Hey guys, as promised, here is the next chapter. As I'm striving to get back in the groove of this story, the chapters might be a bit shorter than previous ones, and I've also started working out a few more details that I hope will not only benefit this sequel, but also any other future additions to the series - after all, I currently have 4 installments planned for The Enemy's Heart. Whether or not I'll actually be able to do them, is the real question here. In the meantime, I hope you enjoy, and hopefully I will see you again in another two weeks! Later MistFits!\

Also, please excuse any typos and grammatical errors and such. I did this one quick.


THE ENEMY'S HEART

Unknown Territories

COMPONENT:

SEVEN

"For the sake of the ooman female, we will speak in the rough and barbaric tongue of her planet," Ta'uk began. There was a mild grumble of discontent, but mostly from those who perhaps were not quite as well versed in the language as others – these would be utilizing the translators within their bio-masks for comprehension and translation. The rest would face the council and the topics of their discussion maskless…bearing a far more intimidating atmosphere.

Lex had moved from around Scar, now standing by his side holding the spear upright and tightly in the palm of her hand. She should have sheathed the weapon, but concern for her safety given what had just taken place prevented the female from doing that. Krii'var had purposefully made an aggressive move against her in front of his superiors – and one of his own had also attempted the same. She may not have understood the tail end of the dialog between he and Yeyin'thwei, but it was obvious that the heavier of the two had no intention of dwindling his absolute disdain for her presence here – probably for her existence period. She would not put away the weapon…and if they had a problem with it, they could turn their plasma gun-things onto their own craniums. Still, she was grateful for English being spoken in some extent, and nodded her head in appreciation.

Ta'uk took his seat upon his throne, leaning back and pointing a finger towards the female. "First," his voice boomed with enough power that Lex flinched ever so slightly in surprise, "give your name…give your story…" His tone was rich and deep. Somehow Lex expected all the voices of the males to sound exactly the same whenever they spoke – especially in her language. And yet, she was able to pick up variations in pitch that differentiated one from another. It was unexpected.

Lex looked up to Scar, whose gaze mirrored confidence as he gestured his chin outward – urging her forward and convincing the woman it was okay. She took a deep breath and bowed her head to the Ancients. "I was called Alexa Woods on Earth. I am now called, Lex." When she heard no response, she took it as an indication to continue. "On Earth, my occupation was an Environmental Technician."

Words hissed out to her from a chair on the right. "What is…this purpose?"

Was he asking her what the purpose was of her occupation? Lex hesitated, trying to think of a way to explain her job as simply as she could. "I…I identify, study, and control contamination in the environment." There was a group of mumbles and she tried again, "I study the lands, the different environments, the different climates, and I become one with them – I protect them, I use them, I nurture them." This response garnered a wave of clicks and cackles that made the hairs on the back of her neck stand up.

Yeyin'thwei purred and pounded a fist upon the arm of his throne to not only silence the others, but express keen interest. "A creature of the lands. You are more like us than you may think, Little Sister." Lex smiled at the Ancient – liking the name he called her more than she thought she would have.

Another voice to the left spoke out in the foreign tongue of the hunters, and a monotonous voice answered for it – an interpreter of sorts – "Her skills as a fighter are good, but must be better to live among US!"

It was noticeable that he had not said, "To hunt among us", but "to LIVE among us". It was a small threat, though harmless. The question floating around the room obviously was not only whether or not she was worthy to hunt AS a Yautja, but to LIVE as a Yautja. Ta'uk nodded and focused his attention onto the soft meat before them and explained, "Oomans have always been worthy prey to us Yautja. Over the centuries, they have proved themselves to be worthy in death, but also in victory. It is not often one of you kills one of ours – but we know the ability is there. Oomans have been honored for their strengths by us. You are the first to receive the mark of the Blooded. You would be the first to join our clans and live as we do…but your worthiness…"

"She has…many times…proved worth! I would…take her…Let us hunt together…alone…" exclaimed Scar with a step forward, pounding a fist against his chest. "She has…earned that right, yes? I have earned that right, yes? Both…killed many kiande amedha…alone. She has…fought at my side…We've killed TWO Queens…abandoned…her people…Lex IS Yautja."

Krii'var scoffed. "You are foolish enough to believe that these small feats earn you the right to leave the clan and be as the Wolves? Your feelings for the bitch has weakened your sight, fool!" Scar turned to the heavyset Yautja Clan Leader and roared with enough ferocity that those who sided with Krii'var stood to their feet, and those who agreed with Yeyin'thwei faced the opposition in brewing aggravation. It was one thing to voice his concerns – it was another to so blatantly disrespect the Ancients and continue to do so with his vicious assaults. It wasn't entirely that they wanted the ooman female here – but that they would not continue to sit by while Krii'var fought against the will of their Ancient.

Ta'uk growled. "KRII'VAR!"

"LET ME PROVE MYSELF!"

You could hear a pin drop in the next corridor as the eyes of the gathered Yautja turned to the woman who no longer stood in the center of the room, but was now walking forward toward Yeyin'thwei. "Let me prove myself," she said again, softer this time as she faced the eldest of the Ancients and kneeled before him. She could hear him purr in satisfaction. "I know that I'm not wanted here. But I WANT to be here. I've given up my life to be here. If you doubt my past abilities, and what I have done on Earth at Scar's side, then let me show you all that I am more than capable of not only surviving but BELONGING here."

She could practically feel Scar's eyes scorching the back of her head. Didn't she have any idea the level of danger that she was signing herself up for with that suggestion? Scar would never want her to seem weak to the others – but he dared not invite the vicious trials that could potentially kill her, either.

Yeyin'thwei leaned forward and outstretched a palm, gently cupping Lex's delicate cheek into his callous hand as he forced her eyes up into her own. He appeared to smirk softly as he appraised her for the first time so up close – noting the differences and similarities they shared, deciphering with just a look just how the strength of the female's heart outweighed the weakness of her physical body in comparison to their own. There was some understanding on another, deeper level now as to why Scar was so compelled by this ooman woman.

The Ancient traced the Blooded mark upon her cheek with his dull colored, but sharp talons. "Oh, my dear Little Sister," the eldest Yautja practically purred. "…THAT is why you are here…" And for the first time, Lex saw danger in the Ancient's eyes – a danger that was directed for her.


Val Verde 1977

Santos de Cristiano Hospital

Margaret laid in the hospital bed, exhausted and weary both physically and emotionally. And who could blame her? Just days before, the vehicle transport she had been riding in had been struck with the bloody and skinned corpse of a militant, and gone cascading down a hill – where she'd ended up coming face to face with a being unlike anything she'd ever seen before. But then again, that was probably because she hadn't, in fact, been able to see it – at least not completely. It had been cloaked by some strange technology…The Chameleon: an urban legend passed down from generation to generation of a creature who hunted in the tropical forests of Val Verde – taking lives of all who angered it.

Margaret was a woman of science. Sure, she was open minded in the sense that there was still so much on the planet that had not yet (and perhaps may not ever) been discovered by humans. But this was something entirely different. If someone had mentioned this to her back at her lab, she would find some other kind of scientific anomaly to relate it to. But she had witnessed it practically firsthand – and surprisingly that made it seem even more impossible to believe. Her husband had been filled with thoughts of violence and vengeance concerning the creature; pained and angered at the loss of a familiar militant team at its hands. The survivor they'd rescued had claimed that the "invisibility" was only part of the creature's design. He insisted that based on its appearance and advanced technology, it wasn't some prehistoric being or evolved species, but rather a specimen that wasn't even from this plant to begin with. Margaret agreed there. She'd had a sample of the strange thing's blood sent off to a friend's lab in Val Verde, and the results proved that whatever it was, it couldn't be terrestrial in nature in the slightest.

Whatever it was, and regardless of how fascinating a discovery like this could be, Margaret could not deny the fact that the creature was dangerous. Based on what she'd witnessed and heard from the account of the survivor (well, what she'd heard from her husband at least), this thing hunted, killed, and skinned its prey, keeping certain skeletal parts of the deceased. Alexander called it a serial killer, but Margaret knew better. Of course, arguing this with her Major husband wasn't going to go anywhere right now, so instead the Biologist kept her assessments to herself for the time being. The stories and facts resolved the fact that the creature wasn't necessarily just out prowling for anybody to kill. If that were the case, there would be way more deaths. She doubted that any of the villages anywhere near that vicinity would have had a living population if it just wanted to kill to kill. There was some kind of motive. She'd witnessed behavior like this firsthand in the jungles of Africa by poachers. This thing was essentially a big game hunter – the only difference was that for some reason humans were its "big game".

There were so many questions about the creature: why was it here? For how long? Why humans? What was the greater purpose? But there would be no answers – there couldn't be. All of the men it had hunted were killed save one, and he was basically the textbook definition of psychotic. She remembered watching military men come and restrain him with drastic measures because of his insanity, before hauling him off. Margaret doubted she would ever see him again – and apart from that meaning she wouldn't be able to properly thank him for saving her life, it also meant that any questions she might have had for him to get a deeper understanding of what happened would never get to be asked. As a scientist, that annoyed her; as a human who wanted to show gratitude, it grieved her.

It had been days since she was hospitalized here – and despite getting the best care the government could offer, Margaret wasn't blind to notice that there was an additional presence there in the hospital where she and her husband's men were being kept. They had an entire floor to themselves, and guards were stationed everywhere inside as well as out. Once she'd awakened from her injuries, the government officials gave very little time for recovery before they began the debriefing process. Tonight, thankfully, she had been offered a reprieve from their questions at the orders of her doctors. Further mental stress was not something they wanted to push since she had endured a traumatizing accident, and suffered a cranial injury as well. It was a miracle that she had survived the tumble at all – but Margaret believed in miracles wholeheartedly and did nothing but give all glory to God for protecting her.

The floor was silent. She knew her husband was in the room across the hall. He was perfectly fine, as well as the rest of the men, but still they were restricted to this place. However, even if they had the option to leave, she knew all too well that Alexander would not leave her for all the money in the world; and so, neither would the rest of his troop. Margaret was practically family now – and family stuck together.

She had been dreaming: swallowed in a misty world of black smoke and flames that danced intricately around the green of the massive and deep South American jungle. She was running through the green, leaping over rocks as she called the names of her husband and troop members. The only sounds she had heard back was that of gunfire and screams, and as her legs pushed harder against the ground, an incomprehensible weight slowed her down to the point that she could barely move forward at all. Footsteps boomed behind her, but as she looked around the blazing forest there was nothing there. The soft cackling sound played loudly in her ear, sending an involuntary shiver up the woman's spine with such strength she gasped aloud even in her sleep. Her brown eyes darted back and forth with fear as the alien sound bounced all around her, until finally those two eyes glowed right in front her so quickly that her heart leaped within her chest, and she opened her mouth to scream…

Margaret's eyes popped open as she inhaled sharply, stirred awake by the fright of her run in with the creature. She expected to see a brightly lit room, but instead came face to face with darkness – the only light being a dull glow from the hall. Her hairs stood on end as she looked around and tried to gain a sense of what was going on. That's when she felt it – the breeze. Margaret turned her head to the right…to the window…that was suddenly open as indicated by the curtains blowing in the wind. The window had been closed before she fell asleep. They were six floors up, and she knew that there was a strict order for all doors and windows to remained closed in case someone lost their marbles and tried to make a run for it…or end their lives. So why? Why was the window-?

The cackle filled the room – it almost sounded like a reverse purr. Margaret's eyes opened wide in realization…She wasn't asleep. The sound was coming from inside the hospital room. With great vigor the woman sat up in blinding speed, only to gasp in shock as a force suddenly clamped around her neck as she managed to let out scream. Margaret panicked, her hands reaching out and grabbing hold of something thick ahead of her…an arm that she could not see. "Ugh…Guh…" her voice barely squeaked out as her eyes shut in reaction to the tight squeeze about her throat. Without will of her own, the Biologist was suddenly pulled slightly upright, and her legs reached out and began to kick against whatever they could find. With one hand still gripping the invisible force, her other reached out and slapped against something hard and smooth above her like metal. Her nails scratched against the texture, and she watched with disbelieving eyes as the room suddenly dematerialized around her…revealing a humanoid being, massive and overwhelming. She had scratched at the mask of this intruder, and found terror exploding through her nerves – begging the woman to run for her life. But she couldn't. She was fully in the grip of this strange monster…and so far it didn't look like he had any intention of letting her go.

The being leaned his masked head forward, tilting it a little with what Margaret could only assume was interest as it appeared to look the woman over curiously. It seemed intrigued by her futile attempts to break free from its grasp, which included scratching at its arm and hitting at its head. It purred again, taking its free hand and tracing its claws delicately along the skin of her face. The grip around Margaret's throat seemed to lessen, allowing her to breathe more freely while still ensuring that she could not break free. Was it studying her? Piqued by her? "Please," she whispered softly, causing the being to tilt its head once more like a confused puppy. "Let…go…"

The creature did not, however – but rather continued its assessment of the woman, though more gently this time. In truth, it had never seen a female of this species before up close, and it was curious. It shouldn't have been surprising, but he was young, and mostly only came across males to hunt and kill – but never a female. The fact that this female had been surrounded by warriors in the jungle, and so readily protected by them, had interested the young hunter. Was she of value to them? Was she like to them what the Queen was to the kiande amedha? He admitted she seemed stronger in physical strength than the other females he'd happened upon on his journey to this planet. Her survival of the accident proved that she was, indeed, much different from the women he'd seen before. His free hand moved from her face to the gown and he reached down and touched her lower side. Margaret flinched with a disrespected gasp as she wormed and struggled against him even more than before, purposefully clawing at his flesh and drawing fresh green blood from her nails. The creature almost grunted. She certainly had the hips for bearing many strong children. Perhaps that was her purpose – perhaps she birthed more warriors for him to someday hunt and kill…

Alexander had heard his wife scream. And as he looked out from his closed bedroom door through the large glass window, he could see from across the hall into her room through her own window. The lights were out, but there was a faint glow inside the room that allowed him to make out shapes. "Margaret?" he called out curiously, squinting his eyes against the darkness in her room in an attempt to adjust. And then, he saw her slightly upright in the bed…and her arms were gripping to something…something that wasn't there. His heart dropped. Something that wasn't there… "Margaret!" he yelled loudly, only to holler out with disbelief as he watched a form materialize before her…a form that had his beloved wife by the throat. It was him. It was the monster that had killed all those men – and now he was after his wife. "NOOOOOOOO!" Alexander screamed out, slamming his body into his hospital door with such strength that he broke the lock and it came flying open – causing the Major to spill out messily onto the hallway floor.

But Major Alexander Woods was back up in an instant, scurrying across the floor as he struggled against the lock of his wife's room…to no avail. "MARGARET!" he screamed at the top of his lungs as the military guards dashed down to see what was up. They looked inside the massive glass pane in the door and began calling on their radios and running up and down the halls to find a way to get the door open. His men could be heard bursting through their own doors, and within moments the group of men were there kicking and punching against the door – trying to bust it open. What they didn't know, was that the door had been melted at the metal by the alien – completely solidified in an almost permanent fixture that would be impossible if not extremely difficult to break open. Alexander grabbed a chair from the room next door and began to slam it against the glass repeatedly, screaming for his wife over and over again who was in the clutches of death.

Margaret didn't know what to do. She didn't know what his intentions were. He killed men – but did he rape women? His touch against her body let off an internal warning sign as she fought against his strength – but he seemed completely unbothered by the wounds she was inflicting upon him, or the sounds of her human males attempting to get inside. In terms of brute strength, she knew that she was no match, and so instead did the only human thing that was ingrained into her DNA to do…she begged… "Please," she pleaded softly, fearful tears running down her cheek as she closed her eyes to avoid seeing the death she expected to come. "Please…stop…"

"Puh…leeze…"

Her eyes were suddenly open with blatant shock as she looked into the emotionless mask where a deep, guttural voice emanated from. The hand clutched around her neck pulled her closer, so close that for a moment she thought it possible to see eyes staring back at her through the visor of the mask. Her chest pumped up and down, and her fighting grip lessened significantly in awe…and terror. "Puh…leeze…" the deep voice repeated again as the hand at her waist raised back up, and ran its fingers through her thick and curly hair exploratively. "Stahp…"

With the weight and force of all the men, the door was suddenly open. The creature wheeled its head in excitement of a possible challenge, but instead was up and heading for the open window…with Margaret still in his clutches. "MARGARET!' Alexander yelled, shoving aside a guard who had let off two shots for the creature out of fear that his wife would be hit.

"ALEXANDER!" the woman screeched as she felt the covers around her disappear, and felt the creature's other arm pull her close. "ALEXANDER?!"

They were through the window, and the last thing Margaret remembered was falling through the air, and the sight of her husband's terrified face as he practically hung out of the window with an arm extended for his plummeting wife. She remembered reaching her own hand that was free from the creature's grip upward…and then darkness.

When the guards found her, she was laying in the rear parking lot of the hospital, completely unconscious from the stress. The creature watched from the trees in the distance as the human male that he assumed was her mate, dropped to his knees and scooped the female up into his arms with a loud, wailing sound – grateful that she was spared. The creature titled its head and made a mental note, completely intrigued by the new information he had personally learned. He seemed to gain great insight on the ways of the oomans, and perhaps hoped that that information could be useful for future hunts on this planet. For now, however, his hunt had been complete and beyond fruitful – and he looked forward to returning. He looked forward to maybe going up against the large male who was crying for his female – he was strong, and a perfect candidate for the hunt…but he also looked forward to perhaps seeing the female again, discovering what more secrets she could give. He had, after all, learned something new…and he was always willing to learn more.

To be continued…


Want to know something interesting? Family Secrets really tie everything together. And it's a shame the Woods' never told their daughter anything about what happened to them - especially after her father's death...and even MORE especially after she returned from Bouvetoya. Because, chances are that if they had - this might have been a different kind of story.