Yay, it's nearly Easter! But if I want to meet my target, I'd better speed things up to get to the Xenomorphs. Unfortunately, there may be complications. So far today, my Easter vacation just started and I'm as busy as ever. First a trip up to Coventry, then helping my Dad with the woodwork. But the biggest complication is that I simply need a break. I've been getting way too stressed out lately, mainly because of naggings parents, ass-headed teachers, my friend acting like a prick, exams and, mostly, lack of sleep. I hope to remedy that, at least, in my two weeks off from school. At least now that stress seems to be over with. My point is: Expect plenty of updates over the next week.

After Easter Sunday, I won't be updating for a week, as well, as I'm off up to my Grandmother's, and she doesn't get the Internet. However I will try and get some stuff written by then.

Well, enough of my woes. Hopefully everyone's nice and tense after Chapter 13's cliffhanger. Anyway, I'll keep you waiting no longer, as it seems I've rambled again. So anyway, enjoy. There's some good action here, and Scarface is going to kick some serious butt. Between now and the Xenomorphs there's going to be some (hopefully) good character development. By the way, I have some things in mind but does anyone have any ideas as to the whole Rebecca situation? Well, anyway, enjoy the chapter.

Yautja, Predator and all related characters and trademarks are © 20th Century Fox.

THE AGONY OF DEFEAT

One of the Monster Squad soldiers brought its gun up to fire, but Scarface expertly dodged in mid-air and, even as they rolled away, fired the Speargun and caught one in the hole Drake had made in its chest. As the other one prepared to fire, Scarface fired a white-hot bolt from his Plasmacaster. The blast exploded against the soldier, sending him flying back.

The other one leapt forward, extending a small blade, but Scarface ducked and thrust his Wristblade forward.

The blades cut through armour, machinery and flesh, and the arm was sent flying off, cleanly severed at the elbow as the murky water swallowed it up.

The soldier still stood, firing his weapon again, only for Scarface to leap over it from a standing position and, with one swipe, sever his opponent's head. The dead body fell with a soft splash into the murky water.

Behind Scarface, the other one stood and shot a burst of searing green energy from its gun. Scarface leapt straight up into the air, firing the Netgun. The net shot forward, catching the soldier and hurling him into a wall. Scarface hit the water right in front of the trapped soldier as the net held him down.

Extending his spear again, Scarface thrust it forward, straight through the soldier's head. After a few seconds, his body became still.

Scarface immediately turned and ran through the murky water toward Drake. He immediately lifted the boy up, looking down at his raw, bleeding wounds. He quickly checked the pulse- he was unconscious, but alive.

Scarface easily lifted Drake over his shoulder and began waling away through the sewers.

Through the sensors in Drake's mask, he'd seen the odds Drake was facing and he'd known that the boy couldn't have won. Unfortunate- if those Monster Squad soldiers had fought on fair terms and not drugged him, Drake probably would have won.

Then again, the Monster Squad never did fight fair…

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Drake awoke groggily, squinting as the light hit his eyes.

He felt sick; he could already feel the bile rising in his gut. His limbs could barely move- it was as if his own body was trying to fight him.

As he lay there, he recalled the events that had passed; first of all, those two soldiers…then…whatever they stabbed him with. They drugged him…with what? He'd barely been able to move- he didn't have a chance.

…He'd lost.

He'd been drugged, cheated and beaten.

By this point, his feeling of sickness was fading. Too bad- along with the acid in his stomach, he wished he could vomit out the events that had just happened.

"You're awake," Scarface's voice suddenly came.

Drake nodded. "I lost…"

"They drugged you. That's why you lost."

Drake looked up at his mentor, angry and frustrated. "That doesn't change it." He sighed. "What time is it?"

"5 A.M."

"Well, I might as well get showered."

As Drake tried to stand up, a sudden sense of dizziness overwhelmed him. He staggered, and would have collapsed to the floor if Scarface hadn't caught him.

"Watch it," Scarface warned, "The stuff in that syringe was a neuro-toxin. And there was enough of it to take down an Elephant. Even with your Yautja DNA, it's a wonder that you even managed to stand up straight."

"How long?" Drake asked as he laid back down.

"How long for what?"

"How long until that stuff wears off?"

"A few hours," Scarface answered, "Get some rest. You won't be at School today, so once you're up to it we'll get back to training."

Scarface left the room, leaving Drake alone with his thoughts.

He'd lost. Badly. He'd been drugged, beaten and almost killed by two humans. He'd fought ten humans at once before and won easily.

Then again, those were no ordinary humans. But that didn't change it.

Over the next two hours, he replayed that fight countless times in his head, thinking about where he went wrong.

If he hadn't jumped down into the alley…if he'd dodged just that little bit faster…if he'd just used the Speargun or the Disc instead of trying to get in close with the spear…

Like Scarface and the Elders always said, if only he'd thought it through…

But it didn't matter. All the reflection and analysis in the world didn't change the fact that he'd gotten his butt handed to him.

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After a few hours, Drake was able to get up and take a shower.

He'd always wondered by prize fighters would always spend so long in the shower after losing a fight. Now he knew. In some ways, the water washed away all of the anger. All of the shame. But no longer how long he spent in the shower, it didn't help.

It didn't take him long to get dressed and ready for training. He entered the Kehrite and found Scarface standing there in thought.

"What's on your mind?" Drake asked.

Scarface looked up. "The Monster Squad."

"Don't remind me."

"Drake, think about this. Paya knows that they attacked you."

"Yeah. I kind of gathered that."

"But think about it- why did they attack you?"

Drake stammered.

"Precisely," Scarface continued, "Listen, the Monster Squad were created by a corporation. The same corporation that created the Exosuits- and recently created the Exosuit that you destroyed a few weeks back."

"But why did they send them after me?"

"Presumably, they were after revenge. They must have known it was you that took out the suit."

"And they want me dead over a suit?"

"I doubt it was just that. These people are extremely ruthless, Drake. They no doubt see you as a threat. These are dangerous, powerful people. And they want you dead. Which means there will be more attacks like this. And the next one is likely to be even worse."

"So what do we do?"

"We train."

"What?"

"Drake, you have just over two weeks until the Kiande Amedha trial. No matter who is out to kill you, they won't find this ship. And whatever problems you have, you can deal with them after the trial is over."

"Well, then, we might as well start training. I was going to go out hunting to blow off some steam…"

"Are you insane?" Scarface snapped. "I just told you, these people are out to kill you. And you're in no shape to go fighting them again. If the trial wasn't approaching, I wouldn't even be letting you train. Except for School, you're not to even set foot outside this ship, at least until you recover."

Drake grunted frustrated.

"Drake," Scarface pleaded, "This isn't a punishment. This is serious. Your life is in danger."

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Kehrite-- Yautja Dojo.

Man, poor Drake…nothing seems to be going right for him lately, does it?

I really do feel that chapter came off superbly, so feel free to review with any thoughts you may have.

Next chapter: Drake faces his worst fight yet…with Rebecca!