THE DARKEST FEARS THAT SWAY THE HEART AND SOUL

Location somewhere in the galaxy, on level ninety looking death in the face on board the Iron year science vessel.

Would you run if you could run away from all that you fear? Its funny human beings may be one of the most intelligent races in the galaxy. Yet we still run away like any lesser species. The built in fight or flight response dictating whether we cower and cry or face the thing we fear. We tend to forget that the primal urges are still there because we live in such an advanced society. We forget that we were no more than primal soup once. Becoming strange walking apes that fought for territory, which was no more than grassland. While sabre toothed tigers stalked as all those centuries ago. We've come to forget what it's like looking death in the face. Because on earth there are no more predators left that eat as. Technology has made the human race forget that it was once a piece of the brutal food chain. We forget that we are still mammals, were just intelligent ones. May be that's why some one was meant to find these hard meat. To remind as that intelligent predators do still rule and that we shouldn't be so arrogant.

Looking in the jaws of deaths make you comprehend your existence. I've looked in to these same jaws before only they didn't have mandibles on them. I ran away, I couldn't save my friends. Looking in to them again is just as frightening, it's not like the like the face helps. It's sightless and ugly. Funny I once called Jeuki ugly. He's not ugly though; the real issue was I couldn't tell who was the truly evil race. Now I know it's the hard meat queen, and this bitch is about the ugliest one I've come across. I mean Christ was this what these people wanted a hybrid? I mean they caged Jeuki's people like animals to make this! It's so disgusting! Emma narrowed her gaze she moved her neck feeling the shoulder cannon move towards the queen. She could hear the thunder ringing in her ears, as the queen got closer. Jeuki turned watching as Emma moved forward getting ready to fire. Erisoki turned slightly this was going to be rough. He had to get them to surround the queen!

He pulled up his clawed hand hoping Adarmi and Idosoi knew what his signal meant. He watched them look at each other before instantly running outwards. He watched Jeuki moved position, he pointed to the ooman female to go the other way. So far she was proving herself well. He hadn't had to look over his shoulder once or worry about her. He pressed his spear watching as its sides came out as well as its razor edged blades and lacerating points. A special spear given for courage and bravery when leading a very successful hunt he watched as the clawed feet moved closer as the queen screeched. He pulled up his spear roaring for all he was worth so the others would attack. He watched as the ooman fired her shoulder cannon instantly, the bolt hitting the queen's upper crest blasting of the edge. Idosoi ran firing his plasma gun he watched it hit the queen's side causing her to turn. Giving Jeuki a chance to slam his spear in to her rising tail he watched the ooman fire again this time her shot hitting the side.

The huge queen turned her acid blood spilling out of her fresh wounds. She turned only to meet Erisoki who threw himself in to the air bringing his spear down across the front of her head. Adarmi hit the ground hard as he was knocked over by one of the arms. Emma pulled up her net gun firing it as the queen as she turned on the fallen hunter. The net slammed in to her face directly causing her to turn away and throw her head trying to get it off. Jeuki slammed his spear upward jamming it in to the queen's neck as she shook her head trying to get rid of the net. His gaze narrowed as she pulled it free only to be hit in the head with a plasma bolt from Adarmi's shoulder cannon. He grabbed his disk throwing it full force it hit one of the lesser arms taking it clean of on contact. He watched the queen screech in agony before trying to bring her tail down on Erisoki who leaped out of the way. The elder hunter slammed his spear in to the huge queen's leg before pulling away. Her head turned as she looked at the door for a moment. Jeuki roared aloud he ran faster firing his shoulder cannon near the queen's head. The huge queen screeching at them with all her might before turning to face them again Erisoki turned slightly, the queen was trying to get away! He wasn't going to let her go! He pulled up his hands looking at his hunters "Surround her!"

8

Carlos turned slightly looking at the silent room all he could hear was screeching on the other side. He pulled back as another blast hit the door causing it to shake. He turned not seeing the Xeno queen raise her head slowly, she let out an ear splitting screech causing everyone in the room to turn around. He grabbed the device. "Quite!" Julia watched in horror as the queens head turned to look at them. She turned sharply watching Oni Jui raise his shoulder cannons gun. "What just happened?" Carlos pulled up the device. "It was nothing just a power flux!" Julia turned slowly seeing that the cases of face huggers had begun to rattle as the offspring in side thrashed around. She watched as one of the scientists moved back, as a case slammed in to the floor. Julia didn't get a change to think as screams hit the air as the queens tail shot out smashing the case. The face hugger rolled out causing terrified cries as it ran towards its queen. Carlos pulled up the device. "Stop, I said stop obey my orders!"

He turned sharply as the face hugger jumped on to its queen's hand crawling up her body. "Obey my order! Kill your offspring!" He watched the huge jaws opened hissing. He looked up in shock as he scientists around him began to flee. Julia backed away feeling her heart beat faster as the queen's tail swung. What was going on? It was like they'd lost control of her! She looked at her hand seeing the scientists in the other room flee. Despite Carlos's shouting for them to stop they didn't. More face hugger cases hit the floor as the queen screeched. Carlos looked at the queen who slowly pulled up a clawed hand towards the face hugger. "That's it kill your offspring! Do as you're told like a good bitch!" Julia swallowed as the queen grabbed the hugger her head turning as she fought the device. She pulled the face hugger up above her crest. Carlos felt his jaw drop as the offspring was crushed it's acid blood spilling over the device. "No! No! That's not possible it's not…" He turned watching as Oni Jui turned fleeing closely followed by Julia.

The huge device hit the floor in front of him. It's burnt electronics smouldering. "You can't do that! You weren't meant to do that! It's not possible!" The Xeno queen slowly moved forward. She leaned over looking at him her head moving to the side as she hissed. He could hear the roar of the turbo lifts in the other room as the scientists carried on fleeing. The queen eyed the trapper, the trapper who had made her suffer! He had played with her bounds to harm her. She would make him suffer, her long arm reached out grabbing the terrified trapper. Her tail swung around smashing all the cases open. She watching her offspring crawl free, they scrambled after the still fleeing trappers. She grabbed the trappers arms with both of hers lifting him up then with her lesser arms grabbed his legs. Before hissing angrily, what it was to be pulled so that your arms hurt terribly. Carlos could feel his body shaking in fear he tried to struggle only to find the Xeno queen wouldn't let him go. He watched in terror as she moved her head again looking at him.

What was she doing? He stopped as the sudden realization hit him. He turned looking at the empty room hoping someone would hear. "Help me! Please someone help me!" He found himself howling as the queen began to pull on his arms and legs. He cried out as he felt the snap of bones in both his shoulders, the pain was horrible. He could only howl as one of his arms was ripped clean off closely followed by his leg. He watched the teeth open hissing at him. His blood and limbs hit the floor bellow. He cried out as she let go of him, he felt the floor as his broken body hit it. He tried to move away only to find he couldn't. The Xeno queen hissed loudly.

Carlos cried out in horror as three face huggers crawled out from under the lab tables. He tried to move only to feel his bleeding body move slowly across the floor. His left arm tried to grab while his right leg tried to kick the face huggers as they came towards him. He watched the queen moved her head in amusement as her offspring scrambled over him. His scream seemed to echo, only to heard by no one as the limbs wrapped around his face and the tail around his neck. His good arm flayed outwards, only to go still as the face hugger finally gained control. The queen hissed at him before turning to look at the huge door she heard a huge bang behind it. Her rival was there!

8

Jeuki jammed his spear up as the queen brought her head down to try and attack. He watched the queen screech in pain as plasma bolt made contact with her shoulder. He turned watching Emma back off again as the queen swung her tail around. Her mandibled jaws opening in a screech of anger she moved forward coming at them again. Her head turned suddenly and her body stopped in mid motion. Emma turned angrily what was going on? All they needed was one more charge and they'd no doubt be able to take this beast down. Her gaze travelled as the metal door behind them buckled as something slammed in to it full force. She watched the elder hunter signal to move back. The metal grinded and creaked as what ever it was slamming it again with more force. The final slam caused the door to be smashed as a pair of black jaws came through it. The whole door came crunching downwards as the Xeno queen smashed through full force. The hybrid queen turned as her opponent's jaws dug in to her tattered crest.

Erisoki pulled back this wasn't good! They couldn't take down two queens! His gaze narrowed as the two queens smashed heads full force as they started to fight viciously. He turned looking at the wrecked door; they could now get free of this place. He watched as the normal queen clawed her already wounded opponent, who fell back hissing. He growled in anger the trophy was lost! They had no choice but to retreat! He wouldn't risk his warrior's lives for something they couldn't defeat. He pulled back meeting the oomans gaze. She had fought incredibly well it was little wonder Jeuki used the term warrior soul for her. He signalled watching as his hunters moved closer to the trashed door. He ran through watching as the others followed, he could see they weren't happy about this change in action. Emma turned watching as the two queens carried on fighting. She'd wanted to kill that queen! They had been so close to victory! Yet it had been taken away from so quickly! They couldn't fight both queens.

She watched as Jeuki leaned back taking her hand as they ran through the shattered lab. She could see a severely wounded man with only one arm and one leg lying on the floor. A face hugger was wrapped around his throat. She could tell from the lab coat it was Carlos. This had been his end somehow that didn't surprise her in the slightest. She narrowed her gaze seeing the acid eaten controlling device lying on the floor. The queen had tricked them just like on Callisto, she turned away as they carried on running. Her gaze turned as the way out came in to view. She watched the other hunters stop looking at the opening above them which was the way she'd come in. Her gaze moved as the queens battled on. She heard the ear splitting screech of the hybrid queen's toothed tongue tore one of her opposition's spines of. She watched the hunters jump on to the rope as they started to ascend upwards. The glass cases of their clan still motionless around them, no doubt they'd stay to smash them if time had been on their side but it wasn't. She put her arms around Jeuki's neck quickly feeling him push her on to his back so that they could climb upwards together.

8

Marcus pushed his glasses on further as he looked at the open side of Oran's ship. He slowly pulled the cables free to the hyper drive. He had no idea what kind of a hyper drive this was he'd never seen anything like it in his life. He slowly pulled the other cord away his gaze slowly met Lucy's. "That's done it, it's none operational." He sighed aloud. "Now all we have to do is pull it free." Lucy eyed the odd looking hyper drive "How heavy do you suppose it is?" Marcus breathed in slightly. "Probably very heavy, where did Oran find the resources to make this? I mean it doesn't even look human." Lucy put a hand on the hyper drive. "My guess is from Jeuki's race." Marcus pulled feeling the part come free slowly. "He must have I mean did you see those hunters in the pen on the video. There were three more besides Jeuki." Lucy grunted aloud. "I'm trying to remember what it was that made me take this job…oh yes that's right that wonderful add that blurted out you've been picked for a chance of a lifetime."

Marcus left the weight as they lifted the hyper drive part free. "I got sucked in to, I thought I'd get a great career opportunity." Lucy rolled her eyes. "I want to know what the advert was for Callisto. I mean Emma took that job so how did she get sucked in?" Marcus left the weight as they put the hyper drive next to the marine ship. He pushed up his glasses. "I've actuality seen some footage of her from Callisto. Video notes from her building the breathing device." Lucy moved closer to the marine ship. She breathed in hoping the codes that Eddy had given would work. "Really what did she look like before meeting Jeuki?" Marcus looked up slightly. "It's like looking at an opposite reflection." He watched as the marine ships bay door began to open. "You know what the scary thing is?" Lucy looked up slightly. "No tell me." Marcus breathed in deeply. "The eyes are so different, they're the same eyes but when you see the way she looks at you now. It's almost like there's fire burning in them period, inflamed spirit is a better term."

He shrugged his shoulders. "Julia showed me the footage first night she arrived she said she'd pinched it from another higher level. Frankly though now I know she was lying." Lucy eyed her blood soaked shoulder. "Well you know what I hope Emma and Jeuki turn that bitch in to a trophy." She slowly began to lift the hyper drive of the ground. Marcus laughed slightly. "You, no that wouldn't be a bad thing." He moved further in side the ship as they put the hyper drive down. "Well now that, that's done we just need to put the plating back on Oran's ship." He slowly moved back his gaze suddenly turned as the lights above him dimmed. "What the hell?" Julia turned gazing at the lights. "That's impossible…the grid is meant to supply power twenty four seven." Marcus watched the marine ships door closed. "What can knock out the grid?" Julia put a hand on her head. "You can't just knock out the grid, you'd have to wreck the central core." Marcus turned hearing the power go out in the docks computer room. "Ah…hell!"

8

Jeuki looked up at the towering view above him, they were standing next to a huge lake. He could see the medical box near by had been smashed. He cocked his head to one side meeting Emma's gaze. "Which way?" Emma looked up above her. "We have to go up, it's the only way out." Erisoki tapped Jeuki's shoulder. "Which way did she say?" Jeuki pointed upwards. "Up we have to carry on upwards." Erisoki nodded slightly. "Very well." He looked at the others. "The ooman says it's up! Move quickly now the hard meat queens might have offspring!" He watched as the young hunters slammed their wrist blades and spears in to the walls as they started to climb upwards. Erisoki pulled himself up on to the wall as he started to climb he watched as Emma jumped on to Jeuki's back again as they started working there way up. Jeuki slammed his spear in to the wall as they carried on moving up his gaze met Erisoki's. "Is something wrong?" Erisoki turned slightly. "Your ooman female fights well."

Jeuki heaved his shoulder grabbing the rigging as it came towards him. "Thank you." Erisoki moved slowly upwards he could see a bridge far above them. "She's going to make a fine mate." He heaved with shoulders. "I can't speak her language well, or I'd say she fought well." Jeuki jumped slightly. "Can you turn your voice recorder on?" Erisoki nodded before turning slightly. "I'll begin?" Jeuki stopped turning to Emma. "You fight well." Emma held on tighter. "So did you, we almost had her." Jeuki turned slightly. "Erisoki the elder he wants to say something to you." Emma watched the elder swing slightly on the railing looking down at her. "You fight well." Jeuki tensed his shoulders as Erisoki repeated the recording. "He can't speak ooman, he just wanted to say it though." Emma looked at the elder hunter. "Tell him I said thank you." Jeuki looked up. "She's thankful." Erisoki nodded then carried on moving. Idosoi moved closer so he was by Jeuki's side. "I think she's a puny warrior."

Jeuki growled in anger. "How dare you mock her! She's more warrior than you are!" Emma raised an eyebrow. "What did he just say?" Jeuki growled aloud. "He called you a puny warrior." Idosoi looked around only to be kicked hard in his masked face by the ooman. He pulled back in pain, only to hear Jeuki laugh. "I wouldn't mock her again." Idosoi rubbed his mask before shaking his head in annoyance. Jeuki turned hearing a horrible rumbling bellow. He watched as the form of the Xeno queen smashed through the wall. The hybrid queen screeched as her opponent hit the lakes water only to rise again and come after her. The huge tails swung around as the screeching hit the air. In seconds a horrible masses of mandibled Xeno soldiers flooded through, like a blanket of blackness swarming upwards while others attached the Xeno queen. Erisoki looked down watching, as the Xeno's started climbing. "Climb! All of you climb!" Jeuki pulled up moving faster he watched as the ooman workers screamed as the soldiers attacked them.

The Xeno queen moved forward slamming in to the other queen full force. Her tail swung around slamming in to the already torn crest. She watches as her opponent jumps on to the shattered bridge as she comes towards her. She grabs one of the attacking soldiers throwing it off as her head hits her opponents again. Her head moves around, as the opponent's claws tear at her crest taking chunks off. The lake hisses and boils as acid blood spills in to it. The mandibles slam in to her face going through her tongue. The hybrid queen pulled back bringing her tail down full force on her opponent's back. She watches as the spines break with the force. She will rule supreme! Her lesser will not succeed! Her tail flies out slamming in to her opponent, causing her to hit the solid walls. Her opponent rises again as she hisses. Her claws come down tearing at fallen victim before she can rise. Both heads slam again as the fight for supremacy continues. The Xeno queen hisses only to be tossed again.

She swings her tail hitting her opponents shoulder only to screech in agony as one of her lesser arms are ripped of by her opponent's teeth. She pulls up only to have the other one ripped off. Her head turns as she slams in to the hybrid queen there huge arms lock as they force against each other. The water boils as the screams of the prey come from above. The hybrid queen turns only to be thrown. Her body's smashes in to bridge she turns only to feel pain as her opponent slams her claws in to her chest area. The Xeno queen's teeth come down biting one of her arms. Her victory is at hand! She will kill her opponent! Then she will take control of all armies and rule this place! Her head rises, as slams her foot down so the opponent can't move. Her head turns slightly, as she hisses she was always the strongest. This queen was born from her but it is not like her, she won't allow this daughter to rule in her place! She opens her mouth leaning forward. It'll be a horrible death once her tongue penetrates the head.

The next moments cause pain as a huge tail swerves up its point hitting on contact. The hybrid queen turns slowly looking at opponent the tail point has gone through her opponent's lower head. She watches the jaws open their tongue flaying out as long painful hiss moves through the air. Her soldiers surround her watching in triumph. Her tail moves shoving right through the throat and out of the head, acid blood splashing the walls. The hybrid queen slowly rises watching her opponents tongue snap and shake. It slowly begins to fall back in to the mouth she watches her opponents body slowly go limp. She hisses in anger before throwing the body off. She watches as it crashes through the opening lying limply on the ground. The acid blood slowly eats through the floor. Her mother's death uttering her supreme ruler of this place she leans back as her screech fills the air echoing upwards. Her soldiers move forward crawling over her. As there saliva drips in to her wounds numbing the pain.

The hybrid queen turns as she remembers those who interfiled before she met her opponent. They wounded her body! Her head swerves as she looks up at the rigging! They must not live! They will be a threat to her offspring. She watches as her soldier's jump of her body after numbing her pain. She'd kill them all five of them! She slowly begins her climb watching as her soldiers swam even more as they find openings and tunnel each heading towards his goal. As the nursery assistances follow getting ready to do there's. Her mighty army will not be stopped! These enemies who opposed her with there strange weapons will be stopped! Nothing will stop her rule! Nothing!

8

Oran turned sharply watching as his panel screen began to fade out. He grunted hitting it with his hand this was third time it had almost gone off! He slowly began to type. He narrowed his gaze pressing the panel. "This is Oran would you people in the central grid stop messing with my power! I'm a busy man a very busy man!" He turned hearing only silence. "I'm speaking to you people! Pick up the line now or I'm going to make it so heads roll!" He pulled back still only hearing silence. He slammed his fist down hard. His gaze slowly moved as Neil and Luther walked in to his office. "What is it now? I'm busy!" Luther breathed in deeply. "Sir we have a serious problem." Oran narrowed his gaze. "Oh really…and what might that be?" Neil breathed in. "We've lost contact with levels eighty and ninety. There is also a serious problem with the main power grid, we are loosing power in most sectors." Luther folded his arms. "Plus in the last two hours we've had reports from scientists taking the lifts of a black demon fighting a woman." Oran growled aloud. "That black demon is Oni Jui you fool! He was running an errand for me!" Neil pulled back in annoyance. "His errand just got cancelled sir. He was seen ten minutes ago desperately fleeing like a coward from level ninety." Oran looked up slightly. "Oni Jui would never flee!" Neil growled aloud. "It's on video, watch it yourself!"

He turned sharply. "Julia Ibos was right behind him and the only thing her face told me was fear! Sir we have a serious problem on that level. You have to do something!" Oran looked up slightly. "You know what you right, I have to do something. Here's what I'm going to do, I'm gonna send you two down there to find out what's going on!" Luther pulled back in horror. "What! We don't have any fire power, there are no marines with as!" Oran slowly lit his cigar. "Well you'll just have to find some won't you?" He watched as both men pulled back in horror. "Like I said I'm a very busy man! Now get out of my sight!" He watched both men look at each other before leaving. He slammed his foot on the desk incompetent idiots. He growled aloud he was surrounded by idiots!" He kicked the screen with his foot as it blurred. "Some one was going to pay for this mess on level ninety. And when he found out who they were he'd space them!" He breathed out his cigar smoke watching it move through the air.

End of part 17

Silvermoonlight