Chapter Twenty One – Hunt and grow the hive
Taytay had been rewarded with the praise of the queen for its successful capture of the human leader. It instinctively knew every path in the hive like the back of its claw. When the humans had gone up the one particular passageway away from its matriarch it knew exactly where to lay its ambush in the floor. It sat and waited until solely he passed. Then it leapt out in haste grabbed his legs and pulled him under away from any interfering comrades. It was an excellent catch. The queen recognised him as well – he had gestured some human communication at her then left with his men.
The battle to subdue the man hadn't been easy however, his pink flesh squirmed and kicked the entire way to his enclosure. One particular smack with his pulse rifle left a deep 'T' impression on its domed head but other than that it had him under control. Relentlessly, it knew his importance to the humans, so it clawed his abdomen and bit his legs until they were useless bits of dangling flesh. It didn't go so far as to kill the man – youth prefer life prey to emerge from, although if the host had died after impregnation there was still a chance a young hive-mate may still arise unscathed.
It had nestled into a nice comforting nook of a particular chamber for some rest and recuperation. There were no dangerous and hostile smells around and its mind was perfectly in sync with the hive mind. If there was danger it'd know of it well in advance. Several pods had opened in front of it. It smelt the youth arising expecting hosts to reside nearby to latch upon. It felt their avid disappointment when they smelt nothing but the emptiness of the vast chamber. They would likely set out on their own to find hosts – there were few enough lucky to find a host brought to them but this was not the chance this time.
A sudden cry in some particular members of the hive made Taytay squirm in discomfort as there was a realisation the hunter captured by the scarred one had escaped. The smell of the area indicated a second hunter had rescued the original. At first Taytay leapt to the resinous ground ready to pursue before the mind of the queen connected with hers ever so briefly.
Rest, rejuvenate, we attack humans in darkness, rest, follow the scarred one when it is time
Taytay found herself agreeing with the matriarch's decision. They would hunt the humans when the darkness of night fell upon the land. The scarred upon coupled with the blackened one would lead the charge. They'd be no praetorians this time; only warriors and drones. An attack made of stealth rather than assault.
It sat quietly and contentedly in its little nook for some time with its mind melded with the pursuers of the hunters. Their smell still remained attached the walls indicating their desired route. They were clearly trying to escape the hive. Dismay fell upon it as the drones and warriors paused to try catch the scent with the trail led outside into the fresh air. The large creatures had eluded them this time... but they'd not a second – especially if Taytay had anything to do with it.
Time flowed quietly and patiently as it always did as Taytay let her body heal the rough bruises it had sustained for the struggling host. It had found out its prey had died in captivity before the hatchling could emerge... but yet the little hive-mate within was still brewing nicely. It would burst through as expected as healthy as if its host were alive all the while. Eventually the time came where the scarred one leapt next to her in one graceful jump. It hissed its commands. Taytay was to follow it. The blackened one would lead a main assault on the retreating humans while the scarred one, Taytay and a select few others would come up the rear. Various drone scouts had discovered the humans were heading towards the compound again. The place had multiple tactically advantages for them – the humans would be great hosts.
Obediently it followed the scarred one along many small corridors, some were tight squeezes; others were large enough for a praetorian to fit through. The trip seemed long and winding. It knew exactly where it was going of course – the newly dug tunnel into the compound. It was what they had used in the first place to destroy the original group of humans. It connected with artificial structures the human had erected for ventilation. They had sealed their own doom unwittingly.
Eventually the scarred one and its own personal convey of minions that followed it arrived at the compound in the blessing sanctuary of night. Their sleek black bodies would merge in the darkness of human structures allowing perfect ambushes. Now all they needed to do was set up in suitable areas and wait for the humans themselves to arrive. The drones that stalked the group of humans that had left the crashed flying machine relayed constant messages to the scarred one's pack. The humans were excitingly near the compound with their typical weapons. They had paused multiple times to allow their weak to rest. Some had apparently been attacked by the hunters – they were currently unconscious.
The time came swiftly when the humans entered the compound. They were vigilant and packed into a tight-knit group. It would be difficult to separate them but not impossible. Taytay smelt them through the drone scouts nasal cavities. So powerful was the hive mind that one hive mate can use the senses of another to find prey. The scarred one had taken up a position in one particular room with its tail poised to strike. It would not go from a head shot – that'd kill valuable hosts instantly – no he'd stab their shoulders and arms – render their defensive abilities useless. Taytay, itself, had taken an ambush position near an artificial vent where if any came too near she'd launch out to grab their feet then pull them from salvation. It was all so exciting!
A sudden scent of a particular one such marine hit it like an alluring aroma of a hive-mate. Host smells were generally sweet and succulent. They were nearing the room where the scarred one was waiting with eager anticipation.
"Ah... just where they left it," one of the marines said. Taytay had no clue what it meant – had they spotted the ambush?
"Excellent, Aussiekanga, grab it and let's get out of here," another voice sounded. The scarred one had picked the perfect ambush point. Unsuspecting a human walked underneath the scarred towards a human artefact of some kind.
Look like its in good co..." the human said before the scarred one lashed its tail out. It collided roughly at the location where the neck meets the shoulder. The blow would be fatal if not healed quickly. The human fell to the ground in agony and horror. His weapon lay uselessly while he clutched at his wound.
There was a sudden uproar of noise as the humans growled out their frustration at the situation.
"Jesus what happened? One second he was up then he was on the ground!" one of them cried out in genuine terror.
"Must be one of those giant beasts and their active camo!" another yelled.
"Crusty get him out of there, we'll nade the room!" one said much calmer than the rest. Another man suddenly lurched forward to grab the original human who had been knocked to the ground. The scarred one expected it. It sliced its tail around in an arch. The blade of the tip of its tail hit the marine's wrist instantly slicing clean through it.
"Jesus Christ it's a xeno!" someone yelled out. The man named Crusty fell backwards clutching the stump where his hand was once connected.
Taytay smelt them pull back the second wounded man from harm's way – or so they thought. His legs resigned right in front of vent where it resided. Slowly Taytay shuffled forward where claws extended. There was only a brief shriek of help as it managed to claim its prey. With the swiftness typical of their species, Taytay wrenched the man roughly into the vent. His cries and the cries of others let off the alarm; time to start the ambush. With that, the assault began. The blackened one lurched forward with the minute army under its command. In one foul swoop the humans would be surely swallowed. Taytay grabbed the captive in its grip and slammed the back of his skull three times on the hard metallic surface. Once sure of his unconscious state it proceeded to drag its prey back to the hive.