Chapter 4
Disclaimer: I do not own Alien/Predator series or any characters and may not follow all customs and cultures found in Alien/Predator movies.
The wait seemed longer than anticipated, probably from all the tension between themselves in the delight to slay a few Bad Bloods. It was hard enough when their trip was delayed, waiting for permission from the higher ups to leave. Nai'stip was unusually quiet, staring at her wrist gauntlet the whole time while Vi'su tinkered with her technology and A'sao cleaning her bow.
It was thanks to the new report that oomans have been dropped on this Game Reserve for the Bad Bloods. When they landed, they encountered other species that were near their area but nothing they couldn't deal with but it was a matter of time before they heard cries of battle. Time, though, was the hardest lesson to master.
"Detecting something," Nai'stip hissed in delight, "Who is it?"
Vi'su clicked the side of her mask, a new upgrade no less."They are fifty clicks away in the dry plains. Looks like about four in a group."
"Are they ooman?"
"Let me see," Vi'su checked again, "No doubt about it. I think they're trying to cross towards our location."
Nai'stip hissed, "Then they are fools. And we were told that oomans were the ultimate prey. Intelligent, my ass."
A'sao rolled her eyes, "Can you blame them? Thrown into a place unknown with enemies all around? They may be regrouping for an attack of their own."
"I doubt it. Oomans think nothing but surviving, even killing their own. They are no different than the Bad Bloods."
A'sao stood from the branch, tusks scraping in the internal surface of her mask, "They are more than what they appeared. I studied their lang—"
"Useless."
A nerve was struck in her, the way her Leader lined the words with abhorrence. Without thinking, A'sao grabbed Nai'stip and threw her onto a trunk, claws exchanged and dug into their thick hides. The tree shook above, making Vi'su nervous and lowering her face as growls and clicks of irritation were exchanged between the two females. Despite the masks, both felt the heat of their breaths on their skin when they paused.
Nai'stip snorted, "Careful, A'sao. Even if you're from the Arrow Clan, I'm your Leader on this Hunt. I won't show any mercy for your dishonor."
A'sao bit the flap of flesh between her tusks, no denying the truth behind it. Nai'stip was in charge of this Hunt and to go against it would be disrespectful, if not dishonorable. Any more display of aggression would end this badly, death would be her final outcome. Keep it together.
She released her grip, puffing the rest of her anger towards the sky, "It doesn't matter. If we continue this, we're no better than Unblooded males."
Nai'stip clicked in exasperation, still not in a calm state. It was out of the norm for A'sao to act like that, her teacher and family would look down if they saw that. Then again, her and Nai'stip had a history of butting heads when it comes to sensitive and emotional topics that weren't a strong suit in the Yautja.
"Hold up," Vi'su raised a claw, "The oomans stopped."
All three looked in the direction Vi'su pointed. Scanning with their masks, the group of oomans were standing there, two stood facing the others with a knife between them. From the panicked movements of the others with their weapons raised and screaming nonsense, it was another skirmish between them. Nai'stip chuckled while A'sao rolled her eyes mentally. Of course she would enjoy this.
A'sao listened carefully, being the best translator of the three with the ooman language, including some of the slang. From what she could hear, they were arguing, the male that instigated the scuffle sounded desperate.
"What are they doing?" Vi'su said, "Something wrong?"
"I don't know. But I think it's not going to end well."
On cue, chaos ensued, the two oomans were goners before they even knew. The end of a spear skewered them like butter, raised in the air like a prize to be won. A'sao could smell the bloodlust of the attacker, it was all too familiar.
"Bad Bloods . . ." Her voice was lined with distaste.
Nai'stip and even Vi'su hissed, lined with anger but also anticipation, "Should we stop them?"
"No, Vi'su." Nai'slip raised a hand, "We'll wait until the Bad Bloods reveal themselves."
"But—"
She smacked Vi'su in the back of her head, "You question me? The oomans are on their own. Our only duty is to exterminate the targets. Understand?"
Vi'su had no choice but to submit. A'sao could do nothing, only to witness the brown-black striped female cower under their Leader. The weak submitted to the strong and Vi'su was no different. If it weren't for her skills in technology, she would have been dead a long time ago, let alone allowed on a Hunt like this.
A'sao turned her attention to the important matter at hand. She could see through the cloaks and saw the Bad Bloods kill the two and went after the survivors, it was useless for the oomans, they were already dead. Two of them got caught in a net, making futile attempts to escape while the last two tried to help. In the end, they turned on each other, the crazy one aimed to kill, all for its own survival. So much like the Bad Bloods.
The Bad Bloods released their pets, cutting them loose to track and kill. The Kurn took the violent ooman down and devoured him in such a rutal, cruel and disgraceful manner, no respect and honor in any way.
The endgame was near and the Bad Bloods were going to finish this group of oomans off at last. In a sudden surprise, the last ooman managed to get a shot in, satisfied to see it stab the Bad Blood. They materialized, growls of blinding anger resounded in the air.
"There he is," Nai'stip clicked in excitement, "What luck we have. The Leader himself appeared before us and got snitched by the ooman no less."
"Are you sure it's him? Is it Na'tou-Va?" A'sao asked.
Vi'su nodded, "I'm certain of it. But it's strange why he would pop up now."
"It doesn't matter." Nai'stip stood up, "We kill him and all of this will be ours. We'll go in and take care of those on the ground."
They revealed their weapons; Nai'stip pulled her shurikens, unsheathing the blades to check while Vi'su took her combistick, extending it, "Go first, Vi'su. Distract them."
A'sao watched as she jumped down, cloaked for better advantage with the element of surprise. She reached behind for her weapon of choice until Nai'stip grabbed her shoulder, "No. You'll stay here."
She opened her mouth to protest but her Leader beat her to the punch, "That's an order for your disobedience. Keep a lookout and take care of any Bad Bloods hiding."
Nai'stip was gone, following Vi'su for the battle to come. If it all goes well, their Hunt would be done before it even started, both females roaring the death rattle. The Bad Bloods, realizing the new enemy, roared back as they surrounded their Leader, the great fight ensured within seconds.
It was an utter insult to A'sao, she knew this was coming. Because of her behavior, she had no choice but to stay behind and watch. Her muscles tensed when Nai'stip's shurikens cut two Bad Bloods in half, leaving them crawling for mercy. More came out of the blue but Vi'su took care of them with a thrust of her combistick, green neon blood saturated the ground. It was glorious to watch . . . but the sting made her feel worse.
She signed. Fine then.
A'sao got her weapon of choice, a bow of metal and arrows of immense power. Passed on for generations, the art of the bow was carved into herself and her siblings, a pride to keep the old tradition going. The bow unfolded as A'sao slipped an arrow from her pouch. She aimed and searched, keeping her fingers ready to pull and release. So far, Vi'su and Nai'stip kept things in check but more Bad Bloods emerged. When one got too close toward Nai'stip, she stuck it down with an arrow to the chest, precise and deadly.
After a grueling few minutes into battle, it became clear to the Bad Bloods that they were unprepared. The Leader and the few of his followers that were still alive fled. Nai'stip roared in victory and chased in pursuit, unaware of the difficult position it let them. Vi'su glanced to A'sao, waiting for permission in the form of a nod. She took off, leaving her all alone.
They'll be fine . . . as long as Nai'stip doesn't get too cocky. I should follow and make sure there are no surprises—
A'sao's mask went off, signaling movement to her lower right. She growled, aimed in case whatever was coming would try and attack. Whatever it was, she was certain it would be dead before it could take another breath, little was she prepared for the shock she would face.
Running close, it was the last ooman from the group, somehow managing to escape the frenzy of bloodlust and death. It was a male, armed but running for its life. Curious, A'sao stayed and observed the ooman.
Of course, it ran into the thick bush of the jungle, it was the only place to hide from the Bad Bloods, but not the safest on this Game Reserve.
For a moment, A'sao debated. Should I follow it?
She shook her head. No point for it. Might as well return to Nai'stip before she has a mouthful for me.
Just as she stood up, her mask set off another alarm yet again. She turned to see a lone Yautja running into the jungle with a Kurn leading the pursuit, a lone Bad Blood managed to pass undetected. She had a good guess that it was hunting the surviving ooman. Bad Blood is what a Bad Blood is, no smarter than an ignorant pup.
The best decision is to leave and join Vi'su and Nai'stip and help finish the Leader off but something pulled her towards the jungle, to follow the ooman and the Bad Blood. It was a tough choice, worse with unknown reasons she didn't understand. Why is this hard? No point in saving one lone ooman male.
A'sao looked between the jungle and the plains where the Bad Bloods were being pursued. She had to choose . . . and fast.
She signed deeply . . . closed her eyes . . . and made her decision.
Thank you all for the comments/reviews for both my stories, especially during such a rough patch in my life. Hope to hear from all of you and apologies for my spelling/grammar lol. ;)
Notes:
Normal = Any human speaking English (ooman language)
Bold and Italic = Any Yautja speaking Yautja language