Chapter 1
Disclaimer: I do not own Predators, Aliens, nor Aliens vs Predators. I also do not own Prison Planet Barbarian (I'm including the characters from this book, but I'm unable to create a crossover)
Rated M for gore, violence, language, adult content, and some interspecies sexual content
Enjoy
Val dreamt of clouds. Flying through the white fluffs as if they were made of cotton candy. Her fingers tingled, flowing easily through the soft fibers. It was ethereal. It was magnificent. The weightless rain gently splashed on her face. She inhaled deeply. The air was so crisp. So fresh. And so loud. Maybe this is what flying feels like, she wondered. The air wrapped around her body like a heavy blanket, her limbs curling inward from the weight of it. So soothing. I could stay like this forever.
BEEP!
The sound disrupts her serenity.
BEEP! BEEP!
A groan escaped her lips and the air is sucked out of her lungs. Val snapped her eyes open. For a moment, she believed she was truly flying through the air.
BEEP! BEEP! BEEP!
Oh, shit! Her scream was lost in the roar of the wind around her. Adrenaline surged through as she felt something foreign strapped to her body. A backpack of sorts. Thick straps ran across her front and sides to meet in the middle. More around her upper thighs. The large belt in the front flashed red with each beep, increasing in rhythm. No doubt in tandem with her descent. Fear overtakes the adrenaline. Utter terror now surged as gravity pulled her down faster. Val managed to peek over her shoulder, seeing nothing but green beneath her.
She screamed again. Her voice was barely a whisper over the wind and her own thundering heart. The beeps grew louder and louder until it became one loud screech, and the pack opened. A parachute whooshed out, billowing in the air. Her whole body was jerked upwards, and she cried out from the sudden pain in her gut. Val latched onto the straps as she dropped into the trees alarmingly fast. The chute snagged on the branches, miraculously slowing her fall. She forced herself to look down. The ground was coming up close. Too close.
Instinctively, she curled up. Just in time as she landed on her side. A silent cry escaped her. More from the impact rather than pain. The wind was knocked out of her and she gasped uselessly for air. The buckle around her middle unlatched, allowing her to crawl out of it. A strap snagged on her hair and Val tugged her dark curls free. She rolled onto her hands and knees, shaking as she processed the last few minutes. The air was thick with humidity. It was annoyingly hot. Little gnats fly in and out of her vision. A few buzzed near her ears and she waved them off. What the fuck? What. The. Fuck?!
As she took shaky breaths, she thought back to her last memory. Sitting behind the wheel of a police car. Following a blue prison bus. She recalled reaching for her radio to signal the upcoming checkpoint. The bus following the curve of the road and then...a bright light. Blinding. Val pressed the back of her hand to her forehead. Nothing else came up after the white light. Save for waking up in the middle of the sky. Her mind was utterly blank. Dammit!
The plan. Her father. How the fuck did I end up here? She thought of Victor, her father's most trusted lieutenant. Did he turn me in? Give me to one of Dad's rivals? Drug and drop me? It doesn't make sense! Oh, God...Sofia. Her sister's face flashed through her mind. Leaving Sofia to fend for herself with a promise to return with their father...Val swallowed the lump in her throat. She's gonna kill me if Dad doesn't do it first.
Finally, she raised her head to scan her surroundings. Endless jungle. Tall trees wrapped in thick vines with lush, heart-shaped leaves. The dirt stuck to her hands. She wiped them on her pants as she got to her feet. She was grateful she chose to dress authentically. Sturdy combat boots, bulletproof vest - even her hair was swept back into a professional bun. Though, now her hair was fizzy and messy. Val had noticed she still had all her weapons. Standard issues firearm, taser, retractable baton, and...her favorite blades all tucked away. The fact that they were all accounted for bewildered her. What idiot would drop me fully armed?
Val sighed then froze. Her skin prickled from a sixth sense. Eyes focused on her. Someone was watching her. She could feel their gaze on the back of her head. Slowly, she turned. Her hand discreetly went to the pistol secured on her belt. Her gaze fell upon a dark-haired woman some thirty feet away. The woman had a large sniper rifle in her hands...aimed directly at Val.
Val raised a defensive hand, her other hovering over her gun. She kept her body angled so that the stranger couldn't see. "You American?" the stranger asked, her voice calm and steady. An accent Val couldn't quite place.
She nodded slowly. "Houston PD. Santos. You wanna lower your weapon, ma'am?"
The woman narrowed her one visible eye. After a long, tense moment, she lowered the rifle. But her shoulders remained tense, ready to jump into action. Val didn't change her stance either, giving the woman the same amount of trust. "What's an American cop doing in the jungle?"
"Your guess is as good as mine." Val briefly scanned the jungle again. The woman's army fatigues gave no indication of what military branch she belonged to. But the dog tags hanging from her neck were unmistakable. "I don't even know where we are. Amazon, maybe?"
The woman shook her head. "Probably not. I've never seen this jungle...and I've seen most."
Val raised an eyebrow at that, eyeing the stranger curiously. And also, still trying to find something to identify her. "And who're you?"
"Isabelle." She adjusted the rifle to rest it against her hip. "IDF."
IDF?! "Wha...what's going on? Why're we here? Why am I here?" Her voice grew louder with each question. Panic setting in. "I'm supposed to be getting my...supposed to be chaperoning a prison transport."
"What makes you think I know?" Isabelle asks. "I was in Syria last I checked."
Val's frown deepened. Her confusion growing. Spiraling. She opened her mouth to speak, but a racketing sound ripped through the stillness. Isabelle whirled around, rifle up and ready. Val drew her pistol, the Glock fitting perfectly in her hands. She rushed to Isabelle's side, gun aimed in the same direction as the sniper's. "What is that?"
"Machine gun," she said, watching through her scope. "Three men. One firing on two of them."
The rapid-fire suddenly cut off. But it doesn't ease the anxiety blooming in Val's chest. For once, she wished her dad was there to guide her. To tell her the next step. A new plan. Something. Anything. Though, she knew deep down that if her father were truly present, he would backhand her for getting herself caught. "We should go. They could be the ones that brought us here." Suddenly remembering the radio on her shoulder, Val fumbled for it. "I might be able to-"
"Don't bother. Mine isn't working, and I bet it gets more range than yours." With careful, quiet steps, Isabelle began heading towards the gunfire that had started up again. "Come on. We'll observe for now. Get some answers."
She doesn't wait for an answer. Continuing on her silent, predator-like walk. Val lowered her gun slightly, aiming away from Isabelle. Her skin prickled again as the IDF sniper walked further and further away. Now alone, she felt those eyes again. Val glanced around. Seeing nothing beyond the green. Nothing in the trees. Nothing...why do I feel someone watching me? A frustrated whimper escaped her, and she hurried after Isabelle.
The machine gunfire becomes louder as they head towards it. Almost deafening so, but Val doesn't dare cover her ears. Her weapon is ready as she walks alongside Isabelle. The Israeli woman isn't that much older, nor that much taller. Val noted their similar build, but she doubted Isabelle was as deadly. The gunfire stops abruptly just as the women reached the edge of a clearing. In the center, a man with a big-nose has a rifle pressed against the head of another, the one wielding a heavy-duty machine gun. A third man, much older than the other two, approached with twin submachine guns and a slicked-back ponytail. The two younger men weren't wearing the same fatigues as Isabelle, and the older man was dressed in a nice shirt with a flashy belt buckle. Val tensed with realization. Is that...? Is he?
She shook off her confusion, following Isabelle's lead. Staying silent as she observed. The man with the big nose stepped back, lowering his assault rifle. His hair is short and dark, and his eyes have a natural sadness to them. "What's the last thing you remember Nikolai?"
Okay, a fellow American, Val noted. Nikolai answered between pants. "War. I was in Chechnya."
Val and Isabelle exchange surprised glances. Russian? It made no sense to Val. IDF, American soldier, a cartel enforcer, and...me? The soldiers at least followed a pattern. All three were prepped for combat. For war. But why me? Val couldn't understand it. "And there was a light," Nikolai continued, "and then I...I woke up and...I was-"
"-falling," the cartel enforced said. He turned to Big-nose. "Yeah, same thing. I was in Baja, and then there was a light...and then chingao."
"Where are we?" Nikolai breathed.
Big-nose had been looking around, half-listening. His gaze fell upon the two women. No fear or surprise in his eyes, just dead calm. He nodded in their direction. "Maybe they know."
Nikolai and the cartel enforcer flinched and followed Big-nose's gaze. Nikolai cursed, grabbing his massive gun too late as Isabelle shifted her file to him. Val kept hers pointed at the cartel enforcer - solely because he had his twin guns on her. Big-nose hadn't aimed his weapon, keeping it against his chest. Val lowered her gun a tad. She regarded Big-nose curiously. He was dangerous, that much was obvious. He had a hard look on his face. Weathered by death and violence, but something about him seemed...familiar. Trustworthy. Val couldn't put her finger on why. She knew she should be cautious. Wary and aloof. She had been around dangerous men aplenty. More than most her age given her father's line of business. But the men were clueless. Big-nose flicked his gaze between the two women. "You wanna lower your weapons?"
Val did. When Isabelle hadn't, Val gently placed her hand on the scope, pushing it down. Isabelle shot her an incredulous glare, but Val ignored it. She shook her head. These guys aren't the enemy, she conveyed with her eyes. Isabelle continued her glare, challenging the younger woman, but eventually relented. Val turned to address the men. "Any idea where we are?" She nods to Isabelle. "She doesn't recognize this jungle."
Big-nose snorted skeptically. "Seen many jungles, have you?"
"I have."
Nikolai gestured to the trees. "You think this is Asia? Maybe Africa?"
"Too hot for this time of year. And the topography's all wrong." She lowered her rifle further. "I saw more parachutes, though."
"Why way?" Big-nose asked.
Isabelle narrowed her eyes. "Why?"
He stepped around Nikolai, resting his gun on his shoulder. "So I can find out who threw me out of fucking airplane."
Oh-kay. Val raised her eyebrows at his tone. Isabelle nodded westward and Big-nose stomps off in that direction. Nikolai whispered to the cartel enforcer. Val took a half-step down, watching Big-nose push through the thick grass. Something about his confidence spurned Val to move; the man had his own gravitational pull. She considered all the options - which were none - and Val holstered her weapon, deciding to follow after the soldier. She wanted to know who threw her out of a fucking airplane, too. Isabelle hissed for her to stop. "Where're you going?"
"With him." She rolled her eyes at the look Isabelle gave her. "You got a better idea?"
She didn't wait for an answer. Val continued. She noticed the cartel enforcer coming up beside her, but he slowed, eyeing her suspiciously. Val returned the glare. She didn't care if he distrusted her. Let him think I'm the real deal. Keeping a hand on her holstered gun, she jogged to catch up to Big-nose. Cartel enforcer and Nikolai were not far behind. Val snuck a glance behind and saw Isabelle walking behind Nikolai. Big-nose did a double-take, eyeing Val from head to toe. "You're kinda young to be a cop."
"I get that a lot. I was," she paused to step over a large root, "chaperoning a prison transport right before this. And you?"
"Rookies don't work prison transports last I checked."
A small smile appeared on her lips. "You overly familiar with the workings of the Houston Police Department?"
He grunted. Val examined the man's fatigues. There was no insignia on his clothing. No country flag. No dog tags. Mercenary, she decided. And she wasn't sure if that fact was a good thing or a bad thing. She glanced back at the others again, noticing a shadow behind Nikolai. "So what do I call you?" she asked. When he doesn't answer, she adds, "other than 'Big-nose'?"
He shot her a surprised frown. As she expected, Big-nose rubs his prominent feature indiscreetly. "Royce."
Val gave him a smug smile. "Nice to meet you. I'm Val."
He grunted again, earning a soft chuckle. She felt oddly energetic despite being coated in a layer of sweat and hovering gnats. "By the way, we've got extra company."
Royce looked at her then glanced back. He halted and raised his gun. Isabelle had caught up to the cartel enforcer, so Nikolai thought he was bringing up the rear. But there was someone else behind him, a small shadow behind the big Russian. The others had noticed Royce and Val and turned, eyes widening at the newcomer. Isabelle raised her large rifle, startling Nikolai. The big guy frowned, then realized she was pointing her gun behind him and turned. He jumped away from the stranger in surprise. "Otkuda, chert voz'mi, ty vzyalsya?"
The stranger holds up his hands. He was young with wet, blond hair. He wore a thick, dark blue flannel shirt and had a machete strapped to his side. He gave everyone a nervous smile. "Whoa. I, uh, don't speak Russian."
"Who the fuck are you?" Cartel enforcer demanded, holding his guns higher.
The stranger flinched, moving a hand to shield his face. "Whoa! Calm down. My name is Luke Campbell. I-I don't know why I'm here." He met everyone's gaze. "I woke up right before I hit the ground. Can you guys lower the fucking guns? I swear, I just wanna know what's going on."
Royce obliged first. Then everyone else lowered their gun one by one. Val studied the man as he put hers away. "So do we," she told him. "You remember anything before? An airplane, maybe?"
Luke shook his head. "I was in Kansas. Working at a job site. Saw a bright light and then...I'm here."
Royce rested his rifle onto his shoulder as he turned to continue west. "Join the club."
~o0o~
Jutari sat in the shadows of the tree canopy as he watched the humans walk further into the jungle. His mind was buzzing with confusion. Humans. Humans! He had seen very few in his time since the wars. They were kept as exotic pets of rich merchants and hidden playthings of nobles. Always female. He had never seen human males before. They weren't much bigger but looked so different. They all had odd-looking weapons. Jutari recalled his histories. It had been over a thousand years since the Kes Empire transitioned from manufactured ballistics to energy-based blasters.
By the way the humans carried themselves, he had assumed they were military. His examining gaze lingered on the females. One had a large blaster, nearly as long as she was tall. The other...oh, no. An unfamiliar possessiveness came over him. Jutari clenched his four-fingers hands into fists. The other female was smaller. Her dark mane was messy, tied back into a knot at the base of her neck. She wore dark blue clothing with some sort of armor under her shirt. A metal badge resting over her left breast. A decorated soldier, maybe?
He had no knowledge of Earth and its culture save for that it existed and was the sole home to humans. D-class rated. The planet and the entire sector it resided in was off-limits by decree of the Intergalactic Committee. Mostly because the sector had belonged to a forgotten empire that once ruled the stars with technology no species could ever hope to achieve. Jutari half-suspected he was on Earth as he had never seen a jungle-like this one. There were very few planets so rich with life-bearing conditions. The air was breathable. The gravity was average. If he at least knew what system he was in, he could better guess what planet he was on. And he remembered nothing. One minute he was stalking his next target, a Tritarian spice lord - an easy contract, and the next...a bright light had flashed overhead. When he woke up, a rather large spider was trying to get into his nose.
Jutari rubbed his jaw, his thoughts returning to the female in blue. He couldn't explain the sudden thrumming of his heart as he watched her walk. The urge to jump down and scoop her up in his arms like some primitive keffer. It was undeniable. A primal desire that his people had never managed to shake off. She's mine.
It was a strange sensation to see a female - especially one of a different species - and realize he wanted to claim her. She was brave, he could tell. There was a strong, fighting spirit inside of her. It was evident in the way she marched alongside the human male with the big nose. Jutari thought briefly about joining them, but he decided to wait. To watch. Wait. He was better at that. He would make his presence known soon enough.
Once he figured out who the kef abducted him.
~o0o~
The day had gone from bad to just plain weird.
There were loud voices up ahead. Val let out a small sigh of relief. They had been walking for what felt like hours. Her feet were killing her and the vest she wore felt heavier with every step. They came to another clearing, the source of the unknown voices. Three men were wrestling, rolling around in the dirt. One of them wore a bright orange prison jumpsuit. Big Black letters on his back read: San Quentin Prison. He was as thin and wild as a feral cat. He lashed out like a mad man at the other two. The biggest of them had smooth ebony skin and wore various handmade bracelets and necklaces.
The third man was fucking red. Like bright red. And naked.
Val stood beside Isabelle as they watched the fight continue. Prisoner pulled a makeshift shiv out of his pocket and slashed at Red. The strange, naked man managed to block the attack, grabbing Prisoner's arm and throwing him down. Twisting his arm into a painful angle. Big guy slammed his fist into Red's face then proceeded to try and strangle Prisoner. Red had barely gotten up as he tackled Big Guy. The both of them rolled away out of sight. Prisoner got up and prepared to rejoin the fight, but stopped once he noticed the audience. He glanced at the group confusedly. "You motherfuckers with them?"
"No," Isabelle answered.
"Then why don't you mind your own fucking business?" He moved to face them fully. A name was printed over the pocket to his upper left chest: Stans.
Red and Big Guy had decided to quit brawling upon noticing the others as well. Red marched right up to Stans, getting in his face and saying something vile in a strange language. Stans shoved the red man away. "Back the fuck off, faggot."
Red bared his teeth. His hand hovering over a dagger strapped to his bare thigh. His ears were slightly pointed, but he was otherwise human-looking. He stomped over near Cuchillo - the cartel enforcer - and picked up a blood-stained axe. "Why you naked, cabron?" Cuchillo asked.
The stranger rambled in a fluid string of incomprehensible words and gestured to Stans. Big Guy stormed over, picking up his discarded rifle before grabbing Stans by his collar. "I will finish what you started." Then he shoved the inmate away. He turned to Red. "You as well."
Royce took a few steps forward, eyeing Red warily as he spoke to the other two. "Who's this?"
Stans shrugged. "Fuck if I know. Faggot tried to jump me the moment I woke up."
"Lies," Big guy hissed.
"Okay, enough," Val said. She moved to stand beside Royce, opting to put him between naked Red and herself. "Look, we've got bigger problems right now."
Stans regarded her nervously. His eyes lingered on the badge on her chest. "Okay, boss. Whatever you say."
Nikolai tentatively approached Red who steps back, gripping his axe defensively. He set his machine gun down on a large root then touched his chest. "I am Nikolai." Red blinked. Nikolai tapped his chest again. "Nikolai."
Red glanced at the others then turned back to Nikolai. He tapped his own chest. "Anryss."
"Anryss," Nikolai echoed. He turned to Isabelle. "Recognize the language?"
She shook her head. Anryss tapped Nikolai's machine gun with the top of his ax, saying something else in a questioning tone. The Big Guy, Mombasa, had removed his jacket and offered it to Anryss, gesturing to cover his nakedness. Val felt someone staring and looked over at Stans who's wary stares had turned lascivious. She wrinkled her nose in disgust and turned away from him. "Okay. So we got soldiers, criminals, civilians, and now...what? A tribesman?"
"He's fucking red," Luke pointed out. "What sort of tribesman has ketchup-colored skin?"
Anryss seemed to realize that he was being discussed. He tapped his chest again. "A'ani. Wves jajno a'ani."
"Whatever." Stans began to pace, scratching at his oily hair. "What is this anyway?" He gestured to the group. "Strength in numbers?"
Val shrugged. "Something like that."
"Yeah? Maybe we should get that guy hanging in the tree?"
~o0o~
"Help me! Fuck! Somebody help me!"
The group stepped around the edge of the pond as they approached, circling the man hanging upside down. His parachute caught on a thick but weak branch. Anryss moved to stand beside Nikolai with Mombasa's shirt tied around his waist like a wrap skirt. Val followed after Royce, skirting the water's edge towards the trunk of the tree. The man continued to shout. "Hello? I'm trapped in a parachute in a fucking tree!"
"Why don't you shut the fuck up?" Stans snapped.
The man gasped. His panic and anger washing away into relief. "Oh, thank God." He started wriggling. "Help me! I can't-!"
"Stop moving," Isabelle said. "You're breaking the branch."
Val stepped closer to the water, looking up at the knot of ropes and straps hooked all around the branch and the tree. "Do you have anything to cut yourself down with?"
"Why would I - no, I don't!"
Val frowned at his attitude. The man was thin, almost as lanky as Stans. He was wearing jeans and a maroon hoodie with glasses threatening to slide off his face. Isabelle turned to Nikolai. "Maybe we can use the ropes from the chutes to-"
Royce promptly lifted his rifle and shot the branch. It snapped easily and the man yelped as he fell into the water. Val looked up at Royce. "Hardcore."
He shrugged. The thin man thrashed about the water. "Help! Help!" He then stopped and stood up, realizing the pond was barely waist-deep.
Stans crouched down, resting his elbows on his knees as he regarded the man dismissively. "Who the hell are you?"
"I'm, uh...Doctor Edwin Palmer," the man said, wiping his glasses clean. "I was on my way to work and then...can someone just tell me what the fuck is going on? Why is he red?"
"Wvese klad gou," Anryss said.
"A doctor?" Isabelle interjects. "Of what?"
"Internal medicine. I have a, a practice in LA."
Val frowned to herself as she processed Edwin's words. Four soldiers (if one counted Royce), three criminals (if she counted herself), a civilian, a red tribesman, and now a doctor...it made zero sense. She looked back up at Royce, letting her confusion show. If he sensed her thoughts, he didn't say. Only motioning to continue. Val stared at his retreating back in frustration. She wanted answers. But no one had any. Not even the goddamn jungle gave them any clues. She noticed Isabelle lending Edwin a hand, dragging him out of the shallow pond. Why a doctor? All of us are fighters of some kind. Combat experience. Even Luke. She peeked at him. He was leaning against a tree, adjusting the machete at his side. He was fit and had kept up with everyone so far. But he was also hiding a pistol behind his back, tucked into his waistband.
She sighed and whistled to get everyone's attention. "Come on. Let's keep moving."
~o0o~
Jutari stuck to the lower canopy. Careful as to not give away his position as he followed the humans. They had collected a weak-looking human male that had been hanging in the tree like a freshly caught kill in a snare. They even allowed a a'ani to join their ranks. That surprised him. Seeing an a'ani - a clone. And a gladiator no less. Jutari didn't really keep up with the latest games. A'ani were often used as fodder. Small fights to get the crowds worked up. The a'ani warrior named Anryss wasn't even marked with tattoos. He's young, then. No marks on his skin. A'ani, despite their hive mentality, subconsciously craved individuality. And tattoos were the easiest method.
The humans were continuing westward, following the male with the big nose. Royce. He had heard his female address the human male with that world so it must be his name. Jutari felt unfamiliarly jealous at that. The last thing he wanted was for his female to be snatched away from him. Even though she didn't know she belonged to him...yet.
The humans were also loud. They stomped through the grass without care. Moving in a un-stealthy line. The human in orange walked towards the end, keeping his gaze on the females ahead of him. His eyes unashamedly locked on their backsides. Jutari leaned forward, gripping the branch tightly. A growl threatened to escape him. He was fully prepared to rip the puny human limb from limb. And it would be so easy. He's thinner than the branch I'm holding.
No, he would control himself. His female could take care of herself. Jutari lowered himself to sit, letting one leg hang off. His female had noticed she was being stared at. The orange male said something about her ass and she rolled her eyes in response. Good. She wasn't scared. Not threatened in the slightest. He was liking her more and more. She-
Jutari whirled around, standing upright on the branch. His eyes scanned the trees behind him. A sixth sense told him of a presence lingering in the shadows. His tail flicked ever so slightly, agitated. He wasn't stupid. He had strong suspicions as to what was really going on. But it seemed too ridiculous, too impossible that he tucked those thoughts away. But now, they were creeping back. He sniffed the air. Nothing but the humid wetness of the jungle. He could smell the humans, but it wasn't them that was bothering him. There was something else out there. Watching him as he was watching the humans.
He scanned the jungle once more then relaxed. The presence was gone. For now.
End of Chapter 1
