Chapter 12

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

"Ku'mar . . ."

I'koh and the other humanoid alien exchanged growls, slowly walking in a circle as the chaos ensued around them. His focus was sharp in case Ku'mar tried to pull a fast one, wasn't the first time he did that and wouldn't be the last. So you finally come. He glanced at Sara every second he could spare, ensuring she was kept in his line of sight as an ooman soldier came to her aid. The hiss and groan she let out when she struggled to move tightened his chest. Not good.

Ku'mar chuckled, "So you were here all along?" I'koh didn't answer, "What a pathetic place you choose for yourselves, to be imprisoned like pets, degrading yourself. How unwarrior-like you've become."

"Better than being a Bad Blood," He mocked, "Even more degrading for one to experiment on yourself without relying on your strength."

"At least I didn't run like a coward," He suddenly looked around him, leaning to look to the side of him. I'koh only needed a second to realize the Bad Blood's intent.

He moved his body to block his path, "I'm your opponent. You came here for me."

The Bad Blood puffed like a toad, a nerve pulsed in his skull, "Unfortunately . . . But someone has to clean up the mess you made back home. Where's your brother, Ma'dti? Or did he run off like a coward?"

It stung in I'koh's heart, an insult to his brother and himself but there was truth behind those words. Ma'dti wasn't the bravest Yautja ever known and their time here on this backwater planet has made it worse. Still, he knew the Bad Blood was egging him on to make the first move, that was his mistake and there was another flaw in his plan. You can dish it out but you can't take it.

"So they sent you here for such a small job? They must think you're expendable after your botched attempt to catch us the first time. Isn't that right, Pau'jit?"

It angered the Bad Blood greatly, a short snarl and then I'koh was faced with a ton, angered monster coming at him with great speed and strength. I can't get caught in that. He barely dodged out of the way, another lucky shot as he cut his dah'kte into his enemy's side and then a few dreadlocks that got into the way.

He watched as the Bad Blood touched the blood and rubbed it between his fingers. He didn't like the feel of it, "You'll pay for that!"

I'koh crouched, blades outreached on the sides, "Then come and get me!"

He dug his heels into the ground as the Bad Blood roared and came at him with blades and claws eager to rip into his flesh. Given that he was bigger and stronger, he had to use speed and stealth to his advantage.

Right at the mark, I'koh ran forward and dove into a slide that barely missed the Bad Blood's blades but nicked the ends of his dreadlocks. He silently hissed at the shock that went up to his skull but it was well worth it as he cut into the tendon of his enemy's leg. In mid-swing, he pulled out a Beretta M9 semi-automatic that was modified to fit his hand and loaded with 'special' bullets that ripped through flesh and muscle altogether like butter. A little disappointment though, unable to completely sever the tendon thanks to the exoskeleton but the pleasure of Ku'mar howling in the air was worth it.

As the Bad Blood fell to one knee, I'koh saw his opportunity, the back of the enemy's neck was exposed, the only part unprotected by the hard shield of solidified skin. Now's my chance! He pushed his legs as hard as possible, using the momentum to dash right at the Bad Blood, readying his blades for the kill.

But at the last minute, the Bad Blood suddenly whipped his hand and latched on his forearm. I'koh barely had time to react before being swung up and catapulted into the wall, leaving a massive crater as he dropped to the ground, stabbing pain occupied every muscle fiber in his back. There was no time to recover as Ku'mar charged again, this time with all the force of a raging storm.

By Paya! He was grateful luck was on his side when he shifted slightly to the side, the Bad Blood's fist narrowly missed his face by inches, or else his skull would have caved in like a cracked egg. He had the disadvantage of being smaller so he couldn't rely solely on strength, speed and long-range fighting would be his key to victory . . . that is if he could keep his distance. I'koh sprinted, looping under to pass the Bad Blood by but gave a kick as a lesson, sweeping his leg under Ku'mar's to make him flop to the ground like a z'ink.

By the time he reached the end of the area, he watched as Ku'mar rose, shaking his head and dreadlocks, "Had enough?"

Unable to see his enemy's expression, I'koh was baffled at the sounds of a chuckle coming from Ku'mar. He was angry a minute ago. What's he up to?

"Something funny?"

Ku'mar slowly rose, circling with arms out as if boasting a win, "Good reflexes. I expected that you would soften being around the oomans and all. But don't count on a win just yet."

I'koh puffed, "How so?"

"Why do you pity these oomans?"

"Excuse me?"

He held back a growl upon seeing Ku'mar chuckle again and then strolled a bit to the side, "I mean . . . you sacrificed everything to come here, abandon your clan, betray our trust to warm such pathetic creatures."

Ku'mar paused, "You know, regardless of our involvement, the oomans are falling to their impending doom. All we're doing is providing mercy compared to what's to come. So why are you helping them?"

I'koh pulled his head back. What is he doing? Probably trying to get me off guard. He snapped his mandibles underneath his mask, displaying his irritation but it only put a crooked smile on the Bad Blood's face.

"Is it because you pity them? Or to fulfill some sort of obligation? For the honor that you lost? Or . . ." His eyes drifted to the side, "Or it is . . . for her?"

He couldn't help but look back, only for a moment but it was enough to make him nervous. Sara had been calm and alert but after Ku'mar gave a glare to her, it was almost taken over by fear. Despite not understanding their language, she knew all too well that it wasn't good at all. I'koh growled, again using his body to block the Bad Blood's view of her.

Ku'mar laughed, "I knew it. The oomans have rubbed off on you, which is why you will lose. Unlike you, I have no qualms about killing the weak."

Ku'mar suddenly threw his head to the ceiling and let out the loudest shriek that quieted the room for a brief second. I'koh crouched, expecting another charge from the Bad Blood or some trick to grab his attention. As expected, Ku'mar ran at him, unsheathing his wrist blades and holding his arms out.

Come on then! I'll take you on—

The Bad Blood suddenly jumped to the side, completely avoiding him as he ran past, ignoring the fact he was standing there with blades and claws. Oh, c'ji— He whipped around and realized his mistake, he wasn't the original target but another that was struggling to head to safety . . . Sara.

"No!"

I'koh took off without thinking, abandoning the fight to where Sara was, being dragged by another ooman to the barricades for protection. At their speed, they weren't going to make it, the Bad Blood would rip them to pieces in a matter of seconds and the other oomans were too pinned by the hybrids to be of any help.

"Fire! Damn it!" Sara yelled, shooting without hesitation while the other ooman soldier let her go to do the same. The bullets were nothing, barely leaving a scratch on the Bad Blood's skin. You fools! Run!

I'koh wasn't fast enough to save the ooman companion with Sara. Ku'mar had the soldier's head between his hands and raised it despite the protest of his prisoner, kicking and punching at the mandibles or anywhere to get free . . . There was no point. The ooman's head exploded in a thousand pieces of clear liquid, brain matter, and red blood with just a little pressure. With that one gone, nothing was standing between the Bad Blood and Sara.

"Time to make use of you," The Bad Blood reached for her, gun emptied and nothing else the terror in her face was too much.

"No!" I'koh lept above Ku'mar, aiming his blades to the base of the neck, anger, and determination blinded him to everything else, including what happened next.

In a split second, the Bad Blood had tipped his head just enough that the blade only nicked his skin. In midair, I'koh was helpless to defend himself from the arm swing that hit him square in the face, the biomask cracked on the impact that the inside penetrated his skin and he felt droplets of his blood emerging.

If the radiating pain in his skull wasn't enough, Ku'mar was right at him just as he was about to hit the ground. How's he so fast!? He crossed his arms in a reflex of defense but it was useless as he got a kick into his abdomen, forced to be slammed into the hard floor with the Bad Blood pinning him down.

"You think you can beat me?! Me!?" Ku'mar pounded his foot each time, harder than the last, "You're out of your pauking mind!"

The Bad Blood grabbed his dreadlocks, the pain shooting everywhere in I'koh's body that he howled but cut off when he was catapulted into the ground once more on his stomach. His vision blurred in and out of focus, darkness threatening to drag him back. This isn't good . . .

After an intense moment, the relentless beating ended briefly. I'koh could hear Ku'mar struggling to catch a decent breath, towering over with ill intent to kill, the thought of it alone was pissing him off. If only he had enough of the anger to get him out of this mess . . .

"Look at you," Ku'mar raised his head, digging his claws into the sides to twist and get a good look, "All high and mighty you thought of yourself a moment ago . . . and now you're like a zabin about to be crushed."

I'koh growled in offense, receiving a bashing of his face to the ground. He grunted, the hiss of the Bad Blood ringing in his mind, "Don't . . . kid yourself."

"Doesn't matter because you're about to die."

In the corner of his biomask frame, he saw Ku'mar raising his fist into the air, about to crush his skull and end this fight. Got tired, huh? I'koh closed his eyes, waiting for the embrace of Cetanu to come swiftly in a glimmer of hope. If only I had more time—

The roar of the Bad Blood got him to open his eyes, the sight above him was astonishing if not shocking.

Right on top of Ku'mar's shoulders was Sara, who had somehow jumped onto his back and stabbed a knife into the crook of the neck where the exoskeleton left it exposed. Despite the precision and effort of her attack, along with her brazen act to engage and the green neon blood trickling out like a fountain, it wasn't enough to fully kill him. By the time she realized the mistake, the Bad Blood's hand reached around.

"Watch out!"

I'koh could only watch as the Bad Blood had grabbed her and threw her a few feet in front of them, her cries and the sound of bones breaking made him think of the worst. He tried to call her, hoping she was still alive. To his relief, she gave out a long groan and tried to get on her feet. Ku'mar wasn't about to let her and screeched out a command. A Sk'irti came from above and tackled her to the floor, holding her down with its weight.

"Let go of me!" Sara screamed, "You bastards!"

"Tough female, aren't you?" Ku'mar pulled the knife and threw it away, "Such poor creatures, aren't they?" He smiled down on I'koh.

"Shut up . . . Don't touch her," He growled.

The Bad Blood chuffed, almost insulted in a way, "What is it that made you draw to the oomans like this?"

He refused to answer, "You know that they don't trust you. They treat you like prisoners, no matter how much of a bargain they gave you."

I'koh chuckled weakly, "And you know better?"

There was a long pause and then Ku'mar grunted, "Do they know what you've done to get here? What evil deeds you have committed with your former clan? On their kind?"

Ku'mar paused, his eyes glancing at Sara and then back to I'koh, "Does she?"

I'koh's eyes and mandibles widened at the smile that was forming on the Bad Blood's mouth. Before he could protest, he was being dragged across the floor before being slammed into the ground, his face being pulled forward until it was inches from Sara's.

"Maybe it's time to reveal what's underneath that mask. Shall we?"

I'koh could do nothing but let the inevitable happen. His body refused to move at his command, the pain coming in waves that worsened anew. All he was able to do was stare at Sara. When the mask was ripped off in a mere second, everything hit him at once. The light was too bright for his eyes and the stuffy air almost choked his lungs, but nothing compared to what he saw once his vision came back.

At the moment he met her eyes, his worst fears came to fruition, staring into her as her face contorted into one of absolute horror.

One that was face to face . . . with a monster.

Hi everyone!

Very intense moment is about to happen, lots of fighting and brutality that I hope will get you excited. More is to come within the next month along with my other stories.

Thank you and Good Hunting! :DDDD

Normal = Human speaking human language

Bold and Italics = Yautja speaking Yautja language

Dah'kte = Wrist blades

D'ank = Fish-like creature from an unknown planet

Ku'mar = Asshole! (in my opinion lol)

Pau'jit = Bastard

Paya = God/Goddess (associates with life/opposite of Cetanu (God of Death)

Zabin = Insect

Z'ink = Fish