Halo: Predator Lost. Ch7. Warning, some gore ahead also remember to protect the family jewels, they tend to hurt like crap when hit regardless of who or what you are.
Turns out there were multiple Alexa Woods in this time frame, though it didn't take long to figure out which one. Stepping back, Scythe after seeing the oomans operate the controls, took over and began to input the needed instructions to look up her biography. Understanding the increased confusion between both Winter and the oomans, Scythe sent a message to Winter to look up Alexa Woods going by Lex in their own database.
Recognizing an audio file that told her story, Scythe was about to hit play before Sara in her infinite curiosity asked a question.
"Why her, I mean, of all the people to look into why her?" The question was written on all their faces but the only answer was to simply push the button.
"Guess we'll find out then, here, sit, we may be here a while," Mike said, bringing up a chair.
hmm, interesting, he's doing a historical comparison. Winter thought.
"Alexa Woods, Born May 4th, 1975, in Anchorage Alaska was one of five children born to Jack and Lisa Woods.
Taking after her father, Alexa Woods started her life enjoying the outdoors and hiking every known mountain in Alaska. By the age of twenty, she had successfully become the youngest woman to hike Mount Everest without Oxygen. The following year she undertook various triathlons. Upon turning twenty-five she completed helicopter flight training and fixed-wing aircraft, then began her long career of leading expeditions and tours throughout the globe.
In October of 2004, Miss woods would meet her future husband Maxwell Stafford. Their meeting was by chance as in that same month Miss Woods's team had been captured and tortured by enemy insurgents during an expedition in Central America. In the encounter, Italian archeologist Sebastion was sadly killed when upon not receiving a ransom, the insurgents poured molten lead down his throat. This resulted in a quick and lethal response when Maxwell Stafford and his team of contractors were sent in to rescue the hostages.
Alexa Woods was the only survivor and would later recount that just before the mercs showed up, one insurgent tried to force her to give him head. What ended up happening was she bit down and ripped his scrotum off, taking one of his genitals into her mouth before spitting it out. Before the others could kill her the mercs showed up and killed them all with one insurgent bleeding out from his injuries."
Right then Scythe paused the video. This is bad, very, very bad. time travel is one thing but this, this well outside the realm of what should be possible. Sure it's been theorized and even used to tell interesting stories in fiction but this isn't fiction. Just what in paya happened to us. "Winter brief these oomans on the difference, as they will know doubt asked". Scythe requested, his claws balled into fists, in clear rage.
Winter by contrast was still flabbergasted by both stories. While humans were more than adept at deception, their faces clearly showed they were confused. The pieces were coming together now.
"Hello?, Can someone explain to us what this woman has anything to do with, well anything. Your clicks, growls, and clenched fists scream something is amiss." Sarah said condescendingly, her eyes darting back and forth. Mike, by contrast, had a theory but wanted confirmation first.
This was the moment of truth and it was a truth that I wish Scythe would spout but nooooo. All those years studying humans and their languages has now come back to bite me in the rear. Reluctantly Winter started his own take on history.
"According to our own database, Alexa Woods, or Lex, lead an expedition to one of our pyramids used as our rite to adulthood. Located on Bouvatoya island in Antarctica. Things went bad and her team nearly stole our weapons which resulted in the deaths of two youngbloods Likewise she was the only survivor but she was blooded by one of our own named Scar.
A few years later the two would meet up again and after surviving yet more peril, Lex would leave Earth with Scar, and just several cycles before I was to be sent to their mothership they became". Winter had to do a double-take on the last part as such a thing hasn't been seen in thousands of years, even looking up at Scythe, who nodded his head to confirm it. "Lifemates, or husband and wife by your standards". Winter finished, shutting off his display.
"Oh boy, so that is why you're angry and tense, it wasn't just time you guys traveled but also the dimensional barrier between realities. Which means" Bringing his hand pinching above his eyes. "Your species could very well not have achieved space flight yet, or may not even exist at all. Sorry to say but we don't have technology like that, in fact, we've never encountered any technology that could do that so whatever phenomenon that hit you must have been unique." Mike finish.
The armored one left something out that Sarah noticed and since they were alone, decided to risk asking it. "Why did you build a pyramid in Antarctica".
Winter was done talking at this point and simply brought up a visual story of Earth's history with them.
"Thousands of years ago, the Yautja found a backwater planet. They taught humans how to build and were worshipped as gods. Every hundred years the gods would return and when they did, they would expect a sacrifice." The images that were shown to the two humans, had large starships over Pyramids but the sacrifice image showed some spider-looking creature mounting the face of a human.
"Humans were used to breed the ultimate prey." Sarah and Mike nearly lost their lunch upon seeing a creature erupt from the person's chest and the sound of it was a grotesquely painful affair.
"The Yautja would hunt these hard meats to deem themselves worthy, to carry the mark." The visual now showed a predator with a xeno's head on a spear roaring victory as the ship fly's over.
The last scene showed three of them at the top of the Pyramid fighting against an entire swarm.
"But if the Yautja lost, they'd make sure nothing survived." Followed by the detonation and destruction of the entire city.
Shutting down the display Winter and Scythe await the human's response.
Mike was already going through now why they kept a tight grip on their weapons. These beings killed humans and yet also accepted them into their society if they proved themselves. Such ideals were contradicting but then humans were no different. A noise was heard and the other one had typed into the terminal adding to its database. Upon completion, the data that showed on the monitor was the code by which these creatures lived.
The code read like the rules of engagement with some similarities to ancient Japanese Bushido minus the Seppiku aspect, which explains a number of things. The whole reason why they have a nuke on their arms was to prevent outbreaks or technology from falling into the wrong hands. However, it was now clear this was the supreme law, much like the Constitution of the UEG and several other nations.
"So you hunt, worthy prey, to make yourselves better killers. Am I correct in guessing your race doesn't believe in conquest or mass genocide?" Mike asked
Both Predators nodded their heads.
"Okay, so if your code states you should obliterate yourselves to prevent your technology from entering the wrong hands then why haven't you?" Sara asked.
This thought had crossed their minds, both who had the code drilled into their minds since they were pups and any trade with other interstellar races were to be relegated by representatives chosen by the Council. Even then these were extremely rare and only the most pacifistic of species who had something of value had any hope of gaining anything. Sometimes those pacifistic races would be given advanced communications technology so should they encounter hostiles or bad bloods. Then the Council can be informed and the needed response dispatched. Such cases were extremely rare though
The humans by contrast were anything but peaceful, since their creation war has always been part of their nature, no matter how much they try to hide or run from it. War will always get out, whether it be against themselves or other sapient races. It's why they were second only to the hardmeats in terms of a threat, not because of their strengths but because of their ability to adapt which is second only to the Yautja.
Truth be told, they hadn't had a clue why they hadn't imploded the ship, then fought until the time came to explode themselves. The odds of getting back were practically zero. No rule or protocol existed for a situation like this.
Mike and Sarah couldn't help but compare the situation and the creatures to statues. It had been minutes and neither one had moved a muscle. Both contemplated what they would do If they were in the same situation and truth be told, action spoke louder than words. Standing up Mike pushed the chairs out of the way. now all eyes were on him waiting for what he was doing.
Once enough room had been achieved. mike unholstered his sidearm and handed it to Sara, flipping his hand to stay back then drew his knife. Which had a long tanto-shaped blade with a black leather grip, the blade itself was made of strong flexible steel and parkerized, giving it a black color.
"There is much of our history you need to read and then be brought up to speed on current events but allow me to prove that when pushed, the instinct to survive is far stronger than any thought. Keeping politics out, if you wish to maim or hurt me, don't hold back, all I ask is you don't kill me, after all, it would be a shame for me to die before asking my subordinate out on a date". Mike then winks at Sarah who proceeds to blush a little bit.
Winter likewise steps back yielding the floor to Scythe, who had far fewer weapons on him.
Stepping forward Scythe likewise removed his combi stick, shurikens, and lastly his mask. Pulling out his own knife which looked more akin to a small machete in his hands, he got into a fighting stance. followed by an ear-shattering roar.
Mike's heart was pumping a kilometer a minute, already thinking this was a bad idea and so, without much thought ran toward the monster.
Running, toward him, Scythe noticed the human throw his knife underneath and passed his legs. figuring the ooman was going to dive, Scythe crouched only to be surprised what the human did next. In the split second, it took for him to crouch the ooman jumped and rolled barely missing the claws before grabbing one of Scythe's dreads and yanking hard.
Not liking such pull, Scythe wasted no time in giving Mike an elbow jab, with enough force to send him flying into the wall.
A loud thump was heard as he hit and fell but to Sarah's surprise, he was smiling despite having the wind knocked out of his lungs.
Now that is some serious strength. I wonder if he was even using his full strength but I doubt it. Coming back to his feet, his knife was slid toward him. Picking it up. and moving back into position. This time it was Scythe who charge.
Quickly moving to the side, only to have his legs get kicked out from under him, Mike quickly rolled to the left before a monster of a knife impacted the floor where his shoulder would have been.
Quickly getting to his feet, Mike was about to bring the knife up before Scythe punched him in the lower gut, sliding ten feet into the adjacent wall. This time his contents were released onto the floor. Amazingly his knife was still in his hand. Even so, his lungs were on fire, his muscles ached all over, and yet with sheer determination, wiping the puke on his sleeve, made ready to attack again.
Scythe was now impressed by this ooman, as he stood back up ready for more punishment. Still, the time came to end it. This time both ran, Mike jumped hoping to at least hit something, only for the predator to simply plow into him and back onto the floor with a loud thwack.
Winded again, the predator didn't wait and simply removed his knife, then grabbing Mike by the neck lifted him up to eye level.
With some fight left in him, Mike simply punched with all his might into scythes' face. The resulting crack was heard as Mike's bones rattle upon hitting what felt like solid steel. leaving his right arm on fire from the pain before going limp. His remaining arm going to the vice grip hand holding him there like a ragdoll.
"Cough, cough. You see, when one is alone and scared, they will do anything to survive, and I do mean anything." Mike said his voice barely even registering but before Scythe could think of a response, Mike put all his remaining strength into kicking him in between the legs.
Dropping Mike like a sack of potato's Scythe roared in pain from getting hit in the nethers.
Winter cringed at such an act, knowing how that feels firsthand.
Mike, waited for Scythe to kill him now but instead heard a trill that sounded almost like amusement. "You are worthy prey ooman." I could have dropped this human far more quickly but it has been a long time since I've had a sparring match.
"So what was the lesson here?" Sarah asked.
"Survival and the will to live on the hope that something good may come, even in the harshest of times," Mike answered knowing he is going to be very sore in the morning and the blood on his fist throbbed like no tomorrow.
Upon replacing his mask, Scythe noted hairline fractures in the oomans hand.
"I guess it's time to call it a day then, I'll take Mike to get fixed up."
"No Sarah I'll manage, you escort these guy's back to their shuttle, I'll need to debrief Colonel Stein anyway."
"Okay, same time tomorrow then?" Sarah asked.
"It's a date," Mike answered before leaving, cradling his injured arm.
On their way back many reporters tried to get answers but were only met by the sound of silence by the small group. Upon reaching the perimeter fence where a new group of troopers had taken over. The predators went back into their ship, while not showing it. Their lives had become bleaker and neither one would speak much to each other, still digesting the news. At this point even with subspace comms, it now seemed highly unlikely any Yaujta existed here outside of them.
.Okay I need an honest answer here, should I move this up to an M rating yes or no?
In case you haven't noticed Winter will say Human correctly while Scythe uses the term ooman. This is based less on respect more on the difference between the two characters and their backgrounds.
Robert C. Since I can't pm you, I'll have to do that here. I couldn't help but notice you reviewed not only a chapter but also gave your own opinion on another reviewer and I must say you are very correct.
I agree the Yautja aren't Xenophobic in the least, now individually I can see some being xenophobic and speciest. Case and point Blue from another fanfic on archive who wishes Lex to fail in the hunt because she is human. Or Stealth from again another avp fic who was a very sadistic predator who saw humans as playthings.
There are plenty of examples in both the comics and movies that support this lack of a phobia.
Now as for DNA compatibility, that makes a lot of sense since the predators are the only ones whose blood has proven very adept at working with the DNA of humans in its healing properties but other races in various universes it's just oh I have this, and boom instant hybrid. Now to be fair unlike in trek and star wars. I can see genetic manipulation being a viable option in order to produce hybrid offspring
Now the Asari from mass effect, have a good excuse as they can take the desired traits from another species to alter the genes of their offspring. The process is confusing but I find the Asari a sad race since they don't usually breed until 350 years of age. By contrast, a Predator is able to start birthing or fathering offspring as early as fifty years old and can do it during mating season or when an attractive female catches their fancy.
Krogan are the reptile rabbits of Sify, enough said.
plenty of fics depict Lex and Scar either having the ability to make offspring or not at all. Depends on the author really.
The same is true for a lot of fantasy worlds as well.
All that said I was half tempted to make a joke and just go, yep, time to go nuclear, taking out the ship and colony with it, end of the story.
Actually, I could do that as an alternate beginning and one-off.
Now actions scenes are really hard to do so any pointers would be very helpful.
Now the Engineers from the Alien films were true scum of the galaxy. Any race they helped or did create and didn't meet their expectations were eliminated in short order
Now then, thank you all for reviewing. Seriously I don't know why this fic of mine has garnered more reviews and favs than my previous one but who cares. Since no one really reads Winters backstory that just gives me more stuff to add here. mwahahahaha.
Another open question. Since I'm effectively building Algolis into a decent planet How many people do you think is on it?
Also is the pace too slow, too fast, just right, let me know what you think?
Now as always, please review, credit will be given to those whose thoughts I use in the next chapter.
Thank you.