Hunter led the way as the pair moved through the cave and came to another gondola station. No doubt connected to the one on the other side of the chasm. A long metal ladder was attached to the cave wall next to the station. Seeing little point in going back, the two climbed up the ladder to the surface. They climbed out of the hole and found themselves next to a small camp ground. A large tent made up the middle with several metal drums around it with fire burning in them. The pair approached the camp and found it deserted.
"Guess we finally caught a break."
Hunter scanned the area and grunted in agreement. Inside the tent was a cot, a few chairs, and a table. Despite the urgency, Leon was compelled by fatigue to sit on the cot and lay back.
"How about a fifteen minute coffee break?" Leon would have killed for a coffee.
The hunter didn't know what coffee was, but sat down on one of the chairs. He too was feeling the strain of this prolonged hunt. The injuries inflicted by the creature were mild and already beginning to heal.
"So, where to after all this?"
Hunter considered the question. He had the sample and there was little doubt in his mind that the girl would be rescued. But what after that? He could claim Leon's skull and join a very prestigious clan. The thought left a foul taste in the hunter's mouth. He thought of Leon more as a fellow warrior than prey. An honourable trophy, but one that would shame him as well.
Leon chuckled as he watched Hunter just sitting in the chair. "Sorry. Keep forgetting you don't speak my language very well."
A fact the hunter wished he could change. He had much to say to Leon.
Despite the protests from his body, Leon stood up. "Ready to go? Hunter nodded and rose to his feet. "Lets find Ashley."
After walking for a few minutes, they came to the ruins of a temple. Broken walls formed criss crossing paths around the ruined temple. The temple itself was full of hole, but two of its towers still stood. From the amount of rubble, it appeared the temple had had several floors, but only three were left intact.
"This island just has everything."
They began to walk through the grounds. As they traveled, Hunter spotted the all too familiar triple red lights from a aiming plasma caster. He grabbed Leon and pulled him back as a plasma bolt impacted the ground in front of them. On top of the temple, a predator uncloaked.
"Friend of yours?" When Hunter shook his head, Leon gulped slightly. "Perfect!" He readied the typewriter. "Just perfect."
"Guan-thwei!" The predator on top of the temple yelled in their own language. "Your hesitance to finish this hunt is wearing our patience thin. Capture the soft meat skull and rejoin your people."
"I am bound to save the female youngling."
"These soft meet are our prey. They do not deserve our protection."
Hunter recognized the youngness in the voice. This predator was most likely a just bloodied warrior. A good warrior, but the beliefs that had been hammered into him still to fresh in his mind. In the recent years, Hunter had learned, like many predators do, to be flexible in their beliefs. This one was trying to elevate his status by trying to "save" the warrior who lost his way. It made Hunter laugh. A young bloodied hunter trying to teach him about the rules of the hunt.
"Be gone! The elder gave me a choice and I have not made it. Return to the ship before you embarrass yourself further."
"If you cannot decide, we will aid you."
"We?"
The young hunter flipped open his left gauntlet and pressed a few buttons. The grinding of metal on metal filled the temple grounds. Hunter heard a very familiar sound.
"Hard Meat!"
Six black creatures appeared from inside the temple.
Leon raised his gun. "I take it they are not friendly either."
The young predator raised his arms up. "Back to Basics!"
Two of the aliens charged at them. Leon fired with abandonment as Hunter pulled out his burner. He pulled the trigger and nothing fired from it. The damage it took earlier had been to much for the weapon. Hunter stepped back and unscrewed the plasma canister. The bullets from the typewriter tore into one of the aliens and it collapsed. Its green blood splashed everywhere and began to eat through the stone. The second alien leapt up high to avoid the hail of gun fire. Both Leon and Hunter jumped clear as the alien landed. Leon landed on the ground, but manage to swing the typewriter around and spray the black creature with bullets. The alien charged at him, but died in mid flight. The body crashed next to Leon and blood splashed everywhere. A large glob landed on Leon's left arm and the typewriter. Leon yelled as the acidic blood easily dissolved his armor and began to eat his skin. Hunter leapt to his feet and ran to Leon. He tossed aside the burner and drew his knife. Quickly slicing his left palm open, Hunter ran his bloodied hand over Leon's arm. The hunter's blood quickly neutralized the acidic blood of the Hard Meat. He sat Leon up against a small section of stone. There was no time to better treat the wound. The other aliens hissed and two more charged at them. Hunter spun to face them and flung the plasma canister. When it passed in between the two aliens, he shot it with his caster. The canister exploded and the resulting flames, consumed the charging creatures. The remaining two moved slowly in an attempt to flank Hunter.
"You are doing well, Guan-thwei. It is good to see that interacting with this soft meat hasn't dulled your skills."
Hunter didn't bother responding as he pulled out his retractable spear. He was out of quick tricks and the prospect of fighting two Hard Meat with only a spear and a barely functioning caster wasn't his ideal hunt. The aliens moved easily through the rubble. Fortunately, they were ignoring Leon. When both were in position, they charged. Hunter ran at one of them and threw his spear with practiced precision. It impaled the alien through its long skull. Before the alien could fall, Hunter grabbed its tail and smashed the body into the other charging alien. The alien fell into a pile of rubble, but quickly recovered. Hunter fired several plasma bolts, but the alien managed to dodge them. The alien swiped at Hunter with its sharp tail. Hunter ducked and sliced the tip of the tail off with his right wrist blades. The alien cried and acidic blood flew from the severed tail. Hunter rolled behind a broken wall section to avoid the blood splatter. His armor was resistant, but little need to test it. He quickly wiped his wrist blades on the ground to clean off the blood. The blades were treated, but given time, they would melt. The alien slowed its thrashings and scanned the area for Hunter. It flung its tail around to splash its blood all around it. The hunter found a small stone and picked it up. He rose to his feet and threw the stone. It bounced off a wall and drew the attention of the alien. Hunter jumped up and landed on the back of the creature. The added weight through the alien off balance and it crashed to the ground. Hunter took aim and blasted the head off the alien with his caster.
"Very good!" The young predator walked up. "It is a shame there is no skull intact for a proper trophy. Are you ready to rejoin our people?"
Hunter did nothing until he heard Leon moan. He need treatment. Hunter began to move toward the downed human. The young predator blocked his path.
"You would choose this soft meat."
Hunter's wrist blades activated and he slammed them into the exposed stomach of the young predator. "I choose a warrior in need of aid. A warrior injured due to your cowardness and dishonor." Hunter twist the blades and ripped them free. The young predator fell to the ground, dead. Hunter stepped back and took aim with his caster. This was an unworthy trophy. He fired his caster and blasted the head off the dead predator. No trophy from an unworthy prey. He stepped over the body and pulled out his medkit. Hunter knelled down and examined Leon's arm. Most of the skin was gone, but thankfully there was little damage to the muscles and no damage to the bones. The hunter opened up the medkit and pulled out the injector. He filled it with painkillers and injected Leon's arm.
Leon looked over. "Got anything stronger? I'm still awake."
Hunter chuckled at the notion. Painkillers were suppose to aid a hunter by removing pain, not dull the senses. "No sleep!" Hunter grunted as he pulled out a vile of blue liquid. He poured the liquid onto Leon's arm and rubbed it until it coated the arm evenly. That done, Hunter wrapped the arm in a dark color cloth. That was the extent he could do with what he had.
Leon managed to stand up. His arm hung limp. He managed to wiggle his fingers. "Guess that is a good sign." His eyes fell to the dissolving remains of the typewriter. "Damn! I liked that gun." He sighed and drew the hand cannon. "Thankfully I can use this one handed now. Anymore of your people want to come down and make this harder?"
Hunter shook his head. He doubted they would interfere again.
"Good! I'm beginning to think I should consider a career change. Lets get Ashley so we can get out of here."
