Hunter: The Journey to My Purpose
On the ship...
Hunter stood on a metal walkway above a training area for the young warriors with his hands behind his back. I was kneeling next to him. He seemed so regal and commanding in that pose, watching the five young warriors mingle below. Fully armored and masked he looked every inch the dominant warrior of the ship. Taking a deep breath, he roared over the ship catching everyone's attention. He began barking out a speech to his hunting party. I didn't listen very closely but I caught a lot of curses, insults, and basically a rough motivational speech.
Hunter was a just leader but he knew how to deal out the crap to those beneath him just like a hard ass drill sergeant and he took no guff from anyone. Below I could see Garv and some other young Predators I recognized like Dark Eye; an olive green banded Predator with reddish eyes, one darker than the other; Quick Blade; a smaller but lethal dagger thrower; Fire Blood; a giant warrior proficient with throwing disks and spears; and of course Algar; probably the most dangerous of the group. When Hunter finished speaking the young warriors resumed their activities.
Hunter glanced down at me, "Why don't you make yourself useful and fetch a zexnet-chi," which was a potent liquor-like substance that warriors drank. I think it was a mixture of an alien creature's blood and some other substance that smelled awful. I nodded and cautiously made my way down to the training floor where the 'galley' was located. When I reached the liquor storage unit, as it were, I found the vial that contained the potent drink. The 'vial' of course was the skull of some creature. Predators loved to use skulls for a variety of purposes, and glasses were no exception.
The second the panel slid shut a metallic [THUNK! sounded right next to me. I froze and glanced to my right very slowly. Buried in the wall a mere centimeter from my head was a huge throwing star. My eyes were wide as I stared into the weapon's glistening outer blades. Behind me, I heard clicking laughter. Slitting my eyes, I whirled around and spotted Algar across the room still in a throwing stance. His buddies Quick Blade and Dark Eye were laughing uproariously.
"Algar you piece of shit!" I cursed him under my breath.
He hissed and flexed his mandibles.
Putting down the skull glass, I put my fingers in the weapon's hole-grips and it whined at the touch. I noted the size of the weapon was much larger than a normal throwing star. The center of it was the size of my head and outer blades stretched even farther. It was quite heavy too compared to a regular one. Easily, it released out of the wall. The throwing stars were very dangerous even to the user unless they possessed extensive experience in their use. Any wrong move or misguided catch could result in the loss of a limb or worse. I was never permitted to use the weapon, but I knew at least how to activate and deactivate them. Squeezing the inner grips in the enormous finger holes made the curving blades switch-blade back into the disk's body with a [Shiiick! I knew this monstrous weapon didn't belong to Algar, but to Fire Blood who was the expert at throwing these flying saws of death. Algar just borrowed it even though Fire Blood wasn't at present in the galley.
Grinding my teeth to stave my anger, I approached the group of Predators submissively. Algar watched my every move with an almost daring glare. I could tell he desperately wanted some excuse to start something with me. If I'd been another Predator, he wouldn't need a reason, but considering it wouldn't be honorable for him to start a serious fight with me, a much weaker opponent, he'd wait for me to initiate a conflict.
All at once, Garv appeared from the opposite side of the room and rumbled deeply at Algar, "Cut the shit Algar."
"You're taking her side as always? She's nothing but a worthless Ooman female. What she's doing here on our ship is beyond ridiculous!" Algar hissed contemptuously.
Garv rattled, "If you have a problem with Little Fighter being on the ship, then talk to Hunter not me."
A ragged snarl escaped Algar, "Hunter is getting soft in his years—it won't be long before our 'leader' screws up for the last time."
"Then challenge him Algar! I'm sure you've got theballs to try and challenge him. Hunter would kill you before you could draw a breath to issue your challenge!" Garv retorted.
By this time, the tension had grown so heavy in the room that I found it hard to breathe. I just knew at any second the two Predators would go at one another. But a twist of fate halted the argument when suddenly the galley door opened and a slight shudder vibrated the metal grates of the floor. I think my breath caught in my throat when I saw probably the biggest Predator I'd ever seen in my life muscle his way through the door. It was Fire Blood, one of the other young warriors along for the hunt—though his massive stature could've fooled anyone into believing he was much older. A giant Predator well over 8 feet tall and built out of thick rippling cords of hard muscle, Fire Blood dwarfed most of his Predator counterparts. His skin pattern was highly distinguishable from the other Predators in that his spots were much larger and blotch-like against his dark greenish cream skin. As he drew closer I caught a glimpse of his eyes, they were two-toned: yellow and red. Fire Blood looked like the type of warrior you didn't DARE pick a fight with unless you had a death wish. I'd only seen him a couple times before, but from what I could tell he was a force to be reckoned with.
The gigantic Predator entered the galley glancing about quickly and bellowing thunderously, "Alright! Who the Cho't took my throwing disk?!"
I stiffened and slowly looked at the disk in my hand. Shit.
Like a couple of 'good buddies' Quick Blade and Dark Eye pointed at Algar with clicks of laughter. They weren't in trouble so they thought this was incredibly funny. Fire Blood's head whipped around at Algar and purposefully he strode over to the smaller Predator with a growl. Algar shifted almost nervously and faced the stalking giant. Suddenly, before Algar could react Fire Blood seized him by the clasp of his chest armor and lifted him off the floor as if he weighed nothing at all! I gasped to myself at the impressive feat of strength. Clearly, his strength was as powerful as his presence. I would have loved to see Algar get thrashed, but something told me to do something before blood was spilled and I didn't want to be the cause of it.
Taking a deep breath and swallowing hard I shouted, "HEY!"
The titan looked over at me, still holding a snarling Algar.
I walked very slowly up to him and held out the huge disk. His head tilted downward as I came closer. My heart rammed against my chest though I tried to remain calm. Finally I stopped in his shadow, which I'd entered a few steps back and held my ground.
He blinked a second and his heavy mandibles flicked at me as I held the disarmed throwing disk out to him. Careless he dropped Algar and faced me directly with a curious turn of his head. He blinked again as if he couldn't believe such a tiny being would approach him as I had done.
It seemed like an eternity passed before he reached down and took the disk from me.
Then he said in a rumbling voice, "Well you're a brave little Tetch-na." (Tetch-na was a slang term for a female—and not a nice one either—probably the equivalent to "bitch".)
He didn't seem mad as I anticipated. My eye darted to Garv for a second but his posturing didn't seem worried. From what I gathered Fire Blood and Garv weren't enemies, but I wasn't sure how well knew each other. Perhaps they knew one other better than I thought.
Fire Blood circled me slowly until he barked, "Why did YOU have my disk?"
"Algar threw it at me." I said evenly.
The giant glanced back at Algar, who was glaring, and then he laughed, "He never COULD throw a disk right."
I had to suppress a laugh for my own sake. Algar might kill me right there if I laughed. Then without thinking I asked, "So are you going show him how it's done?"
After I said it, I wanted to cut out my own tongue. However, much to my astonishment Fire Blood clicked deeply in a chattering laugh his massive shoulders shaking. Then he tapped me 'lightly' on the back, nearly knocking me to my knees. I grunted softly in pain and straightened myself back up. That was going to leave a bruise!
"Come back later little Tetch-na. You'll make a good practice target!" he growled humorously—though I knew, he could be dead serious.
"Shit! Don't you guys have anything better to do than to try and kill me?" I stated, backing away from them to retrieve Hunter's drink before he raised Hell.
……
Perhaps two days passed on the ship before it finally landed. Hunter and the five warriors were all decked out in their armor and were heavily armed as usual. I hadn't the slightest clue what planet would reveal itself once the ramp lowered. I'd never been on a true hunt before so I didn't know what purpose I could serve. Standing next to Hunter the ramp lowered before us and I had to suppress a gasp. The jungle…it was Earth, the planet of my origin! Proudly the warriors strode down the ship ramp into the jungle and fanned out, standing still, waiting for Hunter's commands.
I guess Hunter noticed my awed look as we walked down the ramp and said, "Yes, your home world. Are you ready to fulfill your purpose?"
Not having any idea what he meant I nodded agreeably anyway. "Yes Hunter."
His frightening mask eyes glinted at me, "You will help us hunt. We will try a new hunting technique. You will lure males to us."
My eyes widened. Males? Human males? I'd lure males of my species to them so they could—kill them? So that's my purpose. Hunter kept me all these years to benefit the hunt or at least add an element to it. I had no idea Predators used decoys when hunting.
I swallowed nervously. "Lure males? I haven't seen a man since I was small Hunter. I am not certain I have the ability."
He rattled, "You are a female are you not? Do what your instincts dictate. Or do you refuse my command?"
Hunter always tested my loyalty to him in this manner. Of course, I was devoutly loyal to him and would not refuse. "I will do as you command. I simply do not wish to be a flaw in the warriors' hunt."
His great head cocked to the side in an admiration posture and he traced a claw along my jaw line, "You have yet to displease me Little Fighter."
I let a faint smile curve my lips. That was quite a compliment coming from Hunter. "Can we hunt now?" I asked almost eagerly.
To answer my question Hunter tapped the controls on his wrist and he dematerialized into a transparent outline. The other young warriors followed suit and soon disappeared behind their own camouflage, leaving me in full view. "Algar, Quick Blade, and Dark Eye you will hunt toward the sun. You two come with me." Hunter barked, indicating Fire Blood and Garv. His silhouetted head aimed at me, "Follow us from the ground. When prey is spotted, bring them to us." Hunter's guttural voice said out of thin air. Nodding I watched the Predators agilely scale the surrounding trees and disappear. I in turn followed their path from the ground.
Some time passed before the sounds of the jungle were interrupted by the sounds of machinery. Senses heightened by the thrill of hunting, I crouched low to the ground, moving like a spider across the jungle floor until I peeked through a fern. Down below in a clearing was a campsite bustling with dark skinned men. Some carried large weapons and they wore rags on their heads; perhaps a mark of their clan. Their language was alien to me. I'd retained just a little bit my childhood English despite the thick exposure to the Predator language, but the tongue these men spoke was indiscernible to me. I still was uncertain as to what method I would use to lure them toward my hunting group. Perhaps, my exotic face and curvy, scantily clad body would do that for me. It seemed to always work for the Predator females. I suppose I'd learn as I went along.
Oddly I felt no regret for what I was about to do, even though it seemed a clear betrayal of my species. As far as I was concerned, I was part of the clan and would view it as any other hunt. I peered up above me and could see a Predator's silhouette crouched on a limb. Ok, they were ready. Now it was my turn. Taking a deep breath, I began to sneak through the foliage until I reached the campground. Then, very slowly, I stood and boldly strode out into the open where some of the men could see me.
One dark skinned man with a thin mustache, stubbly beard, and a red headband spotted me first and his eyes widened. He said something loudly to the other men and they all looked in my direction. Some seemed utterly shocked that I was standing before them, while others had hungry looks on their faces. I guessed they liked what they saw so I smiled back and slinked closer to entice them further.
Red Band had a gun, but he rested it against his chest and shoulder in a relaxed position, striding up to me with a smile full of gold teeth. Not an attractive specimen by my instinct's standards (funny…considering I was brought up around Predators…not the most attractive of species. However, I grew used to them just as I would have any other human face), but that's not what I was here for. I stopped short of him and stuck my hips out toward him, tilting my head back in a provocative stance like I'd seen a female Predator do to Hunter once. Surprisingly my instincts were dictating my responses! I seemed to be acting on nothing more than a feeling.
Red Band liked what he saw so he reached out to me saying something in his language. I turned my body slightly, putting me just out of reach of him. Smiling again I kept my eyes on the dozen or so other men who by this time had drawn closer as well. The lustful looks in their eyes told me they all wanted me. I knew full well I could be in trouble if they encircled me or cut me off, but I was far too smart for that. Turning I trotted away toward the jungle and stopped to see if I was being followed. They were advancing. Good. When they got close, enough I raced into the jungle and they charged after me. I could fool Predators in this kind of chase. These males had no chance of catching me!
When I got to the spot where I was supposed to be I stopped and faced the men chasing me. Red Band got to me first and snatched my wrist in a tight grip. I let him grab me and stared into his brown eyes unafraid. Just as the others converged around me Red Band stiffened, his eyes wide. He could see my 'friends'. Dropping down amongst the men as gigantic, transparent phantoms the Predators struck. I gasped as Red Band's blood streaked across my face in response to his head flying off his shoulders! Wiping my face out of impulse, I leaped into the brush away from the carnage to watch. My hunting party made short work of the dozen men. Crimson blood stained the jungle floor and spattered the vegetation all around as spears impaled the men, metal throwing disks hacked torsos in half, and deadly wrist blades disemboweled any unfortunate soul in sight.
I turned my face. For some reason I couldn't watch. Perhaps an unknown guilt was beginning to bubble from the depths of my humanity. But I could do nothing to stop the slaughter and I would do nothing. They might be of my species, but I was not of their people, not anymore. I was part of the Predator clan and that's where my devotion lied.
In less than two minutes, every man lay slain. The three Predators' outlines put away their weapons and set about to the gruesome task of dressing their kills. Images of the night I was taken by Hunter flashed across my eyes. I remembered all too well what Predators did to humans after the kill. Watching with morbid fascination at the ritual, I appeared out of the shrubbery. Garv (I recognized his outline because he was the shortest of the three) rammed his clawed fist into the small of a dead man's back and with a sickening crunch and a gory splatter of blood and tissue he ripped the spinal column and skull out in one fluid motion. My stomach lurched. A grisly bundle of severed nerves dangled from the bottom of the spine and the whole thing oozed with blood. The eyes had even been ripped from their sockets, exposing the brain within. Later during the cleaning process the brain would be siphoned out after an intense boiling, polished, and finally mounted. Each Predator hastily ripped out their trophies and strapped the horrific things to their backs before quickly retreating into the trees. I could hear more men coming but apparently, we'd killed plenty for the time being. So running as fast as I could, I disappeared back into the jungle, following my pack.