Chapter 58
Disclaimer: I do not own Alien/Predator series or any characters and may not follow all customs and cultures found in Alien/Predator movies.
Kaail and one of the black creatures clashed like lightning, shattering the ground as he tried to shield A'stea. He didn't expect such a creature to be so firm and covered in a thick hide. He grabbed onto the neck to prevent its mouth from hitting him, surprised that it pulled out a second pair of jaws. Freaks of nature . . . made by the Engineers. He didn't waste a moment when a few more kainde amedha charged from both sides. He grabbed hold of its tail when it was about to strike and then sun it around to build momentum. At the right moment, Kaail released and the creature crashed into the others, throwing them across the stadium with little effort.
A'stea tried to get herself onto her feet but her leg burned in agony and she was forced to flop onto the ground, seething through her teeth. All she could do was watch as Kaail kept the creatures at bay and killed them off one at a time. He sliced into one that got too close for his comfort. Although he managed to cut its face off from the rest of his head, the acidic blood burned into his bone blades. If things couldn't get worse, Kaail saw in shock that the blood was even seeping into the bone gauntlet like it was nothing. Son of a bitch! Acidic blood!?
With a growl, he ripped it off and it disintegrated into a melted puddle. He bit his mandible in frustration, seeing the last of his weapons gone with a few of the black creatures left and aiming for him and A'stea. Great . . .
The creatures began to drool, setting their sights at A'stea underneath him. He opened his mandibles and growled. I won't let you have her.
This time, two kainde amedha came at him at the same time. One aimed for his legs with its tail while the other one went for his shoulders and arms. In all honesty, he thought they weren't mindless beasts. They coordinated their attacks in battle strategically and this was no exception, aiming to incapacitate him and then kill him swiftly. But Kaail saw it coming and with a quick kick to the gut, he pinned one creature on the ground while he grabbed the other by the tail and jabbed the sharp end into its mouth. He pushed it away before the acidic blood could touch him. He took care of the other one by cracking its skull, ending the last creature swiftly without more bloodshed.
"He killed them all . . ."
"What a beast he was . . . "
"Holy pauk . . ."
The mood of the crowd changed on the flip of a dime. Instead of cheers, the stadium was dominated by gasps and a few boos. The Amengi looked furious while the Hish, servants and warriors alike, froze in surprise and maybe some praise with Kaail's skill. But it didn't matter to him. His attention was on someone else.
"A'stea." He kneeled and pulled her up into an embrace. He saw her leg was badly damaged. He could see her tendons and a small part of her exposed bone through the bloody mess. He hugged her closer and pressed his face in her shoulder. "I'm sorry . . . I'm so sorry."
His voice cracked and A'stea felt the pain and sorrow in his trembling muscles. Through the pain and the severity of their situation, she smiled and wrapped her arms around his waist. For that split moment, nothing existed other than him and herself. Kaail . . .
"Kaail!"
The speakers pulled both of them from their embrace. Kaail pulled A'stea onto her feet . . . or at least one of them. It was too painful for her to use it so she leaned on him for support. The crowd goes silent as Master Thu'at's voice calls out. "What in the pauking mind are you doing? Interfering a match and killing my precious property?"
The previous door that Kaail's master went through opened again and out comes Master Thu'at and Mor'dath, along with guards, followed close behind. He glared at the latter, seething in rage by the smirk on Mor'dath. Hold on to your amusement for as long as you can. You'll be dead soon.
He and A'stea can see the anger in Master Thu'at's face and even as he walked to them, stomping to a halt a few feet away. "I ask again, Kaail . . . What are you doing?"
Kaail huffed. "I'm doing what I should have done many months ago. Nay . . . what I should have done many seasons ago. This is wrong and it has to stop."
"What is wrong?" He raised his arms. "This ooman killed one of our own. She's nothing but a liability that has outlived her usefulness . . . and needs to be taught a lesson."
"For what!?" He roared, jolting Master Thu'at in shock for a moment. "Master S'wqua got what was coming to him and I delivered it. He's far worse of a monster than anyone else . . . not as much as you."
He saw his master's face go pale if it could for a coldness Amengi like himself. "You killed him?"
"And I would gladly do so again and again if it meant being free from the likes of you."
"What has gotten into you, Kaail? After everything we've given you, you choose to throw it all away. For this pathetic ooman?" He didn't answer as Master Thu'at turned his head to A'stea. She flinched slightly but held her ground despite the pain in her leg.
It was then that they could see the clarity in Master Thu'at's eyes. His mouth opened wide and his insect tusks twisted into a smile . . . more out of disbelief than joy. "You're in love with her . . . It makes sense now."
"You see, My Lord?" Mor'dath broke the silence and pointed his finger at them. "He's infatuated with the ooman. He has been for a long time as my source told me."
Source? Kaail thought. Does he know because of—
"It doesn't matter now." Master Thu'at raised his clawed hand and stop Mor'dath from speaking anymore. "Kaail . . . You don't know what you're saying. This ooman has poisoned your mind against me . . . after everything I've done for you. She merely used you to further grow her ambitions to destroy us. You know deep down in that small mind of yours."
A'stea tightened her lips when she saw the hint of hesitation in Kaail. Despite not wanting to agree, his truth did have some merit. She did try to use him to gain more allies and nothing more, thinking he would become a liability. But things had changed . . . right? Her answer, which she thought was strong, wavered at Kaail's reaction.
Master Thu'at smiled. "Good. Now, you understand. Aren't I not telling the truth?"
Kaail lowered his head and his grip on A'stea loosened, making her worry all the more. A few seconds passed before he spoke softly.
"You're right. I knew from the beginning that she only needed me for my status and power and she didn't trust me back then. Maybe you understand more."
But then, Kaail lifts his head, strong and determined and it was felt in A'stea through the tightening of his arms around her. "But you're too late to blind me with your words now. She opened my eyes for the first time and I'd never felt freer than ever before."
He turned to her with a spark in his eyes. "I owe it to her. And I will fight anyone who dares to touch her, no matter what."
A'stea couldn't help but look away with a blush in her cheeks, burning every aspect of her face. Not now, you fool . . .
Feeling her heat that fueled him, Kaail glared back to his master and Mor'dath. "It was then that I realized the truth. You Amengi are nothing but power-hungry monsters who think they are gods. If that is so, then why go all through this trouble to keep the Hish in check?"
Master Thu'at doesn't say anything for once in their entire conversation. His will was starting to crack and Kaail began to exploit it, turning to the other Hish warriors and servants that stood watching them from afar and in the seats in wonder.
"You all know just as much. They keep us suppressed because they fear our strength. Centuries of torture and oppression since the beginning of our ancestors' time has not made us weak . . . It has made us stronger. We will no longer be your puppets to be used and discarded like nothing. We are honorable warriors! And we will not submit to the likes of you anymore!"
Kaail extended his mandibles and raised his head to the sky, letting out a mighty roar that even shook the sky and universe. The energy he gave out extended throughout the stadium. Although he didn't hear the cheers that would accompany such a declaration, it was enough for him. A'stea felt proud of him at that moment, seeing his maturity glow for the first time. He wasn't the beast the Amengi had made him anymore. He was a great warrior full of honor and pride . . . and she was happy.
"Enough!"
Master Thu'at screeched and the small cheers that were slightly coming from the Hish servants died instantly. Kaail can see that he wasn't too happy . . . even angry and he couldn't help but feel proud.
"We're the reasons you became what you are . . . and all of the Hish. Without us, you would be nothing more than humanoid beasts that lurk in the mud like scavengers. We can give life . . . and also take it away as easily as this."
He snaps his fingers and a pair of soldiers come from behind them. To their horror and shock, A'stea and Kaail watched as they dragged Fi'ka towards them until dumping her on the ground in front of her. Still bound in chains, she got to her knees and tried to stand but limited due to the bindings on her feet. A'stea could see the absolute fear in her eyes.
"A'stea!" Her friend cried out.
"Fi'ka!"
She tried to walk towards her but her leg gave way to unimaginable pain of fire and electricity. Kaail caught her before she fell to the ground, holding her to stand back on her feet. She could do nothing but watch as Master Thu'at held his hand out and an Amengi guard places a plasma gun in it.
"This is what happens when you disobey and desert us . . . your saviors. A warning to you all . . . of what will become of traitors." He aims the gun at Fi'ka and pulls the trigger.
Everything, even time, slowed down for a few seconds. A'stea could see the horror that was about to happen and Fi'ka's facial expression as she realized this. She opened her mouth to scream but she felt like nothing was coming out . . . nothing but cold air, deprived of everything. Fi'ka's golden eyes glowed for a few seconds until a loud blast was heard and A'stea watched as that light faded into darkness.
At that moment, A'stea screamed.
Master Thu'at shot a plasma blast through Fi'ka's chest, leaving a giant hole in its wake. Half of her heart was still intact and beating involuntarily. Like rain, her green blood soaked the ground until Fi'ka lifeless body drops face forward onto the ground. A'stea tried to release herself and run towards her friend. But with the injury to her leg and Kaail's steel arms, she was powerless. The shock of what occurred seeped into her body, creating chaos in her mind.
This can't be happening! This can't be happening! This can't be happening!
Kaail roared for both of them. "You pauking bastard!"
All Master Thu'at did was chuckle. He couldn't believe what he was seeing. Fi'ka was murdered right in front of them and he dared to laugh as if he watched something amusing. Seeing A'stea in so much pain and shock, he retaliated. "You're dead!"
"Not so fast." Kaail stopped as the plasma gun in Master Thu'at's hand aimed at them next. "You're in no position to face me. You're outnumbered and have nowhere to escape. You are fools to think you can win."
Kaail turned to the Hish warriors standing by. "Are you going to let them tell you what to do?"
The warriors looked at each other in confusion and uncertainty.
"You are warriors! Fighters until the bitter end! The way you choose to live! What the Amengi say and do should never change that!"
"Don't bother with them." Mor'dath spoke. "They're spineless cowards and having them won't give you the advantage to—"
Out of nowhere, the pillars that powered the electric field began to burst in sparks one by one. The crowds shrieked and cried in panic each time, taking cover from the small sparks that could burst them into a ball of fire if it could. In a short while, the field was gone. Master Thu'at, Mor'dath, and the guards were in disarray, making them vulnerable from a plasma blast that shot down a guard easily.
"Tell me! What the pauk is going on!?" Master Thu'at screamed, trying to get answers.
"What was that?" A'stea asked.
Kaail looked around for clues until he saw someone from atop of the ledge where the seats were. Bu'at stood, watching them with a plasma gun that had a scope to see better. How did he get that? He shook his head. It doesn't matter. He gave us a distraction.
"Kaail! A'stea!" The communicator devices activated on Kaail. "The shield is down! You need to get out of here! I'll meet you on the other side!" He spoke as more gunfire began to erupt and the crowds began to flee in panic. Chaos overtook everything.
"Understood!" Kaail didn't waste any time and held A'stea bridal style as quickly as he could, running towards the door leading outside of the stadium. As much as he wanted to fight them, he needed to take care of A'stea first and then come up with a counterattack later on.
"Wait!" A'stea reached behind where Fi'ka's body laid. "What about Fi'ka!? We can't just leave her here!"
"I'm sorry, A'stea! But we have no choice! If we don't leave, then—" A blast zipped past his shoulder and hit the stadium's wall, almost leaving a crescent hole in him and made A'stea gasp.
"Don't let them escape!"
They saw several guards running at them with guns and spears at them. In a panic, Kaail turned around but it was a mistake as he watched a guard aimed at the. In his mind, there was no doubt that he was going to hit the mark. Still, Kaail shielded A'stea as he waited for the blow.
But instead, the guards suddenly fell dead to the ground with blades in their chest, thrust from behind. To Kaail and A'stea's surprise, it was the Hish warriors from before that slew the Amengi. They gave a glance towards them and Kaail could see that they weren't full of fear anymore.
"Go, my Lord! We'll hold them off as long as we can!"
"You . . ." Kaail opened his mouth but shut it again. The Hish males bowed their heads, showing their respect to the pair of them as one male roared.
"You're right about what you said! We will give you time and then come to fight with you! It is time to finish this but you need to get yourself and the ooman out of here!"
More Amengi guards showed up and began to shoot down a few Hish warriors as they charged at them. "Go!"
Kaail tightened his mandibles together. You guys . . . With the last gesture, he puffed his chest out and let out a roar. I'll never forget this.
With no more time to waste, Kaail carried A'stea and ran as fast as he could through the door and away from the stadium. Both of them could hear the cries and screams of many from the stadium as they scurried into the shadow of the jungle.
But as Kaail looked down at A'stea and saw her face tighten in despair and sorrow that seeped into his own body, he closed his eyes and thought.
How much more sacrifices must be made . . . before we are free?
Hi everyone!
This is getting insane for both sides in my opinion. Kaail showed impressive skills with the kainde amedha and showed the Amengi not to mess with him and I'm sure they got the message. But it's short-lived when those bastards killed Fi'ka right in front of them, devastating A'stea so much.
But they got help from the Hish warriors and managed to escape. But everything has changed now . . . and things will never be the same.
Will they get back on their feet to fight the masters? Or is the pain too much to bear?
Both sides . . . have to choose.
Find out when Chapter 59 comes tomorrow!
Thank you for the reviews (Anonymous-E, Mariah, NeverNeverLady, and IanAlphaAxel)! They are very important for me and I hope I see more readers posting as well. All opinions are welcomed. I hope you keep on reading! ;)
And thank you for your support. :)
Happy Hunting! :))))