Chapter 6

Disclaimer: I do not own Alien/Predator series or any characters and may not follow all customs and cultures found in Alien/Predator movies.

As she remembered, Woodhurst led us down a maze full of hallways, leading toward the same metal door but with an addition of two heavily armed guards, carrying loaded weapons and wore padding resembling closely to what bomb squads wore. They saluted, not questioning their purpose as the General entered the code of a panel that was planted in the wall, the door releasing to allow them access.

Sara held her head high as they entered, down a spiral staircase, through the door and finally back to where she was prior to the assault by Brad and his lackeys but it was a complete surprise. Instead of darkness, bright lights filled white rooms that almost blinded her vision. When Sara got her focus back, she was taken by surprise at the difference, like light and day.

The empty rooms were bustling with activity, scientists in PPE running from one room to another, tampering with equipment that was beyond her. Unlike those in the upper levels working on equipment, vials of abnormal stuff stacked against the wall, containers filled with creatures with deformed skin or limbs. The one that caught her attention the most was with two scientists probing at some metal object, hollow like a thick arm could fit. A wrist gauntlet?

"This way."

General Woodhurst led them to the farthest door where there was less activity. However, there was a hall in the opposite direction with two soldiers walking alongside a metal box, a repeat of what she'd seen on her arrival. The mysterious creature fighting hard to get out, crashing into the inner walls of its confinement.

Sara's body stiffened. This base is giving me the creeps.

They arrived in another section, just as she thought this place couldn't be bigger. There was a firing range, training rings for hand-to-hand combat, and something else. A soldier trying a whip with serrated spikes along its length that sliced the two dummies close to each other. Strange and stranger.

"Here we are."

Through a smaller door, they came into a studio with tinted walls and windows to keep prying eyes away. Inside though, a blonde woman in a clean, white lab coat awaited them, holding an iPad but also a curious look at her. It took Sara a bit by surprise.

"Good of you to come, Dr. Hastings," Woodhurst shook her hand, "I apologize for the inconvenience at this time, given the pile of work in your department."

"It's all good, General." The woman, Dr. Hastings was smiling, her green eyes sparkled as she extended her hand, "You must be Lieutenant Gilson. Nice to meet you."

"It's nice to meet you too," She shook in return, a great first impression from a scientist.

Dr. Hastings stepped back somewhat gracefully, the aura around her though dissipated when her gaze caught Evans. Her smile gone, replaced with a frown of disapproval and a glare, "Lieutenant General Evans."

There was a heavy silence in the group, concentrated between Hastings and Evans. Sara had no need to think hard to see that they didn't like each other, the only question was how deep it ran.

"Dr. Hastings . . ." Evans looked around, "Where are they? Our guests?"

She grunted, "They are waiting in the holding room for us. I wanted to give time to have Sara sign a few disclosures before the introduction."

Sara watched as she swiped her finger across the iPad, "Now, Sara, you'll need to sign these papers, agreeing to the terms regarding your position as our guard along with your limited interactions with said 'unique' personnel that you already—"

"Um . . . Dr. Hastings?" General Woodhurst interrupted, "She hasn't met the personnel yet."

As soon as those words came out, Dr. Hastings froze, almost incoherent. It took a split second for her to snap, the glare back with greater intensity than Sara liked, "You told me she already met them."

Sara squinted her eyebrows. Met them? The ones from before?

The General, for a rare moment, had a hard time trying to form sentences, almost flabbergasted, "Not in the way you think. She was the one involved in the incident at the hunting grounds."

Dr. Hastings suddenly snapped, almost pushing Sara out of the way as she stormed at Evans, poking a finger inches from his face, "Are you kidding me!?"

The General reacted, pulling Sara away in turn before Evans lashed back, "It wasn't my fault!"

"If you had kept you men in check, this wouldn't have happened! But again and again, you keep sticking your icky fingers in my department! You should have fired Brad a long time ago since he's under your command!"

Sara blinked in shock. Brad was under Evan's command? She never took the time to ask who he belonged to. Then again, she never liked Brad but this was going to be strange and awkward from now on.

The argument escalated to incoherent shouts until the General shouted, "Enough! Both of you!"

Dr. Hastings and Evans stopped, taking a step back from each other to avoid any more confrontation, even keeping their eyes from taking a glance at one another, "Yes, sir."

Woodhurst sighed, showing exhaustion like Sara never witnessed before. This was a complicated circle with problems left and right and this was only the beginning. She feared what she'd get involved in the near future. This is insane.

"Anyway," She lifted her chin as the General turned to Hastings, "I think it's best that we delay the paperwork until she gets comfortable. So I think we should do slow introductions for now."

After a few minutes of silence, Dr. Hastings sighed. She tapped the iPad and then lowered it to her side, "Fine. Give me a second."

She disappeared through another door in the corner of the studio, shutting the door behind. As for them, the General and Evans dismissed themselves to have a silent conversation, leaving Sara alone to contemplate the recent events.

Great. So we have a scientist and a Lieutenant General bickering with each other. There's some bad blood between them. The question is how deep does this go?

She had a bad vibe from Evans the moment she came to the base but Dr. Hastings was still unknown. Maybe if I learn form when perspective, perhaps—

The speakers in the ceiling came to life with Dr. Hastings voice, "They're ready."

Woodhurst spoke, "Let them in."

There was an opposite door inside the studio that was glass protected. Sara senses the tension coming back, mostly from Evans. His knuckles were turning white and a vein popped from his forehead. Oh boy.

The door opened and out came Dr. Hastings first with two beings, massive to say the least, followed. They wore camouflage clothing with solid padding on their chests and shoulders. Apart from being taller than the average male, they didn't appear intimidating.

But when she saw their faces, the memories of the near death experience came back. She pinched her thighs, not knowing if she was afraid . . . or compelled.

"Calm down, Brother. This is all routine."

"Routine my pauking ass." Ma'dti's tusks scraped hard and aggressively, "This could be another one of their pranks for all we know . . . or another pyode amedha about to pauk its pants."

"Easy," He spoke quickly as the door opened. The female scientist, Dr. Hastings, as he could pronounce in his mind, came with a worried look.

"Alright, boys. The new recruit is here but there are complications."

Ma'dti growled, a display of irritation that the female ooman was all too familiar in its meaning, "I know but this wasn't my decision. Just come in and don't say anything."

She took the lead with I'koh next to ensure his brother didn't do something mur'kha, especially with the warning of the General and the pau'jit male that accompanied him like an unruly slave. But there was no choice, they were here and have nothing better to do but obey.

The room was big for ooman size, only three were waiting, two standing next to each other he recognized as the General, authoritative like a Yautja leader. But the younger ooman had a temper that almost rivaled that of an Unblooded, hatred that burned in his eyes, still bitter with their first meeting.

"Good of you to come." The translator decoded the language, a non-threatening gesture that I'koh quickly told Ma'dti, easing his anger a bit.

As he turned to face the last ooman where Dr. Hastings stood, he almost tripped on his feet. The female! She's . . . alive?

She appeared well, mostly as his observation told him. Remembering, he checked her shoulder for her wound. It was hard to tell, even with the mask, how the healing progressed on her dark skin. She's walking around with no assistance so she must be alright.

Dr. Hastings leaned to whisper in her ear, and then the dark skinned female looked at him. Something inside his chest leapt but deflated when she flinched for a second and took a step back, sending a sharp pain through his limbs. Don't kid yourself. She's scared for all we know.

"Lieutenant Sara Gibson, meet I'koh and Mad'ti," The blonde female's accent was hideous, not that it was her fault, oomans lacked the necessary anatomy to click effectively, it was the reason why the translator had been implanted into their necks, "They are the ones you will be working with."

The female suddenly turned to look at me, eyes widened. I'koh froze, unable to read what she was thinking. Oomans didn't give off musk like a Yautja but he sensed she was studying him.

"Are they . . . the ones who saved me?" The dark female spoke.

There was hesitation in the oomans but Dr. Hastings cut to the chase, "Well . . . that doesn't matter now."

I'koh growled, not liking the absent tone of gratefulness and the way she explained. He wanted her to know it was him, deep inside.

"The point being is that you'll be transferred to your original position with us in our department, working with—"

"I think that's enough for now."

The lou-dte kalei male interrupted, the urge to rip his tongue out grew in I'koh, reflected in Ma'dti. Sensing the impending trouble, Evans pulled the dark female away from Dr. Hastings, "This discussion will be saved for later when she begins her job with you."

Dr. Hastings sighed with reluctance, glancing at him and his brother, "I suppose so."

Evans dragged her away. I'koh can see the hidden distress in her face, uncomfortable and in silliness to follow. It booked his blood like magma about to erupt from a volcano. This is thic'jit.

Suddenly, the female halted, ripping her arm away, "Shouldn't I introduce myself to them?"

Evans spoke harshly, "They can't talk."

"Oh?"

"They have translators to understand what we are saying but they can't speak back like us. Too much of a bother."

The female turned swiftly towards Evans, "I get to decide if it's a bother or not. And it's disrespectful to leave without introductions."

I'koh waited for retaliation but Evans paused, then stood back in hesitation. This female had a stronger perseverance than he thought, expected since females of any species were smarter than the opposite sex despite the size difference.

She walked to them with confidence but some caution, timing her steps carefully. His brother growled softly, a warning to the female to stay away. She stopped and Evans reached for his hip, likely where he stored his burner.

Damn it, Brother! Not now!

I'koh growled a warning right in his brother's face, masks and all. In shock, Ma'dti stumbled back. He never expected such a reaction but it bought him time, just this moment to get to know her a little and she deserved respect from them.

The female relaxed, raising her hand, "My name is Sara Gilson, Platoon Lieutenant of the 75th Division Rangers. It's nice to meet you."

I'koh tilted his head, unsure how to react. He learned that oomans shook hands as a greeting so it was only courteous to do the same. Slowly, he raised his hand to meet her, much to the surprise of the General and Evans while Dr. Hastings was fascinated.

He anticipated what it would be like to touch her, wider if her dark skin made it any different from the rest but he couldn't look away from her eyes. The brown color brightened, pupils expanded as their fingers were about to touch.

Suddenly, everything snapped.

Evans pulled her aside, blocking his path and ripping her away at the last minute. But in his attempt to get away, he grabbed her injured shoulder, forcing her to gasp in pain, almost falling to her knees in a whine.

Without thinking, I'koh roared. How dare he!

Evans had his burner out and locked at his forehead while the General and Dr. Hastings carried the female away. The alarms went off, the red light flashed through his mask annoyingly.

"Stay back, you son of a bitch." Evans hissed.

"Stupid ooman. You're the one who started this." Ma'dti snapped, extending his dah'kte. The display of aggression set the male to cock his burner.

I'koh was also fed up but with the female gone, there wasn't any point to taking this further, especially when a few armed oomans swarmed in, guns aimed at them. They could kill them easily but it would be unnecessary and bring nothing but more trouble, even if it meant going against their Code.

He played the loop, choosing the words carefully, "Not . . . worth it."

It only pissed off Evans further, given it was using his voice, and he stepped closer. I'koh backed off, pulling his brother who wasn't willing to do the same. The male closed in, absolute rage in his eyes, the same ones like the first time they landed on this backwater planet.

Nothing's changed.

"Sir," Another ooman grabbed Evan's shoulder, "The General ordered you to meet him. Now."

With a grunt of disapproval, he lowered his burner and turned for the door. The other oomans followed but watched I'koh and Ma'dti until they were out. Of course, Evans would be the last one. He stood in the middle of the door and glared, "If you try anything else, you'll regret it."

He was gone after that. His chest filled with regret and felt more tired than ever before. When will this end?

"What was that, I'koh?" Ma'dti clicked, "Why did you lose it?"

I'koh closed his eyes, "I don't know."

Ma'dti growled in frustration, walking away, "Doesn't matter. Let's get the pauk out of here before I get really pissed off and do something stupid like you did just now."

He followed Ma'dti out of the room with a knot in his stomach. It was a stupid move, unhinging in front of the oomans like an ignorant pup, fearing the consequences. But at least he gained one thing in return.

Sara . . . That's her name.

Thank you all for your patience as it took me a long while to write this down, especially with a long chapter like this one lol. Hope to hear from you soon. Good Hunting!

Normal = humans speaking human language

Bold = Yautja speaking ooman (or using translator)

Bold and Italics = Yautja speaking yautja language

Dah'kte = Wristblades

Mur'kha = Stupid

Ooman = Human

Pau'jit = Bastard

Pauk = Fuck

Pyode amedha = Soft Meat

Thic'jit = Bullshit