Disclaimer: The day I own AvP is the day I start hating Yautjas. Which... is never. So there you have it.
A/N: Yupp, Lex just gets more and more of Scar's sunshiney personality every day.
Also, I'd like to give a huge amount of gratitude towards Draguna, who has given me so much Yautja information that I have no clue how I'd written this story so far without. Thank you Draguna. And thank you reviewers, whom inspire me to write even more.
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Before: Lex tries to come to terms with her "abandonment". In the meantime, Scar is losing his patience with Healer Umtok and all those that prevent him from leaving the ship and returning to the surface. Before he can seriously consider killing Umtok, the Old One makes his entrance and gives Scar the permission needed. Rave is ranting about how many things need to die when Scar finds him, the bigger Yautja sourly pissed due to the weather and his inability to track the hard meat Grid. A younger Yautja female, Jet, agrees with Scar and Rave that Umtok's an ass as she flies them over to the ship. The only problem is that Piper Maru is not there, rather another ship is in its place. Meanwhile, Lex encounters a whole other kind of ugly in Weyland's corporation's vile inheritor, Mr. Winston. He tries to interrogate her by force, only to recieve his just desserts by a pissed Lex.
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(What do you MEAN it's not there!) Scar frowns, his clenched fist hovering inches above the control panel.
(I mean that one ship- the Piper Maru or whatever, is NOT there. This Ooman vessel is different.) Jet, wary of her suddenly enraged passenger, kept one eye on Scar even as the other scanned the sensors, (It's... smaller.)
(This... can't be right.) Rave frowned, his tone close to a growl as he crossed his arms, (The problem is obvious.)
(Obvious?) Scar raised a questioning brow.
(Yeah, obvious?) Jet agreed as she shot a disbelieving look Rave's way, (Do you mind sharing with the rest of us just WHAT is so obvious?)
(Obviously...) Rave glared at the controls, (the sensors are wrong.)
There was an actual, tangible pause that hung in the air.
The next moment Scar had Rave in a head lock, his mandibles clicking furiously as he stated, (I am going to KILL you.)
Baring his mandibles at challenge beneath Scar's words, Rave tossed the smaller Yautja over his shoulder, growling, (I'd like to see you try!)
Flipping in the air even as the bigger Yautja tossed him, Scar landed nimbly on his feet before flashing a grin and charging towards Rave.
As the two tackled each other across the room, Jet narrowed her eyes, snapping, (HEY. Just watch where you two are throwing eacho-)
Before she could even finish, Rave accidentally knocked backwards into her, Scar having squarely landed a kick on the bigger Yautja's stomach. Sprawling over the controls, Jet got the breath knocked out of her as the edge hit a solid blow across her midsection. A second later she was on the floor, her eyes squinted.
Rave spun on his heels, shooting an 'Oh, crap' look towards Scar. Bending towards the downed Yautja female, Rave extended a large hand, (Are you all right?)
He thought her eyes were squinted in pain.
Oh man. He couldn't have been more wrong.
His extended hand was knocked out of the way as a small bundle of lithe and graceful muscle rammed into him.
In the next, unbelievable and breathless second, Rave found himself on his back against the cold mesh floor, the slimmer and younger female Yautja straddling his waist.
The first thing that ran across Rave's mind also shot blindly out of his mouth, (Are you... coming on to me?)
(Hunter's Moon, NO.) Jet retorted instantly with a twisted frown.
Scar had been initially surprised at the move, but at the sight of the two of them and the look on their faces, he could barely hold back the laughter rising up inside.
Snarling and drawing her face closer, Jet spoke before Rave could repeat his question, (Get your SHIT together or else prepare to get your ASS kicked outta my ship!)
That said she hastily sprung back off him before he could get any more ideas, stalking off towards the controls to see if anything had been broken or messed with. Scar made sure he gave her a wide berth as he headed towards the fallen, and still shocked, greenish-brown Yautja.
Chuckling, Scar gave Rave a hand up, his brow ridge raised in disbelief as he asked incredulously, (Is she coming ON to you? What were you thinking?)
(What?) Rave shrugged, brushing himself off, (I thought she was.)
(But, seriously Rave. Coming on to you?) Scar snorted, giving Rave a look.
(What?) Rave asked, his tone demanding as Scar continued to give him a look, (WHAT?)
Sighing in annoyance, Scar shook his head once, (Nothing.)
Being the stubborn and pig-headed Yautja that he was, Rave pressed the issue simply because Scar refused to answer, (WHAT, Scar? WHAT is it?)
Half-snorting and half-laughing, Scar gave the bigger Yautja a look and said simply, (I remember what happened before we disembarked from the home world.)
(Oh, THAT?) Rave said dismissively with a wave of his large hand, (She was an aggressive female. And willing. What was I to do?)
(You ALMOST mated with a female, Rave. And you weren't even Blooded yet!)
(Your point?) Rave asked begrudgingly, scratching his locks, (If I remember right, YOU were the one that stopped me.)
(I'm just warning you,) Scar raised a brow ridge at Rave, shaking his head as he walked past him, (you'd better stop thinking with your gonads before you have them chopped off. I know if Umtok had his way you, you would already be unable to mate and I... I would be in the deepest darkest Kainde Amedha pit he could find.)
(All the more honor and trophies for you to gain. Umtok doesn't scare me.) Rave snorted, arms crossed as he turned to follow Scar with his sage eyes, (I find it hard to believe he had gone on a Hunt at all much less passed five and "found" his calling in the Healer ways.)
Scar chuckled in agreement and stood next to Jet, (As long as he doesn't claim the title of 'Honored' warrior...)
(Hah! No one would believe it.) Jet spat, her fingers working furiously over the controls, (I feel almost dishonored that he's even in the same Clan as ours.)
The two males grunted in agreement with that. Jet may have been young, and she may have been runt in stature compared to the average female, but she was a good judge of character. They knew, as well as all others who had a brain in their head, that Umtok was a breath away from being a Bad Blood. Unlike the others, Rave wished that he'd just be one sooner so that the big Yautja could kill him.
Before Scar had to conceal any urge to strangle something, Jet declared, (I found it!)
(Where?) Scar demanded, his tone as serious as his sudden change of mood.
Rave immediately shut up, wanting to know what had happened to their newest member.
Jet's form was suddenly stock-still as she absorbed the readings from the sensors.
Impatient, Scar shoved past her, which earned him a snarl, and stood in front of the console just as a holo-image projected itself.
There was the Piper Maru, all outlined in green. But none of the Yautja on the transport were focusing on any of the green details. Rather, their eyes were drawn to the red flashing across the image and throughout the Ooman's ship.
(How did this...?) Jet asked numbly.
Seeing as how Scar had suddenly lost his voice, Rave spoke the horror they all realized, (Something's attacking the ship.)
-o-o-o-
The sirens were blaring. The whole hallway was flashing in bursts of red light.
Lex found herself crouching near the foot of her bed, muscles tensed and eyes focused on her door. She had woken the moment something strange had tugged at her senses. She had been alert and wary even before the alarm was triggered.
The only question was: What else was on the ship?
Her door slammed open and she prepared to leap. Only to barely stop herself as she recognized the trembling figure that stood in front of her. He noticed the feral look in her eye and instantly fell into a frozen, fearful state. Not that he wasn't already frightened before he decided to barge into her room.
"Mr. Winston." Lex greeted coldly, snapping him out of his stupor enough to shut the door behind him.
But her eyes were drawn to what he held in his arms. Eyes flashing, Lex strode towards him and yanked the huge talon from his hands, "WHERE did you get this?"
Her memory flared with the intense vision of the Queen hovering over her. She could feel the icy heat of the hard meat's talon buried deep into her shoulder. The cold of death drawing near. The surprise/relief at the appearance of Scar.
Shaking her head and returning back to the present, Lex shook the two foot talon as she demanded, "WHERE?"
Attempting to shrug her off and retain a small amount of dignity, Mr. Winston replied, "I-I..."
But words, especially calm ones, were something the frightened man couldn't manage at the moment.
"Took it from me while I was unconscious?" Lex snarled, shoving the pathetic man from her, "Why do you bring it to me now? What do you want?"
Mr. Winston fumbled with his wrinkled suit, a shaky hand running through his messy hair. He knew he had to speak now or Lex may just kill him.
Maybe.
He looked up into her brown eyes.
All right. Definately. She would definately kill him if he didn't speak up now.
The man forced his vocal chords to work, clearing his throat loudly.
"Y-you must know..." Winston darted his eyes back to the door, before taking a deep breath in order to continue in a whisper, "what... what those THINGS are."
Lex blinked. Was he talking about the hard meats? Or maybe even the Yautja?
She didn't have to wait long for an answer.
A raptor-like cry erupted from the interior of the ship, audible even through the thick steel-enforced walls. Lex's eyes widened even as she fixed her gaze on the cowering man before her.
"Those... those THINGS... they-they mur-murdered all the guards." Winston stuttered, not noticing Lex's rolling of her eyes as she realized why he was here.
"Do you honestly believe I can help you?" Lex inquired with a frown.
"I know you-you MUST have fought those things before." Winston said, his tone rising with his growing alarm as he realized what she may be getting at, "Those wounds that you had wer-"
"Wait," Lex interrupted, "let me rephrase that: Do you honestly believe I WILL help you?"
Mr. Winston's eyes widened to the size of grapefruits at that, his jaw trembling slightly. But he was a dealing man and he always sought out a bargaining situation where there never was one before.
He was always good at what he did. He manipulated people and he was proud of it. But then again, he never had to bargain when the odds and the continuation of his own life was against his favor.
"Name a price-ANY price!" He shouted, practically on his knees. He didn't know how to fend for himself. At least, not physically. That's what his hired guards were for. But they never stood a chance against those shadowed beasts that lurked in the halls.
They went down without much of a fight. Mr. Winston could truthfully say he had never been that close to that much blood before in his life. But he thought... No, he KNEW that Lex had encountered those things before and survived.
Lex took a moment to gaze at the man before her. Did an overwhelming flood of pity come over her? Not really.
Did she feel any pity at all? Possibly.
Did she have to help him...?
Lex thought about all the things this man was. Thought about all the deeds he must have done in his life. All the people he manipulated. All the lives he ruined for his own sake.
She thought especially hard about how he stole the talon, something she felt strongly about for some reason, and how he probably would have screwed her over once they reached wherever the Maru was headed.
The realizations dampened her pity immensely and her look turned sour, "There's nothing you can offer that I could possibly want."
She would never forget the look on his face as she opened the door, intending to stride back out into the dangerous darkness of the hallway. Turning away from the man, if he could actually be called one, Lex said harshly, "I never want to see you again."
The door closed with a certain finality and Winston just stood there.
He was fearful, but he was also reeling in anger. How dare she just refuse him like that! No one refused Winston. He had money, power, and good looks. EVERYTHING the sniveling woman should have admired him for. And she had refused.
"I could have given you the WORLD!" Mr. Winston shouted at the door. But instead, she went out there. The man scoffed, "I hope she dies."
Then, quite suddenly, the door dented as something hit it with tremendous force. The hallway just outside his door erupted in vicious cries.
Mr. Winston could think of nothing to do but cower behind the bed and hope to high heavens that nothing would barge in through it.
-o-o-o-
(Are you sure you can go down there?) Jet inquired seriously, her black eyes fastened on Scar's. Instinctively, she forced her attention to his body heat with her infrared vision. If he lied to her, she could tell.
(Try and stop us.) Rave growled. He may like this Yautja, but if she got in their way...
Sensing the seriousness in the situation, and not wishing for a fight, Jet instantly backed off even as she explained, (Hey, I didn't say I was going to. I was only wondering if you had the Arbitrator's permission.)
(I have it.) Scar said shortly.
The Old One had allowed him to return to the surface and retrieve those of their Clan. Lex was now one of them.
And he'd be damned if he was going to leave her again.
(Just open the door before I tear it off.) Scar growled.
(But we haven't landed ye-) Jet started to say.
(OPEN IT!) Scar roared, whipping his head around to face her.
Without hesitation, Jet complied.
Instantly, cold wind and bits of snow whipped into the transport's interior. The yellowish-brownish Yautja didn't even blink.
The drop to the Piper Maru was meters high. But Scar didn't even blink as he simply stepped off, the air rushing past his ears. The sight of the ship expanded rapidly as he approached in his plummet, strong heat signatures and fading heat signatures present all across the deck. He spotted lifeboats with clustered survivors floating along the ocean's cold surface, the ice broken up by the big ship's hull.
Somehow, Scar knew she wasn't on any of those air-filled rafts and ignored them.
Spotting a soft meat running across the deck below him, Scar instantly tracked behind it to the kainde amedha that was chasing the Ooman. With subtle shifts, Scar managed to align his fall with the position the hard meat would be within a couple seconds.
An instance later, with a sickening crunch, Scar landed squarely on the kainde amedha's skull. He heard a sound above him and took a step to the side. A breath later Rave landed in the same spot, a frown on his face as he said, (How did they get loose?)
(I REALLY don't care right now.) Scar growled, barely glancing in Rave's direction before he stalked forward.
Acknowledging the other's anger, Rave fell into Scar's pace, his attention spanning the chaos around them. During the Hunt, they had agreed that Rave would be leader. He was perfect for the role. All brawn, bravery, and power. All he lacked was tact and skills in planning ahead. The three young warriors had agreed the bigger Yautja would lead them, but at the same time they knew who the real brains of the operation was.
Rave wasn't going to dispute it.
However, had it been another Yautja, Rave wouldn't have hesitated in knocking the fool's lights out.
Unless it was an Honored warrior or above, of course. Like an Arbitrator and especially not an Elder or a female.
Scar knew and accepted their sort of friendship. They had an understanding. They don't mess with each other when one was pissed and they certainly didn't let another Yautja mess with either of them. Scar was okay with allowing Rave to have the reigns every once in a while. But when matters as crucial as the safety of a Clan member, one of another species that Scar himself had initiated... when matters as personal as such arises, Scar couldn't imagine anyone leading the pursuit but himself.
They were across the deck and striding inside the Piper Maru's interior in no time, dispatching whatever lay in their way. Of course, they were mindful of the code and managed to refrain from attacking unarmed soft meats. At least, not until said Ooman showed aggression towards them.
Rave was in the process of tossing one carelessly over his shoulder when a flash of glossy black caught his eye down a side corridor. Patterns of grid-like yellow ooze decorated the hard meats skull.
A deep growl emanated from the bigger Yautja's chest. His anger flared.
This kainde amedha had nearly killed him in the beginning of the Hunt. Before the pyramid had exploded it attempted to take Lex's life while she lay helpless and unconscious.
Rave's fist clenched.
It would make a well-earned trophy.
(I'm going after it.) Rave growled.
Scar had just turned his head to where Rave had been standing when he realized the greenish-brown Yautja was no longer there. Scar caught sight of Rave disappearing around a corner. He trilled thoughtfully to himself. But this was Rave's battle. He couldn't steal his kill.
Continuing on his rampage, Scar tore through room after bloody room.
Where could the Ooman be?
Was she already dead?
But no, she couldn't be dead. Scar would've felt it... would've known... somehow.
That's when he encountered traces of Lex's scent. Increasing his pace, Scar was at a dead sprint before he skidded to a stop.
Her faint scent trail ended here. But this couldn't be right. All that lay here was blood. Drying blood and a body...
The body was slim like Lex's form. Her scent was here.
But it couldn't be right.
The body was dead.
Scar stared at it, his brow ridge furrowed. He was frozen in disbelief.
He had been too late!
In pre-anguish and anger, Scar howled, feeling no pain as he rammed his fist through the thick steel forged walls. It yielded beneath the force of his strike, but it did not lighten the sudden weight over the Yautja's heart.
Why did he feel like this? Why did he feel such pain? Pain was inflicted by weapons and objects. Or pain from horrible transgressions upon one's honor. But this... this was done by neither. So why...?
Scar stilled.
Had he been dreaming?
But the sound came once more. This time it was louder. More audible.
It was the Ooman. And she was shouting his name.
"ScaaaAAARRR!"
Scar whipped his head up, his dreadlocks lashing through the air. He was sprinting before he had even realized he had moved. Her tone had been desperate.
She needed help.
How could Scar refuse?
