IN THE DARKNESS ALL YOU CAN DO IS SCREAM BUT YOU WILL NEVER BE HEARD
Location somewhere in the galaxy, aboard our ship watching in silence as the dishonoured fall.
It's easy to say that death is quick, but then it's easy to forget that it can go on forever. I was died for five minutes yet to me it seemed like forever. A forever were time has no meaning and no existence. There's no clock to count away your moments in the after life, no one shouting that it's over it's just over. I don't really know why some people want death so badly, I've never understood why people want to throw themselves of buildings or put music players in there tub. I understand there suffering I understand there want to end it, but it's almost like quitting and giving up. Some would say it's not being strong enough. Oni Jui and Oran aren't strong they both want to die and take the easy way out of avoiding punishment. Saying this human beings have been trying to avoid punishment for centuries. Crimes committed be they big or small, people have gone to great lengths to flee from prison cells. Nothing seems to change in that respect.
I've heard rumours that some of the worst prisoners who have been sent to penal colonies, have managed to escape and flee the galaxy. A part of me doesn't like them because some are like Lexington. Murders and killers but another part of me understands why they flee. They get treated no better than animals. Forced to live out there days cleaning and scrubbing out ventilation fans, which can be faulty and could kill them. It's true some are no better than animals but do you make them any better by treating them that way? Or do you just make them worse? If they could learn their wrongs in a better way would they learn to be a better person? There are some like Oran that time would never change though. If they could do it all over again in a heartbeat they would. Oran's ten times worse than those penal colony criminals. Yet he sat above the system, my guess is if he was to be imprisoned by humanity he would never see light unlit the day he died.
Sadly though it wouldn't be enough being the man he is he'd find a way out and flee the colony. He's strong in his own little way he'd find ways around the human system. I hate to say it but he's good at covering up his lies and killing others if it means his freedom. There is no freedom here though, no way out and no secret door. Here on our ship there is only imprisonment the only way out is through the space door and that still leads to death. It's odd how when I was pushed in side this vessel for the first time, I thought I was nothing but a prisoner. I feel guilty for thinking that now, I guess at the time I just felt like I had no way out. I was just afraid and scared. Scared of everything, scared to live, scared to die, and so unsure of everything including my place in life unsure if I was a trophy or a slave or just a prisoner of a tragic circumstance which I so desperately wanted to change. I'm guessing Oran feels that way right now, he has no idea of the future the waiting is probably driving him mad.
I waited so long in the first three weeks aboard this ship for Jeuki to kill me or dispose of me. Part of me prayed he would so I could find peace from my nightmares. I should feel pity for Oran because he might have to live out a real nightmare like I did. I guess the problem is the part of me that's become so much like Jeuki just doesn't care. I know if other human beings were standing here they'd call my actions heartless. I call my actions honourable a live trophy caught, one whose final punishment will bring great honour to both Jeuki and my self. I'm still very curious as to what the punishment is. What can you do to someone like this to make them suffer? There are so many ways to suffer in the human world but what is suffering to a Yautja? It's true that they can be dishonoured but what is the next step to this? I know I'm about to find out the elder hunter has brought through a box we both found in the draws. Jeuki and my self tried to hack in to it; we never succeeded in getting it open.
I guess there's a reason for that which I'm sure I'm about to find out. Emma turned slightly she breathed in pulling Lexington's head and spine free of the wall and putting it back on to her armours back plating. It wasn't really meant to be on the trophy wall anyway, it wasn't clean yet it still needed buffing and shining. She'd put it in there after she moved past Oran with her cloak up before he'd entered the room. He'd not heard her putting up because he'd been talking to Oni Jui. She felt Jeuki's clawed hand as it moved gently through her hair she looked at her bleeding arm. She'd need to clean this up and get the bullet out as soon as this was over. The bullets that had hit her armour plating despite causing no damage would still cause bruises. Her gaze turned to Jeuki who was tapping his upper left mandible slightly. She moved her hand up slowly moving it very gently across his lower mandibles. Jeuki turned slightly he moved his lower mandibles slightly so Emma could move her hand across them fully.
He turned seeing the elders gaze fix on him, which caused them to stop. Emma slowly moved her good arm back down taking a standing poison with her spear. Erisoki turned watched as Adarmi and Idosoi threw Oni Jui to the floor full force. He ignored the whines of pain from Oni Jui who lay still not daring to move. He watched as Adarmi grabbed the fallen human harshly who was lying next to Oni Jui. The young blood tied up what was left of his right arm to his left arm. Oran could feel the bounds digging in to his arms he howled in pain as he thrown to the floor landing directly opposite Oni Jui. He found himself staring in to the yellow eyes, which were full of fear. Erisoki eased up the box in his hand, he was so glad this was still here. On every elder ship a box like this was kept, it could not be opened by any one except elders or Arbitrators. Kept for the worst punishment of all called the Un-Life reserved for the worst and most traitorous of bad bloods and dishonourable prey.
He slowly put a clawed hand on the symbol turning it in a full circle. He watched as a scanning beam slowly came out of the centre moving across his lower over grown tusk. This was done to check his age his tusk it was a method of checking. Since like all teeth its inner rings could be scanned to prove age. He pulled back as it stopped. His gaze turned as it the symbol began to turn on its own he watched as it pulled itself out of the box on its mini lever before clicking down sharply. The boxes outer symbols slowly came to life, as it opened out like a med kit revealing a set of six syringes piped full of thick glowing purple liquid. Erisoki slowly eased one out before handing the box to Jeuki. Emma turned seeing that Jeuki was cringing slightly as he looked at the needles in the box. "What is that?" Jeuki looked down before turning slightly. "There for the punishment for Un-Life or No Life to some." He stopped watching as Erisoki leaned down grabbing Oni Jui by his dreadlocks while driving his knee in to his back as he raised the needle.
Emma blinked seeing Oni Jui sudden terror as the needle was raised to his neck. "Un-Life?" Jeuki turned slowly. "Imagine that your genetic material is altered slightly. It's altered so you become a wonderful host to a hard meat offspring, but because of the mutation the hard meat offspring becomes altered with in you." He breathed in deeply. His gaze turned as he looked at the needles. "The alteration to you is that once its inside you, your ribs and insides start to mutate. They grow solid plates of bone to stop this hard meat offspring ever breaking out and killing you." He lowered his head. "It feeds of your body for the rest of your life because it can't break free and being altered it can do this. It can not grow ether it just remains inside your body." He looked up slightly. "You slowly die, with the pain and the agony. Forever looked after by the hives droves and soldiers. Your death takes years to come but even when you do finally die this hard meat offspring brings your dead body back to life. Your different though not living not dieing. The Un-Life a walking carcass that is still mentally alive.
A caress that can take years to rot away due to the mutation you're controlled by this offspring until the day comes when you're nothing but bones and a little flesh and some brain. The offspring finally squirms free of your body seeing freedom but will die as soon as it gets out since it can't live with out a host. Then you'll finally die after centuries of suffering." Emma felt her self shiver, she wanted to say something but nothing came. The whole punishment sounded terrible even to her. The next moments caused her to cringe as she watched the syringe end slam in to Oni Jui's neck slowly pumping in the thick horrible liquid. Oni Jui's eyes went wide as he roared in agony. Jeuki watched as the empty syringe was viciously yanked free and put back in its place in side the box. He pulled back as another full syringe was forced free from one of the sides. His gaze turned as he watched Oni Jui's body spasm in pain, due to liquid being forced through his system. Emma turned seeing Oran's face show fear as the elder leaned over him.
Oran tried to move desperately, the next moment caused pain as the elder slammed his foot down on his back. He tried to move away only to feel a huge clawed hand grab his hair pulling his head back. He could see the huge syringe full of liquid he found himself whimpering in fear. Emma watched in silence as the syringe hit Oran's neck. All she could hear was his screaming as it hit the air, it seemed like one long endless scream mixed with Oni Jui's roaring of pain. Jeuki felt Erisoki pull the box free from his hands. He watched the elder place the now empty syringe back. Erisoki moved his hand up turning the symbol, he watched as the boxes sides pulled back in wards clamping tight. He eyed Oni Jui who was circled up in a ball whining in pain, the ooman next to him was having some sort of fit. He flared his mandibles in anger there would nothing but pain for them from here on in! This was only the start of things to come! This pain was purely due the mutations starting to take place inside their bodies.
It would heal their wounds while preparing them for the impregnation of the hard meat off spring. He grunted aloud, leaning over them both ignoring the fear in the young bloods faces. Normally young bloods did not witness this punishment only higher ranking hunters. This day though, that could not be helped. He could see Jeuki's unnerved expression and his mate's look was something similar. Although it was harder for him to tell her races expressions from one to the other. He breathed in ignoring the ooman male's painful cries along with Oni Jui's howling. The ice planet of Eduiji with it sixteen hard meat hives wasn't far from here. It had been used for centuries to dish out punishment on the dishonourable. Its five huge ships guarded it, each full of warriors. Who had had sworn to keep it under Yautja rule and would fight to the death if necessary to stop any none Yautja ship landing on it. It was a great honour to protect this ice prison.
He tapped his lower mandibles turning to look at the two young bloods. "Tie them both to the pillars of this trophy room!" He narrowed his gaze as the two young bloods sped in to action. His gaze turned to Jeuki and Emma who where still standing quietly. Emma turned slowly to Jeuki. "What happens to them now?" Jeuki turned slightly. "We take them to Eduiji the ice prison planet, the elder knows the way I'm sure." Emma was about to say something when she felt the floor vibrate under her feet. It was followed by a heavy clamping sound that shook the ships walls. Emma found herself snarling in anger. "What the hell!" Jeuki found himself running out of the trophy room. He watched Emma grab Oran's severed arm as she ran after him. He came to a hard stop bringing his fist down slammed it in to the control panels main power button causing it to come to life. Emma flung the served arm in Oran's in to the escape pod. She looked up as Jeuki brought up the hologram image he moved it back slightly. Emma leaned forward looking at the image in disbelief there was a drop ship attached to their ships side like a limpet! It had somehow managed to dock over the top of their space door. Jeuki looked at the ship locked on to their side he turned slightly. "How in the hell did that ooman ship do that?" Emma leaned closer. "Drop ships do not do this!"
8
Lucy turned sharply. "You know we are trying to lock with their ship, not smash it!" Marcus turned sharply. "You know this isn't easy Lucy!" He turned grabbing both levers on the panel. He pushed them down forcefully he turned hearing the clamps slam in to the sides of the space door locking them in to place. He looked down wards this was so wrong on so many levels, drops ship really weren't meant to do this. It was disorientating trying to turn the ship so it was angled vertically. He'd also managed to smash in to the Yautja ship on his first attempt. Which who ever was in side would have no doubt felt through the walls and floor. He pulled his hands away from the levers feeling the ship go still. "There I think I've got it." Lucy shook her head. "I hope so, otherwise we'll end up died because our heads will implode in spaces vacuum." She turned pulling the breathing collar out from under her seat. She pulled it up feeling it clamp painfully around her neck.
She grunted feeling it squeeze for a moment before going in to a comfortable fit. Marcus sighed aloud he pulled the collar free from under his seat slowly attaching it to his neck. He groaned feeling it squeeze before going comfortable. "So we have to drag the hyper drive free from the place we put it. Then drag it up vertically so it's near the door." Lucy slowly pulled his belt free. "Damn it! Why couldn't they just build this ship so it clamps in length ways?" Marcus pulled his belt off. "I could just turn of the gravity drive." Lucy pulled her hand out grabbing his before it hit the panel. "That is not a good idea! Because if they don't have there's on we'll end up hitting their main deck like rock." Marcus sighed aloud. "Yeah well there also the issue that, that hyper drive needs two people to carry it and I'd rather it just float like a feather." Lucy didn't get a chance to complain as Marcus hit the panel. She felt her body float up in to the air. She found herself sighing as the boxes in the back included the hyper drive lifted of the floor.
Somehow she was really happy that she stashed her syringes in a safe compartment. She watched as Marcus rolled in the air. "I still think this a bad idea!" Marcus smirked slightly. "Oh come on where's your sense of enjoyment? Just breath in relax and enjoy the zero gravity." Lucy turned slightly in mid air watching him fly past her. She turned slightly. "You know I hope this works I really do." Marcus breathed in deeply. "It will, I'm sure Jeuki and Emma will see as first." Lucy looked at the closed space door. "I really hope they do I don't want end up a trophy because the others with them made a mistake." Marcus sighed aloud. "Everything will be okay Lucy, trust me."
8
Emma eyed the ship's hologram again. "How do we get this off?" Jeuki eyed the image he eased up a clawed finger. "We can't shoot if of our sideways laser cannon is out of range." Emma turned seeing the elder come in to the room followed by the two young bloods. One of the young bloods turned closing the trophy room's door behind him. The huge door slammed down causing the sounds of screaming and howling from inside to be drowned out. Erisoki turned sharply as he got closer to Jeuki. "Now that the dishonoured prey is ready for transport would you inform me as to what's going on?" Jeuki turned slowly. "We have a limpet." Erisoki pulled back in confusion "Limpet?" Jeuki pulled up his hand. "It's an ooman sea creature that clings on to rocks." He paused looking the hologram. "This ooman ship is doing pretty much the same, it's just clinging to as." Erisoki leaned over looking at the image. "No ooman ship should be able to lock with as!" Jeuki looked at the image. "True but this one seems more sophisticated than the other ooman ships."
Emma moved the panel setting slowly making the image larger. "Same drop ship that tried to stop Oran's ship." Jeuki turned slightly. "What if we shake it off?" Emma looked at the image. "That wouldn't do any good the locks that are clamped to our door are sealed tight. We could end up ripping the space door clean off." She sighed aloud. "We can't try to slam them in to the other ship ether. It could all end in tears, since we could end up in a fire fight." Jeuki opened his mandibles slightly. "We might be powerful but they have more guns and our cloak might not help as." Jeuki turned the settings slightly watching, as the hologram of the drop ship became see through. He could see two small red figures floating around in it. "Two oomans one male one female carrying no weapons there where two pulse rifles but they where locked up." Emma pulled back. "They took their gravity drive offline for some reason now there just floating." Jeuki eased up a clawed finger. "Okay this does not make sense why do that?"
Emma clicked her finger. "Wait a second! Give me a reading of the items on board." Jeuki tapped in to the panel. "Coming up now." Emma watched as a few yellow floating objects showed up on the hologram. She leaned closer. "Two cargo crates but the big one is not a cargo crate." Jeuki pulled back. "It's reading as a Yautja engine part." Emma turned sharply. "Oh wait this isn't what I think it is, is it?" Jeuki suddenly found himself laughing he turned sharply. "I do believe some one is giving as the technology they stole from my race, the ooman model at least." Emma looked up sharply. "How thoughtful of them to realize that it doesn't belong to them." Erisoki leaned forward it was frustrating not understand ooman speak. Jeuki could easily switch from one language to another when speaking. "What is this all about?" Jeuki turned slightly. "When the oomans took your ship they made copies of the hyper drive. We destroyed the one on Oran's ship but there where more."
He leaned forward. "This ships hyper drive isn't working to full and never has been since it was damaged. The oomans in that vessel I believe have brought us the working version, there model at least." He looked up. "That's why they've clamped on to us, so they can give it to us." Erisoki clicked his mandibles. "I see." He put a hand under his chin in thought. "Well I believe we should have what is ours back." Jeuki looked at the two young bloods. "I agree and I believe we should all stand at the ready since this may not be what it seems." Erisoki eased up a clawed hand. "I believe your mate will be able to tell if this a bad ooman situation." He looked up. "You can just tell her to signal if this is a trap, then we can make trophies of these oomans if there intentions are truly hostile." Jeuki patted Emma's back gently. "She won't let you down she's never let me down." Erisoki turned giving the ooman females shoulder a pat. "No and she hasn't let this clan down once ether, I have full faith in her judgement."
He turned walking over to the two young bloods. Emma eyed Jeuki. "What was that all about?" Jeuki leaned forward slightly. "He likes you." He turned slightly. "He just wants you to be the first to deal the oomans, because he believes you can judge their intentions." Emma raised an eyebrow. "I see what does he need me to do?" Jeuki watched as the two young blood moved to ether side of the space door pulling out there weapons. "He needs you to send a signal if there hostile, and another type of signal if their not." He gently put a clawed hand through her hair. "I'll be cloaked directly behind you." Emma turned seeing the elder cloak. She turned meeting Jeuki's amber gaze. "This shouldn't be a problem." Jeuki clicked his upper right mandibles. "Just slowly point your fingers down if they're not hostile and make a fist behind your back in they are." Emma laughed slightly. "This is going to be so much fun." Jeuki pulled his wrist armour. "I have to agree."
End of part 27
Silvermoonlight