deserved to be graced with this fond memory.
Their time was growing short. The star had increased further in size and the temperature was rising over the months. It was just a matter of time before the seas evaporated completely and everything died.
As the first explorers prepared to leave a young female approached them. They thought that she probably wanted to say her final goodbyes and wish them a fulfilling voyage but that was not what she intended at first. There was another tale to tell.
As she approached us her keeper or parent tried to call her back but she didn't stop till she reached us. The older one finally caught up to her and was ready to scold her for her disobedience but we could see that there was more, so we stepped in and let her tell her tale.
She said that she was a healer, that healers are very rare amongst their species for healers have the power to heal other living thing's wounds right before your eyes. She said that she could also 'see' and she saw what was to come in a very far future in a distant corner of the galaxy. A new revelation has dawned on this distant world and a new race will immerge from the ashes and prosper to dominance. You will find them and deem them worthy prey for they will possess strength of mind, not brawn. Eventually, their hunger for power will rise to the point where they deem themselves as gods and play with the lives of others. Their heartless acts are to cause pain and suffering to gain the position to rule the entire planet. One such victim will be brought forth. She will possess great power and rule the skies. Her name is the very call of nature. The sound of her name hisses and roars in a language we don't understand. They don't deserve to have her. Her heart knows honour, so these sinners don't deserve the life they have. They must not get their way with her and use her for war, for if they do, the result will end in chaos and destruction of their entire race. Darkness will overwhelm them and the hunt will end on this world, for the darkness will consume you if you stand on its soil. Please, include this tale amongst the others and if your race finds her, save her from those corrupt hands.
Over time, the tale became legend, legend became myth and thus…was the prophecy."
I was stunned at this tale and turned over to look at my mothers lost look. The look on her face seemed that she was contemplating if this prophecy will indeed rise out of the ashes of time like the fiery winged one and come to be…
END FLASHBACK…
At this point Sarket growled with impatience, "Ray'jin, get your head out of the clouds and back here were it belongs!"
Ray'jin jumped at the hushed outburst, "Forgive me, but something just came to my mind-"
As if on queue, Sarket's wrist computer chirruped with an incoming transmission. He accessed it to reveal the image of Elder Dærensé.
The Elder spoke first, "I have the results you requested. They are coming through now." The heat hologram appeared and both Ray'jin and Sarket leaned in for a better look. Drekane still sat in his far corner of the tree but looked in as well from a distance. Ray'jin studied the image intensely, "Elder, Do you perhaps think that this creature is the one in that ancient prophecy?"
Drekane nearly fell off his branch, "You can't possibly believe in that old tale!"
"I believe it's a possibility." Ray'jin admitted.
Sarket looked skeptical, looking from one to the other, as he wasn't sure what to think of this, even though he had heard the tale before.
The image of the elder returned,"…It can't be…Her…" Elder Dærensé argued, " Then again. It all adds up. The oomans fit the description in the prophecy perfectly. The experimentation, the corrupt pursue for power by playing paya. This one may have wings to rule the sky but…does she have power? What is her name? Is she truly the one we've been waiting for? As for 'The darkness' mentioned in the prophecy. What could that possibly mean…?"
"I'm not sure elder…" Ray'jin said, thinking about how the winged ooman kept that warrior Kainde Amedha from killing her earlier that day and how she turned the tables and killed it instead. He looked up through the leaves at the twin moons looming above, "I'm really not sure…"
The puzzle pieces were coming together…but the picture was still incomplete.
oOo
At the station; Outside…
"Come on people…" Major McCane bellowed, "Get that junk off the ground bay doors so the scientists and engineers can get working on that back up ship."
Andrew ran up to Major McCane with Mr. Weyland jogging behind. Andrew was the first to speak with urgency, "Sir, let me lead a team out there and find Storm, she could be in trouble."
"We can't spare the man power Andrew, Who knows what's out there…" Major McCane trailed off as he looked towards the trees looming at the tops of the cliffs.
Weyland, as much as he hated, had to nod in agreement, "Indeed. There's something about this place that has some of the men spooked. They keep studying the cliffs, the… trees with trepidation.
McCane raised an eye brow, "Why do you say that?"
'If I did, I'd doubt you'd believe me…' Weyland thought as he shrugged his shoulders, a lie for he knew the truth but he did it to preserve his sanity. He turned his gaze to the trees, 'I pray I'm wrong. I just hope you're alright Storm…'
oOo
At the station; Hours later in the science lab…
"YOU LET HER GET AWAY!" Dr. Philips yelled at Rafe who unconsciously flattened his ears against his skull in a vain attempt to lessen the pummel of sound waves invading his sensitive ears. Dr. Philips back handed him and marched around to include the other Erasers in his line of fire, "IDIOTS…I'M SURROUNDED BY USELESS IDIOTS. GOD, DO I HAVE TO DO EVERYTHING!"
Rafe growled softly in anger but kept it in check. Dr Philips snatched something off a nearby table, turned and approached Rafe again, the rage evident in his expression was noticeably diminishing to be replaced with a dark smile, "You're lucky I have such a brilliant mind" Dr. Philips gloated and flipped his hand to reveal the controller that he used on Storm the day before, "The chip in the cerebellum of Storm's brain is a tracer as well as a devise to cause her pain which is the only way to cripple her power temporarily." He placed the controller in Rafe's paw and looked once more behind him at the group of Erasers, his brow furrowed slightly with confusion, "Where's Mike?" he asked.
One of the other Erasers spoke, "I didn't see him on the drop ship after out meeting with Storm yesterday."
Dr. Philips humphed, "Why am I not surprised. He probably got ripped apart by some of the more ferocious predators on this planet. He always was a poor excuse for an Eraser." He looked back at Rafe and in a serious tone, he said, "You should realize by know that my hypothesis was correct. You know that an action causes a reaction. So you have to wonder, what action causes Storm's power to react?"
The other Erasers looked puzzled at this one.
"Motive." Dr. Philips answered, "If you act like machines and show no evidence of your motives in your hearts then your as good as a harmless leaf. The sooner we get Storm, the sooner we can steal that ship the others above are busy with and get back to Earth. Now go and do whatever it takes. Get her back."
oOo
Somewhere in the jungle; Late morning…
Storm woke up at the sound of rustling in the heavy foliage below the tree she took refuge in for the night. That little scuffle, not eating for a day and the night flight exhausted her to the point where she was gliding blind. Now she sat bolt upright, nearly falling out of the branches she was nestled in. Her first thought, that Rafe was lurking somewhere below her. Her heart thundered and she cautiously peeked through the tangle of branches at the jungle floor, but closer inspection revealed for it to be one of the native animals nibbling on the lower leaves within it's reach.
Her stomach growled and she frowned, 'Well, better try and find something to eat then. I can't run on fumes all day.' She thought to herself and took off from her tree.
The genes that changed her life came both as a blessing and a curse, besides the fact that she can fly and some unknown factor that gave her her power, knowing the difference between good fruit and those that were poisonous time bombs came as naturally to her as flying did. The curse of the latter was that the raptor in her genes got the better of her when she was down by a lake washing up. As fast as lightning, Storm snatched some fish thing from the water and started to feast on it. The human side of her wanted to gag. It never was one for sushi.
She washed her mouth out with some of the water. Anything to get rid of the taste that was threatening her gut to retroject its exotic brunch. When she felt at ease, a thought hit her like a ton of bricks, 'Dr. Philips…I must warn Mr. Weyland…'
With that thought in mind, Storm spread her wings and took off north over the jungle.
oOo
Jungle floor…
The Predators trekked cautiously across the jungle floor ready to spring into action if something were to ambush them. They weaved through the towering trees that seemed to touch the sky. The sun rolling high above them pierced the thick canopy above and sent streams of blue dappled sunlight to decorate the fern crowded ground. The jungle was quiet…too quiet.
Ray'jin was not happy about the sound of it, not at all. There was always some form of noise to indicate life but right now…the jungle was dead quiet, both above and below. His assumptions were proved correct when a twig fell from above and a few winged creatures screeched in alarm as they flew away.
Ray'jin whipped out his spear. Something was following them. The other Predators followed suit and the sounds of unsheathing wristblades and activating shoulder cannons sang a song of death in the quiet air.
"What is it?" Sarket rattled.
Above, a familiar dark face peeked through the top branches of one of the trees, hissing and baring its silver teeth in challenge. Its drool oozed to the ground in long tendrils.
Drekane was casing the trees, shifting through his visions, growling, as the trunks of the trees were too dense to scan through to see whatever was hiding behind them. He raised his arms out in a threatening manner.
The odd dark form pounced from tree to tree when the Predators weren't looking in their direction.
Drekane backed up slowly, growling, ready for any sudden attack, then a thick glob of slime landed on his left shoulder.
"Kainde amedha!" Ray'jin hissed
All of a sudden, Alien skreeee's and hissed reverberated throughout the trees and about twelve dark serpents revealed themselves from behind their trees. They hissed and spat like cats at their enemy.
They were surrounded and Sarket let loose a hot bolt of plazma at the one staring him down. The alien hissed and backed behind the tree. The bolt hit in a ball of blue fire and left scorch marks on the bark.
The other aliens started to pounce from tree to tree, getting closer to the Predators. The Predators let loose a barrage of blue bolts at the alien's flying forms between the trees. One managed to hit an alien in the side and it blasted it into a hail of acid rain that singed the bark of the surrounding trees wherever it touched. Most of the other bolts either missed their targets completely or connected with the trees, scorching the bark, or at the most, blasting small chunks of wood out of the trunks.
"It's no good." Ray'jin hissed, "The trees are too strong. They are using them as shields!"
One of the aliens got close enough and pounced at Ray'jin. He brought his spear around in defense to parry the blow of the alien barreling full force into him. The alien made contact and struggled to get past Ray'jin's defense. It's jaws snapped out at him and Ray'jin pushed forward and to the side to throw the alien off him. The alien wrapped its tail around him and dragged Ray'jin onto the floor. They both flipped over one another in a power struggle to dominate the other. Another flip and Ray'jin unsheathed his wristblades as he rolled onto his feet and made sure the blades caught the alien's throat. The blades sank about half way through the neck before coming free again. Acid blood erupted from the wound. The alien cried out in a gargled hiss before lunging at Ray'jin again with its tail. Ray'jin caught it with his left hand and came around in a round kick. His foot connected with the alien's skull causing the last unscathed chitin-like flesh to snap back on contact. The alien was dead before it hit the ground.
Sarket was holding his own and shot a net at another alien hurtling towards him. He dodged out of the way. The net was already winding itself up and cutting into the alien's dark flesh. Acid blood bubbled up through the cuts as the alien struggled to break free but Sarket would not hesitate and give the net the chance to fail on him and he thrust his spear down through the alien's skull.
Drekane fought well but failed to see the new breed's serrated tail arching behind him as he struggled against the assault of the alien in front of him. He only just managed to throw the alien in front of him away when the tail struck right through his chest. He roared and dropped his spear. The new alien warrior turned him around and hissed into his face, opened its jaws wide…and delivered the killer blow.
The leader spoke to the new warrior, /You…serve the royalty well…/
Green luminescent blood had spattered onto the jungle floor, suddenly a large shadow cut across the dappled sunbeams…
/It's the winged one! Retreat and go after her. The rest of you, stay behind and distract these ones./ The leader said to the others.
The new warrior had thrown the corpse on the end of its tail away and had already started out into the jungle before the leader could even finish.
The battle continued to rage on as the leader and another alien went after the new warrior to assist.
oOo
Above the canopy…
Storm flew hard towards the station. As she glided above the canopy, she could here quite a lot of noise below, but couldn't see anything past the thick canopy at the shady ground below. Storm chose to ignore it and pushed harder to get to the station as fast as possible.
oOo
At the station…
Rafe and the other Erasers, now in their human forms, had armed themselves with sniper rifles normally allocated to the synthetics. 'Dr. Philips did say whatever it takes, and I shall.' Rafe thought to himself. He fixed a silencer to the end of the barrel and took aim at the growing dark figure in the sky. He remembered what Dr. Philips warned him, 'Make sure there is no trace of your motives…' He closed his eyes to suppress them and looked through the scope once more, 'Be like machines…' He felt his heart grow empty and he smiled, 'This time…you're going down…'
His finger lightly squeezed on the trigger…
oOo
Above the canopy…
'Almost there…just a few more minutes…' Storm thought to herself but she stopped at the feel of a threat coming from below. Before she could even blink in confusion, fire burned in her right wing and it suddenly went cripple.
She could feel herself falling and she tried to get a grip on the air but to no avail. The pain was too intense and she saw the canopy rush towards her.
Storm folded her wings tightly in the hollows of her back in preparation for a crash landing. She felt leaves and twigs scratch at her limbs. She folded into herself some more in preparation to crash into the ground but it never came. She felt her body halt in mid air. Through her numbing mind, she could feel something gripping her around her waist and a stinking sensation burning in her side. She opened an eye and saw something dark wrapped around her waist, something skeletal…
'No…' was the last thing that crossed her mind before her world faded into darkness once again…
oOo
Ehehe…oh yeah…takes off at top speed before M1dn1te can retaliate
-Storm Graveheart
(SR3.3.3)
"I think I feel the wind picking up…"