Chapter 22: Maltreatment

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

I didn't remember much afterward. My memory kept on blinking in and out. Parts of it were vague, clouded in the thick darkness that not even a cut from wrist blades could penetrate it. When Hakr'ouh kicked me on the head, I thought for sure that I might have received a concussion that was severe than expected. But it would be later when I realized it was much more than that.

The first time I woke up, I was lying on the cold ground of one of the containment areas. These were located near the Council's building but this particular one was built to hold the foulest Yautjas that have committed the worst of crimes, worthy to be seen by the Council and executed appropriately. I'd only seen a few in my younger years. The torture was unbearable to even watch but I had to understand the role I would take when it was my time. I remember my father telling me to keep my head up and watch or else I would get a piece of the beating the Bad Blood was enduring.

At that time, I feared him.

But now . . . it was different.

The Council is dead and the containment area had a new purpose: to prison the honorable Yautjas that tried to defy the Killer Yautjas ways until they were converted, out of fear mostly, or played around as training bodies until they were run to the ground. I heard the roars and cries of a Young Blood of the D'itot Clan that had abandoned him and sat in the cell next to me. His words echoed in my ears and little could I do to appease his fears.

How can we hope to get out of here?

I closed my weary eyes at that moment, unable to answer. But I wondered if it was because I was too weak or I refused to give false hope. Maybe I have given up . . .

The Young Blood was dragged out by a guard, thrashing with all of his might. But the guard knocked him out and took him away. The worst was when I saw the aftermath. The same guard came back on his regular patrols, giving minimum food, enough to keep me and the others alive. But he stopped at my cell. His cold mask hides nothing from me. I felt glee all over him, making my stomach tremble. As one last act of disrespect towards me, he held the skull of a Yautja and I had no doubt who it belonged to. I turned my head away long enough that the guard took little interest anymore and left.

After that, the days melded together and I had no idea how long I was there. My body grew weaker that was for sure. I could count my ribs easily and my stomach tensed and twisted from the unbearable hunger. But Hakr'ouh gave orders to not treat all of my wounds, only the severe wound to my shoulder. Even that, they only did the minimum. Eventually, the others fester and drained me of the precious energy I had left.

But my misfortunes got worse.

"Hey! Wake up!"

I felt a swift kick to my thigh. Normally, it would feel like a poke but with my body weak, it sent a radiating pain throughout my muscles. I bit into the insides of my mouth and my mandibles scratched on the surface of my cheeks. I didn't want to give the satisfaction of a roar filled with agony. It didn't matter as the guard grabbed a handful of my dreadlocks and pulled me onto my feet. I couldn't stand on my own so two more guards held me by my arms. The first one inched his face forward, urging my instinct to grab him and punch a hole in his pauking face.

"Our Leader requests to bring you to him."

I huffed. "No news to me."

Does he want me to say something about it? Congratulations? An honorary salute?

The guard slapped me across the face. I felt my jaw popping when he hit the joint connecting them. Blood splattered in a line across the floor and I coughed the rest out.

"Pay more respect. You're in no position to say anything."

He nods at the other guards and I was dragged out of the containment area. The pain began to grow in my head. My vision swayed in and out of the darkness before the latter won.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

My vision returned but not exactly to the fullest. Blurs of white obscured my eyesight but it eventually returned . . . I wished in some part of me that I would rather stay asleep. I tried to move but my arms and legs were constricted, tied apart by chains that stuck to the adjacent walls. I was hung on like a piece of meat readied to be sliced apart. I was greeted by Hakr'ouh of all people with some of his lackeys watching. He stood as if he'd won a battle, eating a piece of leg from some creature I couldn't make out. What battle, you pauking coward?

"So . . . still not dead, I see?"

He takes another bite off the leg, chewing with his mouth wide open for me to see, mandibles spreading to lick off the bits of flesh that managed to get stuck. He was testing my willpower. I will never give you the satisfaction.

"Nothing to say for yourself? You had a mouthful with my guard earlier."

He took one last bite before throwing the leg on the ground. I could see though that some of the males were eyeing the piece of bone as if they were just as starved as I was. Some even began to drool. Some small males weren't even fully grown with collars on their necks. Hakr'ouh decided to take in servants but treat them much more coldly than before, not even bothering to feed them. Although they could move around, they were in the same place as I was.

I turned back when I heard Hakr'ouh walked closer to me. "Well? My Lord Daugo . . . or should I say 'Blood Assassin'?"

I cringed at the name once more. He'd tended in the past to use that name as an insult and it still boils my blood to this day. Now, he had no filter or anyone to give reprimandation for his disrespect. The guards began to chuckle in unison. Still, I didn't budge. They were trying to get a rise from me and I wasn't about to bow down to them. My reputation as a Clan Leader wouldn't let me.

Hakr'ouh leaned his face closer for a second, studying me before he punched me in the jaw. I was somewhat expecting that but the pain was another. I spat a bit of my blood on the floor as it burned the back of my throat. I glared back at him, undeterred in my conviction. But he wasn't done with me just yet. He hits me again but harder and more viciously. Again and again, he hits me until I didn't have the strength to lift my head, unable to split the blood welding in my mouth. I could do nothing to quench the burn in my throat.

"Had enough?"

Hakr'ouh hisses in amusement. My mind was so concentrated on my breathing that I couldn't answer him. It didn't matter what I wanted. He dug his claws into the bottom of my chin. I felt them puncture my skin and crash into my jaw. I groaned . . . the only way I could communicate. He forced me to look into his eyes but they were different. He'd changed to his hideous form that was the result of his gene manipulation. His form grew in size. Red lines spread through his skin like lava over the Earth. Extra mandibles protruded and flared at me when he roared abnormally. He's more of a monster now.

He laughs. "You think that you're better than me? Since you follow the Code of Honor?" He shook his head. "It only makes you weak and has reduced you to accept even prey into our fold. All I want is to make our species great again. To bring a future that is ours."

I had no idea why he was baffling over but it was clear of his intentions. It had been brought up in our minds and bodies to become the greatest hunters in the universe. It was not lost on Hakr'ouh but how he showed it was in question. I had no idea what made him change but it had to be bad. Little is known of his past so I could only go on speculation. Still, my mind was out of it so I couldn't think of anything anymore.

Hakr'ouh suddenly let me go harshly so his claws scraped a piece of flesh, leaving a bloody gap behind. It stung when the air made contact as Hakr'ouh spun around, walking to one of his followers. I couldn't see what he was reaching for until he turned around, carrying some kind of metal whip. More torture . . .

"You see this?"

He unrolls and moves it until it runs across the floor, scraping across it. It didn't look any different from one of the whips that he trained some of the Young Bloods on but never let them use. They were reserved for the very best warriors.

"I had this made specifically to represent the same weapon used back on the ooman planet . . . made by Arkarb himself."

Arkarb? He's alive . . . I have half expected him to spare the old warrior. He was the greatest forger of weapons and Hakr'ouh isn't stupid enough to let him die like a dog. Still, I thought he would take the honorable death. He was a great follower of the Yautja ways so I assumed that either he was forced or planning something.

"As I recall, this was the same one that the oomans used on the hybrid."

As if he stung me, my body jerked. I knew who he was talking about and the feeling triggered a rage inside me, dulling the pain inside. Is he going to go there? You pauking bastard! I lunged at him, even though he was too far and my arms were constricted. Hakr'ouh saw the change in my temperament and took great satisfaction in it. He chuckled evilly, walking slowly to me but stopped on the edge so I couldn't reach him.

"You still care for that hybrid female? What was her name again? Anya or Ta'kasa?"

I growled. "She's far superior than you'll ever be."

"Is that so? If she was, then why did she die the way she did? Shot down by a couple of Bad Bloods when she fled. Sounds more like a coward than a Leader."

I lunged again snapping my mandibles at him. The thought of ripping him to shreds was becoming more tempting.

"And that ooman female . . . Mia was it?"

I froze in my spot, hearing him speak her name. "She was a pretty thing . . . I have to admit." He starts walking back and forth in front of me, flicking the whip in his hand once in a while. The sound it made on the ground was awful. "I could see why you fell in love with her. A strong-willed prey that stood her ground against the mighty Blood Assassin. She had some guts to not be afraid of you."

My mind betrayed me for a moment, showing images of her smile and beautiful blue eyes. I clutched on those memories for as long as I could remember. The times when she spent teaching me her language, being so patient with someone like me . . . The light from the reflection of the moon from the lake makes her soft skin glow . . . The taste of her . . . I wished some times that I could go back before all of this. I closed my eyes and held on. The only thing thatkept me sane through my imprisonment.

"It's a pity that she died the way she did."

This was his game. Hak'rouh had a special talent to torture his prisoners psychologically. I had seen some of his 'talents' in action when interrogating Bad Bloods before. He could deceive them into thinking he is their ally until they are of no use to him. I was no exception but it was worse. Not only did I know it was a trick but he knew which strings to pull on me. He's far more observant than I thought.

Hakr'ouh chuckled. He stopped flicking the whip altogether. "You could have saved her life and ended all of this suffering on her and Anya if only you went against your promise and went into the facility to get them out. All of this would have been avoided and Mia would still be alive."

I wanted to roar but part of me knew he was correct. If I had gone in there with Mia, there was a great chance that I could have saved them both. But I didn't want to go against the promise I made for her, not because of the Code of Honor I strictly followed but I had faith in her. If only I . . . I couldn't finish my sentence and lowered my head to the ground once more, ashamed.

Without warning, Hakr'ouh grabs a handful of my dreadlocks and pulls my head up once more. "You see? The Code of Honor makes you weak. It only brings nothing but pain and misery."

He lets go and moves back, looking down at the whip for a moment. With a click of a button on the shaft, the whip glowed a bright red. Flames from the spine rose throughout the length, making it like a weapon forged in the pits of death. His red eyes pierced into my golden ones before his mouth twisted into a smile. "Now . . . you will feel the suffering you brought upon them for your incompetence. A worthy punishment for you. Don't you think?"

I took a deep breath, lowering my head. As much as I didn't want to admit, he was right. I couldn't save Mia . . .and I couldn't protect Anya. I broke the promise I made to her. I let out a deep breath in defeat. If this is what I deserved, then so be it.

I heard the whip move across the floor, followed by a sudden slap on it next to me. He was preparing for a trap and I waited for the first blow to come.

But it didn't.

I thought he was delaying, making the punishment last longer until I heard another guard come into the room. The way he was panting and the pace of his steps, something serious had happened. Hakr'ouh didn't seem pleased at all.

"What is it!?"

I tried to lift my head to see but my neck was too weak to move. But my ears still worked, not expecting to hear what the male had to say.

"My Lord. Qut'suak has returned from his mission on the ooman planet and has some news."

"What news?!" I heard him stop his foot on the ground, making it shake. Even enough for the chains binding me to tremble. "Can't you wait until later. He's only reporting on the oomans' movements and their plans."

"He's discovered that the hybrid has survived."

The whole room went silent, followed by clattering of whispers. It took me a minute to realize the meaning of those words. My eyes widened. Anya is alive?! With renewed strength, I raised my head and saw the shock in Hakr'ouh's eyes. There was no doubt if even himself believed them.

"Let me see."

Hakr'ouh growled. The male shuddered as he pressed a few codes on his gauntlet. The hologram emerged to show a recording that was playing a clip of the ooman planet in Qut'suak's POV. First, it showed the kainde amedha that Qut'suak released to hunt for something. The next few minutes were slow and boring until he saw movements from a distance. One of the creatures was fighting something but made clear when he got closer, showing Lar'ja fighting it. A few seconds later . . . an image of Anya came, protecting another female ooman by the looks of it. My heart pounded as I held my breath.

Anya!

There she was . . . alive and well. And with Lar'ja . . . I didn't have much knowledge of what happened to my son or whether he was okay, thinking they kept it under wraps from me. Her brown hair swayed with the breeze and I could see her blue eyes. She's . . . okay. I felt my heart leap in joy but only lasted for a second as the recording played on. She used her body to shield the female ooman behind her who was frightened. Lar'ja growled in warning but Qut'suak's attention was focused on her.

"Still protecting oomans? I should have known better that a hybrid would concern herself with them."

"How did you even find us?

Her voice called. It rang in my ears like a blessing on me. Although she sounded worried, it was a bit of solace that comforted me. The recording went on for a while with a conversation, followed by fighting between them and the abomination of the kainde amedha. Then, it showed Qut'suak taking the ooman named Molly away to his ship with Lar'ja and Anya in went on and on until they stopped at the ship with a stalemate. I watched as Anya bargained for Molly's life. It hurt me to see the pain in her eyes, still suffering from the Bad Blood's torturous ways.

I had to look away when Qut'suak released Molly, only to shoot her with a dart of kainde amedha blood. It was inevitable what was going to happen to the female. Anya's voice cried in agony, stinging my chest as someone stabbed it. The recording ended right then and there. The male turned off the hologram and stepped back. I glanced to see Hakr'ouh's reaction but his face revealed nothing at the moment. He was analyzing.

"So it seems Ta'kasa is alive. And Lar'ja and Xen'ork is with them . . ." He grunts. "What else has he found?"

The male stepped forward. "The hybrid is working with a coalition of oomans specialized with the secret weapon brought to them two seasons ago. He believes that they might have plans to counter-attack us."

"I see . . . you may leave then."

He dismissed the male but as soon as he turned, Hakr'ouh resends his order. "Wait a moment."

The male seemed scared, unsure of what will happen to him. But he obeyed and came back. Hakr'ouh walked around, rubbing his chin until something sparked in him. I became worried about the grin that was forming on his mouth. He looked to the male before nodding at the guard near the door.

"Send Qut'suak a message that we'll be departing immediately. I think it's time to pay a 'special' visit to my dear comrade and friend."

The guard bows and leaves the room to do what he was commanded. My breath caught when Hakr'ouh looked back to me, smiling. This isn't good.

"What are you . . . planning . . . to do?" My voice was weak but I had to say something. I feared what the answer might be . . . that he would go for Anya now that he knows she's alive. I glared to make my intentions known but it faltered when Hakr'ouh didn't react at all, The smile still stuck on his face.

He turns to the previous male who hadn't moved. The male lowers his head in submission. The next thing I knew, Hakr'ouh dropped the whip, grabbed the head of the male in his hands, and lifted him in the air. Instinct drove the male to thrash in an attempt to break free.

It was useless.

With his bare hands, Hakr'ouh squeezed as hard as he could. The male's skull bursts open, splattering wet clumps of the brain in green neon color all over the floor. The empty cavity of the male's head showed with very little veins still trying to pump blood but it had nowhere to go but fall to the ground. The male's eyes clouded with death and mandibles hung like flaps of skin. Hakr'ouh throws the body across the room, slamming it into the wall until it slides to the ground, lifeless.

Some of the guards cringed at the sight but didn't move. It seems like this wasn't the first time he'd done this. No one was safe near Hakr'ouh . . . even his followers. They were nothing but toys made of flesh to sate his blood lust. No more than a beast. I had to hold in the feeling of vomit coming on but not out of the scene I was seeing. Seeing the corpse on the ground made me fear for Anya's life. Was he going to do that?

"Oh. Don't worry, Daugo." I snapped my eyes to Hakr'ouh, still smiling. "I won't harm the hybrid. She still has some use for me. Can't say the same thing for your son and the oomans."

I growled, lunging out at him once more but to no avail. Hakr'ouh walked over to where he dropped the whip earlier when he grabbed the male. He activates it once more and the flames return.

"Now . . . where were we again before I was interrupted?"

He gave me one last evil look before he finally made his move. He raised the shaft and thrust the whip towards me. The tail comes flying at me, landing a cut across my chest. The pain wasn't what made me roar but rather the burn it left behind. My skin began to peel off as the flames worked their way through and into my muscles. I pulled on the chains so hard that my wrists began to sting. I lowered my head so that he couldn't see the pain in my eyes. I heard Hakr'ouh laugh.

"Isn't this exciting!?" I heard the guards and the Bad Bloods begin to chuckle in amusement. He was making a show out of this, using me as the star of their entertainment.I didn't look but I heard Hakr'ouh stepping closer.

"Now . . . feel the pain of the one you swore to protect!"

Another lash of the whip cut into my thigh and did the same thing to my chest. I roared each time I felt the pain again and again. My body was on fire and I could do nothing to stop it. I threw my head in the air, closing my eyes tightly. I tried to fight through the pain of it all, thinking of Anya and wondering how she was doing.

But I couldn't help but think if this pain I was feeling was the same as Anya felt back on the ooman planet. Did she go through this? How could she stand all of it? It tore into my heart, worse than the torture of the whip as it cut into my arms and legs until finally reaching my neck and face.

It wasn't long before I passed out once more. But it did little to remove the pain inside my heart.

Hi Readers!

Another surprise chapter and I managed to get this done so I can work on the other stories with more to come.

Poor Daugo . . .

Not only was he tortured but Hakr'ouh was working his way into his mind so he could torture him psychologically. In my experience, that is far worse than any physical pain as you can't completely heal from it. But a far worse thing happened when Daugo was tortured in the same way as Anya in Twisted Fate. It broke my heart to write this chapter but it was very important.

The good news is that he found out Anya is alive but a little worrisome. Hakr'ouh killed one of his own without hesitation, showing how disconnected to sanity he was.

But could it be something to do with what happened to his body? Will Daugo manage to reunite with Anya and Lar'ja? Will he stay strong or will his spirit be broken before help arrives?

Find out when Chapter 23 will be posted soon as Balance keeps going. It might be coming next week so stay in tune for more.

Thanks to Anonymous-E, Mariah, and KyloRen'sgirl213 for reviews on Chapter 21. I really appreciate all of you coming back to this story and taking the time to wait for new chapters.

Thank you and Good Hunting!

Reading notes:

Normal = Human speaking English (ooman language)

Bold = Any Yautja speaking English (ooman language)

Bold and Italic = Any Yautja speaking Yautja language