Not a lot to say on this update. Oh, well. Basically Drake returns to the colony at long last after the Kiande Amedha trial. So the good news is: No more cliffhangers! For a while, at least. But I will be taking it easier on the suspense.

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

RETURN

Drake and Scarface stepped quickly off the ship, breathing in the cool, midnight air.

At least it doesn't have two suns, Drake thought as he removed his mask, feeling the cool breeze against his face for the first time in what felt like an eternity.

He looked quietly over the city. It was hard to believe he'd only been gone for two days…time sure as hell moved slower when you were fighting alien monsters.

He tenderly felt the scar on his cheek that formed the mark of his clan, burned in Xenomorph blood…the symbol of his new status as a fully-fledged Yautja warrior.

"Come on," Scarface interrupted his thoughts, "You may be a full Yautja, but you still have School in the morning."

"Damn it," Drake muttered under his breath as they walked toward the city.

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"Late again, Drake?" Mrs. French asked as Drake entered the classroom. "Ah well, you've just gotten back after two weeks, and…" She looked up. "Good God, what happened to your face?" She asked as she saw the mark on Drake's cheek.

"Nothing," Drake shrugged before taking his seat.

Adam looked up, half-shocked to see Drake.

"Where the hell have you been?" He asked in surprise.

"Nice to see you too," Drake said sarcastically as he sat down, "I miss anything?"

"Just everyone getting bored stupid. Where've you been, though?"

"Vacation," Drake answered.

"Well, what happened to your cheek?"

"Got burned. Hurt like hell, as well."

"Looks like it."

"So how's Max?"

"Prob'ly be glad to see you again. You'll be happy to know that we beat the crap out of Danny and one of his friends in your honour."

"Nice one," Drake smiled.

"I bet Rebecca's going to be glad to see you as well," Adam smirked.

Drake half-shuddered at the thought of having to put up with her about that…he'd almost forgotten about the whole thing in the midst of the trial, and wasn't at all looking forward to another uncomfortable conversation…then again, he thought, considering the way he'd been starting to feel about her…

"Yo! Drake!" Adam waves his hand in front of Drake's face.

"Huh?" Drake suddenly snapped out of it. "Sorry. Wasn't listening."

"I said, Danny wants a rematch once you're back."

"Works for me," Drake shrugged.

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"Hey, you're back!" Max smiled as Drake and Adam sat down at the lunch table, "Knew you'd be back soon." He then leaned to Adam and whispered: "I owe you five bucks, Bro."

"So, Adam told me Danny's out for my guts…again."

"Yep. Been going on about it since you left. That guy's been yakking about it since you left. Oh, and Rebecca was asking where you were."

C'jit, Drake thought, I've only been back too minutes…

"Oh well. You going to eat those fries, Adam?"

"Hell, yes."

"Uh…Hey, Drake."

Drake suddenly shuddered, looking up to see Rebecca standing there as she flicked back some of her light brown hair.

"Hey," Drake shrugged, trying to appear indifferent.

"So…where've you been?"

"Just on vacation," Drake lied in response. "I'm going to get some more fries."

He got up and, as he walked past Rebecca, whispered: "Long story. Don't ask."

Great, He thought in frustration. There's the last person I wanted to talk to…

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"Nice stash, boys…" The gang lieutenant smirked, "X…hemp…coke… Nice."

"We got the guns as well, man. Thing is, ever since Los Matadores got knocked off by some psycho a few months back, thing is we've had those god-damn Jamaican drug-holes trying to bust in on our turf."

"No worries, man. We managed to swipe some nice tech. Take a look, dude."

He pulled away a tarp to reveal a small number of large, bizarre weapons.

"Nice. That's Prometheus tech…"

A sudden growling and clicking filled the penthouse around them. One of them looked up.

"What the…"

"What?"

"Just thought I saw something over there…"

A shimmering object suddenly leapt out of the darkness onto the table between them.

"Jesus Shit!"

In a surge of blue electrical energy, a tall, malevolent, armoured figure suddenly revealed itself.

"Jesus Shit!"

One of them grabbed one of the weapons, only to be stabbed in the face with a massive wristblade.

Drake swung his Spear round and cut straight through another one of them, before jumping at another and stabbing him in the gut.

Behind him, one of them grabbed one of the weapons and aimed it at Drake as he turned round.

He pulled the trigger, sending a stream of green energy slamming into Drake's back. Drake was hurled back into a wall, grunting in pain. The gangster stood over him as he slumped to the ground.

"Time to die, Freak…"

The weapon charged up, about to fire another stream right at Drake's head…

Drake suddenly grabbed the spear from before him and thrust it up, right into the gang member's head.

The dead gangster slumped to the ground.

Drake walked over to the weapons and, taking out the Glaive, smashed them to pieces.

That's that, He thought, I am back in business!

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"So nothing went wrong this time?" Scarface asked.

"Nope," Drake answered. "Maybe I can finally get things sorted out."

"What about Rebecca?"

Drake shuddered.

"Wait a minute…" Scarface mused, "Drake…am I to believe you like that girl?"

"What?" Drake snapped, slightly blushing.

"Just asking," Scarface smirked. "What about the other two Exosuits?"

"I'll just have to find them. Thing is, they could be anywhere. No rest for the wicked, I guess. Well, I'm going to bed."

He stood up and left the room.

By the looks of things, He thought, I'll need as much rest as I can get…

See? I kept my promise- no cliffhanger! But don't expect that to be a permanent thing. Anyway, there's some good drama and romance coming up, as well as plenty of action. There's also one really big piece of action coming your way a well.

I've now planned up to the end of this story. The end is in sight, but there's still plenty left in this story.