Chapter 8
Disclaimer: I do not own Alien/Predator series or any characters and may not follow all customs and cultures found in Alien/Predator movies.
"What is the meaning of this!?"
This was the last thing A'sao needed right now. Nai'stip and Vi'su arrived at the worst moment possible, just as she got some trust in the ooman. But if she didn't react, the knife would have hit him through the head. Now, she was in a no-win situation; her Leader saw what she'd done and there was going to be a reprimand.
"A'sao!" She gazed at Nai'stip for a moment before lowering in submission, "Tell me right now."
"There was no need to kill the ooman."
"Really? He has a weapon, does he not? Soft Meat are known to fight back at any chance. Like cowards."
A'sao glanced at the male. True that he had a rifle of some kind, loaded no doubt, and ready to fire at the slightest provocation but he was shaking visibly. His fingers slipped from the trigger a few times. He's scared but not dangerous, "Not this one."
"What makes you so certain?"
She didn't like the fire in Nai'stip, her musk was high and full of animosity, for both her and the ooman. If she didn't handle this properly, it would end both the ooman's and her own life. Nai'stip did have a claim for such an action. The Code of Honor was the law above everything, she could use that to say the ooman should have died instead of being spared, it works the other way around though. I have to think fast.
Swiftly, she swiped her claw at the ooman. He flinched, falling onto the ground while his rifle went flying, making a strange, grunting noise but didn't move or strike at A'sao. It was a good sign, if he went for his weapon immediately, he would be dead before she could do anything about it, "He's unarmed now. No need to kill him."
She hoped it was enough. Nai'stip still showed aggression but somewhat relented, stepping back but not taking her eyes off the ooman. It was a start and she hoped that things would calm down. Still, Nai'stip growled.
A'sao raised her hands, "Do you want to break the Code of Honor?"
"It seems you're almost did," The Leader hissed as she stomped forward, "The ooman is a nuisance and unnecessary. Have you forgotten that we have a mission to complete? Or is your interest for oomans more important?"
A'sao huffed, she didn't have a clear answer sufficient enough to evade the truth. She got out of one prickly situation but onto the next, worse than the last. Vi'su wasn't much help either. Despite being her equal, she was too obedient to go against Nai'stip. Even if it meant her life was on the line, she wouldn't budge even the slightest, a weakness many have exploited since she was an Unblooded but she proved loyal, time and time again. She hoped that support from her would possibly sway the Leader from creating a bigger disaster than necessary but Vi'su lowered her head in submission, her loyalty was crystal clear, the door of opportunity closed in a split second.
Now, all I need is to—
Just as A'sao turned around, the ooman pulled another weapon, a handgun of some sort aimed for Nai'stip. The thick air exploded into a thousand shards, the die had been cast too soon. Not good!
As expected, Nai'stip reacted and let out a screech that pierced their minds. The ooman gasped, dropping the gun to plug his ears. Nai'stip took the chance and rammed the ooman, sending him flying to the other side and right into a rock. He screamed before slumping to the ground and losing consciousness but it wasn't over.
With a roar, Nai'stip jumped over a great length and landed in front of the ooman. A'sao knew already what her Leader intended on doing when the dah'kte unseathed from Nai'stip's gauntlets, "This creature is a liability. We don't have the luxury to spare with no reason."
A'sao watched as her Leader raised the blades to make the final cut. If she didn't act, the ooman would be dead for sure. No!
She ran as fast as she could, not hesitating when she slammed into Nai'stip like two boulders clashing under thunder. They tumbled and fought with claws and blades, sparks from the metal blades erupted until A'sao curled on her back and flipped Nai'stip toward the other side. As her skills showed, she moved with precision, landing perfectly on her feet for another round.
A'sao got up, blocking her Leader from the fallen ooman, musks of aggression were high as both females drew their blades once more.
"Do you really intend to disobey your Leader?"
A'sao snorted, "I intend to follow the Code of Honor. The ooman is no threat since you knocked him unconscious. If you kill him, you'll be deemed a Bad Blood."
"And if you disobey me, I have the right to punish you. And you're close to receiving dhi'ki-de."
A'sao bit into the flesh of her inner mouth. She's right on that.
Nai'stip huffed, charging again, "I have the right to end this ooman. Kill me and everyone will know your treachery!"
A'sao dodged to the right, just barely as the blades nicked the top of her mask and left a scratch behind. She counterattacked with a kick to her legs, causing her Leader to lose balance and gave a window for another strike. She wouldn't dare hurt Nai'stip but it didn't stop her from showing her resolve, she wasn't going to back off now.
A'sao was about to give a punch when Nai'stip grabbed her forearm and used the momentum of the fall to spin her away, throwing her hard to the ground like a sledgehammer. Some of her ribs cracked as she was thrown away once more, sending her rolling until she crashed to a stop on her knees.
She hissed. Pauk!
Quickly, A'sao looked up to realize Nai'stip was already next to the ooman, blades ready to strike. Her chest grew tighter. Damn!
With no choice, A'sao extended her bow and aimed for Nai'stip, just as she was inches from the ooman. Her Leader paused to look back, growling beneath her mask, forcing a stalemate. Nai'stip could kill the ooman in a second but A'sao was faster, being a sharpshooter had its perks but she was trending close to mutiny, "That's enough, Nai'stip!"
Tension was high. A'sao and Nai'stip were at a standoff while Vi'su could do nothing but watch. It was eerily quiet for a moment until Nai'stip huffed in annoyance.
"You're too soft, A'sao. Having remorse for the weak and prey is not befitting a warrior. You're bringing m-di pa'ya-te to your name. What would your family say about this?"
A'sao flinched. The insult stung into her stomach, a tight knot grew that hurt worse than her cracked ribs.
Nai'stip chuffed, "It's time to end this now . . . before we lose ourselves!"
She brought down her blades but A'sao hesitated for a second too long. The arrow wouldn't make it in time, the ooman would already be dead before she fired, "Nai'stip!"
Out of nowhere, Nai'stip was knocked away, skidding so hard that it took all her strength to dig the blades into the ground to slow down. A'sao blinked, both parties realized that Vi'su intervened, standing next to the fallen ooman. Both her and their Leader clicked with confusion, disbelief followed shortly.
"Vi'su!" Nai'stip roared, "What are you doing!?"
"A'sao's right," Vi'su stood, glancing toward with her k'cti-pa out, "We can't kill the ooman."
A'sao wondered, it wasn't like her to act against any Leader she was under but something was there . . . something that convinced even the silent Vi'su to act.
"Why not, Vi'su?"
Vi'su cowered for a moment under Nai'stip's glare but she didn't yield. A'sao can smell her musk though, filled with nervousness, "Before we arrived, we lost track of the Bad Bloods and Na'tou-Va. Despite my best efforts, there was no trace of them. What we do know is that they took hostages . . . pyode amedha among them. The ooman could prove useful."
It didn't convince Nai'stip entirely, A'sao could tell. Still angry and with her blades out, their Leader snorted like an angry rhino ready to charge, "I still don't think he's worth any value."
Vi'su flinched but unwavering in her resolve, "True but he could be used for bait. It doesn't go against the Code of Honor and many hunters practice it. And you could always kill the ooman later if he's too much trouble."
A'sao watched as Nai'stip stood in thought and slowly calmed down. Her Leader may be a brute but she wasn't stupid, she didn't obtain command and honor by being a simple killing machine and Vi'su was more clever than any Yautja she'd ever met. If anyone can get out of this sticky mess without raising a claw, she could.
After a tense moment, Nai'stip sheathed her blades and A'sao lowered her bow, snapping it closed. Despite the primal need to finish a fight, logic won this battle, "Fine, then. We need to regroup anyway and plan our next course of action."
She glanced at the ooman, thinking how low they had gone to spare such prey. She shook her head and clattered her tusks to show her displeasures as she faced A'sao, "But I have one condition, a payment for your disobedience."
A'sao bowed her head, kneeling to the ground as Nai'stip came, her posture displaying absolute authority with her shoulder pulled back and fists tightened at her sides. She watched her Leader grab for a small staff then flicked it, the end opened to release a whip adorned with a thousand needles, a weapon made from the tail of a s'calda, the deadliest scorpion to live in the deserts of Ki'gon. She watched the tail slither like a snake on the ground, obeying Nai'stip until she pulled it back.
She sensed it coming, her Leader's eyes burned through the mask, "Hold her down."
Obeying the command, Vi'su moved behind A'sao and held her shoulders and arms firmly. They waited though thr heavy moments until Nai'stip raised the whip, readying for the punishment to begin.
A'sao lowered her head. She knew it wasn't going to be pleasant . . . Not at all.
Hi everyone!
Sorry for the late update but finally a new chapter for Respect is posted and what tension it was between such great hunters. What will become of A'sao and Ethan?
Keep on reading and hope to hear from you all! :)
Bold and Italics = Yautja speaking Yautja language
Dah'kte = Wrist blades
Dhi'ki-de = Death
Ki'cti-pa = Combistick
Ki'gon = Desert planet in the Delta quadrant
M-di pa'ya-te = Dishonor
S'calda = Giant, six legged scorpion from Ki'gon