Kita won't lie if she didn't say that she was scared. Walking out alone, armed with only a small pistol and bound to bump into a fully armed human-killing predator were all the reasons to make her heart pounding hard in her chest.
She had no clue on what would happen when they find her. Being captured was the obvious thing but how and what would happen next after was something she cannot conclude. Her footsteps were the only thing echoing in the eerie silence. Her head, slowly looking around. Above and below. Any signs of a shadow or a shimmer.
But nothing.
Already was on the other side. Kita looked back behind her, but the bridge was empty with only a small light breeze that carried dust. Where are they? Surely, after coming here they would know where they are. Or was is that the amulet was all that they were after? No, if the rest were like Fang was, they would never give up that easily.
Heading indoors felt even worse than outside. Despite the lights on, the enclosed space and turn offs made it all the easier for anyone to be hiding around corners. However, any sound that she made was enhanced so if Fang or someone else was here, she would know.
"Come on, Fang, where are you?" she whispered to herself. She hasn't even drawn her weapon out. Completely off guard and yet, no surprised attacks, no confrontation. This isn't like him. Did they really lose the hunters?
The sound of the door opening behind her was clear, but louder when it slammed shut that everything around her including herself jumped. Didn't even turned as her instincts told her to run. And she did. Bolting down the corridors, feeling like a rat in a maze only that time, they sent a hunter to chase. Heavy footsteps pound the metal floor, the vibration swept forward towards her. Kita could feel how close he was.
Turning a corner, she burst herself through double doors and into a large dark room. The wall changed from the silver tinted metal to a rust brown. The smell was almost filled with fumes and the need for air made it near impossible to ignore the smell.
But it helped her stop and turned around just as Fang entered the room. This was the moment, she pulled out the pistol and aimed it at Fang. A sneering growl, probably out of disappointment as Kita was aware that a gun like that would not kill him. Probably won't be able to go through the armour. However, that was not her intention.
When Fang took a few steps towards her, she twisted the gun around and aimed it under her chin towards her head, locking it so he could hear it loud and clear. As predicted, he stopped. For a moment, Kita saw him tensed. Clearly, wasn't expecting her to do this.
But he sneered once more along with a bunch of clicking sounds.
"Glad to finally have your attention." She spoke first, "But glad to be aware that my life has some value to you." Fang's body tensed once more as if he wanted to deny it but admitted it.
"What…do you want?" he finally said, as the translator continue to make his voice sound gruff and guttural but deep and strong. She thought for a moment before answering.
"I wish to negotiate with your leader." Fang was almost taken back by her wish. Slightly tilting his head as she continued, "You are in charge of your people here on the planet but there is someone higher than you, isn't there? Let me speak. I have an offer."
For a moment, Fang just stared at her. She wondered if he was just thinking or figuring out something. But it still didn't remove the gun. Letting her guard down would deny the opportunity for her people to get off the planet safely. Fang then relaxed himself and pulled out a small rectangular box before placing it down on the side between them both. He stood back as she watched him fiddle around with his wrist gauntlet device on his arm.
Quickly, a red holographic screen appeared before them. Appearing on the screen was an older looking yaujta sitting on some sort of throne. Kita could see the variety of skulls and other trophies as well as weapons hanging on the wall behind him. But on the elder himself, a human skull laid on his hip as his clothing appeared more traditional than armoured with a long cape. His eyes, unlike Fang's, had a tint of softness from age, with the many quills that covered his head, but it still had a sharp glare as he looked at her with a deep scar under one of his eyes. A sense of power.
But his eyes glanced at Fang as they began to speak in their language. For the first time, she witnessed Fang being submissive as he bowed to the elder. It almost made her worried. Fang was powerful and strong but him bowing to another, even more to fear the elder than him.
"I am Da'thu-be, leader of this clan." Her heartbeat skipped as she heard another translator coming through the holoscreen as the elder's eyes laid on her. "You have an offer you wish to give, human."
"Yes." She quickly answered, "Yes I do. I…understand that you need me alive somehow as I'm yet to find myself still stand despite the multiple opportunities your people had to take my head. Why?" She removed her gun away from neck but still had it close.
"You are right, for you, human, have become the key master." Da'thu-be answered though he didn't sound pleased.
"What do you mean by key?" she asked before her eyes caught Fang's movement as he held up something familiar, "The amulet?"
"The key. When you stole the key, it imprinted on you. You and only when alive can the key be used." The elder explained, though Kita was offended when he used the word 'stole'. She didn't steal it. She took but it wasn't like she taken it from someone. But she wasn't going to argue over a word.
"And what does this key open to?" she asked.
"A chamber within the main pyramid. It contains the self-destruct system to wipe out everything here and the stain that you humans have brought here." He growled slightly at the end. Clearly, he didn't like her, but she wasn't going to let him walk all over her.
"Understandably, you have secrets here that you do not wish for us to know." She said first before raising her voice, "But, if your kind were aware that we were expanding, then tell me why this place was left abandoned and unguarded. In truth, it was your kind's mistake that had allowed this place to be claimed by anyone."
Fang growled at her loudly that she almost raised her gun again. However, Da'thu-be was not fazed by her abruption which she quickly calmed herself.
"So, do not blame us for finding this place that was left unguarded, but let us not argue over who is to blame."
"Indeed." He spoke, "But tell me, what do you wish to offer now you know the truth?"
"Very well." Kita sighed as she was now able to give a clear offer, "I will help you, willing to allow your people access into the pyramid. But in exchange, you will allow our ship to land and allow my people as well as myself to leave along with any civilians left here and return home without harm, as it was our mission."
Da'thu-be leaned to one side, looking away as he pondered on her offer. However, her eyes glanced down to the human skull resting beside him. His long-clawed fingers fiddled and tapped it a few times. However, the silence was cut short when Fang began to speak to his leader in their language, waving his arm towards her.
That annoyed her.
"What is he saying?" she asked the elder. He raised his hand to silence Fang before answering.
"A sense of distrust. You humans are clever but when cornered you are crafted with tricks." She could see where this was going. He was questioning whether they would keep their word.
"And you, Yaujta, predator, you hunt us for sport, for pleasure and care less on who gets in the way." She answered back, summarising all the things people had said about them, "How do we know that you would honor your word? Heck, how do we know that you have any honor at all?"
Da'thu-be straighten himself up to her question. She wondered if that was the first time, they ever heard of what another species thought about them. But quickly, Fang growled loudly almost to the point of roaring as he took a few steps towards her.
"Watch your tongue, human!" he yelled, "Before, I rip it out."
"Oh, hush!" Kita yelled, "At least, we aren't playing around like children." She felt a sense of joy that she was able to finally talk back at him and that he could understand her. To her surprised, a small crackling sound almost like a chuckle came from Da'thu-be.
"Besides, we have something that we both values." She continued, "If I go back on my word, my people die. But if you go back on your word…" she raised her up to her head to finish off the warning.
"You've made your point quite clear." He said, "As determine as you are and the value you have for your people, I respect you and accept your offer." She smiled, feeling pleased that she was able to make this work. "However, should any of your people get involve in delaying our mission, they will not be spared."
That immediately dropped her smile. She hoped that her people would listen and stay out of this. Aware of some that would not agree to the deal, but this was an opportunity they could not miss if they want to get home. Da'thu-be's attention once again turn to Fang.
"Do you understand this, Zo'dta?" His leader asked him sternly.
"Sei-i. I do." He answered without question despite the rage inside of him, wanting to lash out. To think, it had got from the female escaping to keeping her alive and now working together. He would never had thought in a million years that he would ever work with an ooman.
As much as he admired her intelligence, her agility, her willingness to pull that stunt just to protect her people and her spirit. To speak her mind to his leader with disrespect was not something he tolerated. Perhaps, he should be thankful that he wasn't paired with anything lesser than herself.
She was a worthy sport. Maybe, he could learn more about her. After all, the deal for her safety only applied until she returned home. After that, he would come for her as his last hunt before becoming a leader of his own clan.
"Now go!" his leader spoke in her language, "Do not delay more than we already have."
The female bowed her head to Da'thu-be.
"I thank you for this. You are certainly a wise leader." But she looked at him, "Perhap, you should learn a thing or two."
Da'thu-be laughed as Zo'dta was left staggered by her comment. If only she knew.
"I like her spirit." His leader said to him before the screen disappeared.
As Zo'dta went to pick up the portable holoscreen, he snapped his head towards the female as she was about to leave.
"Where do you think you're going?" he growled loudly through the translator as she stopped.
"What? You heard the big boss. Let's not delay any more time." She shrugged her hands. "Besides, both parties need to know what the new plan is." Before she could go any further, Zo'dtra grabbed her and pinned her against the wall.
"Listen here and listen well. You are alive because you are need for this purpose." He growled deeply, using his hand to hold her head in place. "I will not be disrespected by you. I may not kill you, but I can hurt you."
"How can I respect someone who had been hunting and toying with me over the last few days?" she replied which was wrong to deny. "But don't act like I'm stupid. You aren't a fool either, but you still lack in areas. We both have a goal. We are on the same page. As long as we are both getting what's best for our people, we can at least tolerate each other."
He became quite intrigued about the female's openness. She had given much a thought about the situation and she cared about her people but never thought she would consider his clan's best interest into her own thoughts. She's smart as proven before but it was something different.
With her tiny hand, she rested it on his arm which held her and patted it a few times. Indicating to let go. Though he didn't want to, he reluctant but not without a sight shove as a warning before walking a head with her following behind.
It wasn't long before they got to the bridge. At first it was quiet but then one by one, the bridge shook with single solid thuds of his clan arriving. The female stood beside him but glanced at him before looking back at his group as they revealed themselves.
Zo'dta was quick to react and explained the situation and the new orders from Da'thu-be. Something they couldn't ignore. The female then began walking towards no…trying to get through them but as a natural instinct they aggressively blocked her from going anywhere.
"I need to speak with my people." She spoke with a determine look. There was that fire in her eyes.
"Let her pass." He commanded and with that they parted as she walked to the other side. But she never went inside. Instead waited until some of her people came out. As if it was to ease them, to see what they were doing. One approached her to which it spoke calmly in her tongue. It was taller and consider what he had learn it must be a male. But another approached her, one he recognised from before but never got the chance to kill.
He began to raise his voice at the female almost demanding something but clearly the female had a higher position. Zo'dta was curious of what rank she was. Perhaps high but maybe not. Only a hand full of female yaujtas ever reach a high rank and a very few have become clan leaders as it was their primary role to produce and raise offspring.
Then again, females were not to be underestimated. No matter the gender, either could become warriors in their own ways and females…Zo'dta had already experienced their wrath. Though, he had seen her angry, she held it with great control. Her rage was something he had yet to see.
Perhaps maybe…soon.
A/N
Hey guys, sorry for the delay again.
So much has been happening. First off, uni had started, then it was my birthday, then the coronavirus hit and all my course had to be moved online and before you ask, no I have do not have the virus. I'm perfectly well thank you.
By the way, for you Predator fans out there, I've actually tried the new Predator Hunting Grounds on the trial weekend they offered. (it's available on epic games for pc so I'm happy). I did a live stream on it which is up on my YouTube channel PandoraGamezz (cannot post link to video here) if you are interested in watching to hear my thoughts and see my play.
All in all. Hope you've enjoyed this chapter. Stay safe, stay healthy and I will see you guys soon.
