Chapter 10

Disclaimer: I do not own Alien/Predator series or any characters and may not follow all customs and cultures found in Alien/Predator movies.

Ethan froze in his spot, his wrists becoming sore from straining on the binds. Even before the creatures emerged, his inner voice screamed to get out of that place. Instincts clawed at his brain to signal him to run in the other direction. He thought about it until he saw the abominations leap from the shadows and screeched with absolute rage.

They were enormous insects with legs of a praying mantis but pinchers as large as a human if not more, skin decorated with a sickly black color that surrounded pockets of something. If that wasn't bad enough, their mouths folded out to expose thousands of needle-like teeth. These should be only in my nightmares.

The Leader, Nai'stip, spoke in a foreign language with a roar that pierced his ears, a charge as he watched all three females rush to meet the creatures, not the slightest hesitation in them. Their bravery would make any General or Commander praise them, even honor. But this isn't war . . . This is bloodshed at its most primal.

Two of the beasts went after Nai'stip, bearing down from above with their sickles, poised to kill her. With such brute strength, she grabbed their heads, threw them hard to the ground and crushed their skulls with little pressure. Quick for her size, she swung the dead bodies to the incoming enemies and slashed the rest with serrated blades on each gauntlet.

Ethan swallowed. That could have been me.

Vi'su fared well, not as aggressive at Nai'stip but her weapons made up for it. Her combistick punctured through three like a kabob and threw them away in one fell swoop. When two of the insects tried to get her from above by spitting web to her feet, hardening like concrete, she drew two knives and spun them. The blades split into four, cutting through the web and the creatures' torsos and arms like butter. They were dead before they dropped to the ground.

As for A'sao, he thought of her as the most calculated. With a mere bow and arrows made of metal, she took down the ones that waited for the opportunity to get the two females, piercing their hides with bolts of electricity from the arrow tips. Even at close combat, her reflexes were too quick as she stabbed one creature just as he thought she was going to get a hit. She wasn't as brutal as the other two, almost as if she was holding back. He suspected she could be as strong as the other two if not more . . . and reasonable. The one who spared his life when she was brutally beaten for the consequences. Question is . . . Why?

Ethan was so preoccupied with observing the battle that he didn't notice one of the creatures had snuck around. By the time he heard the hissing over his head, it sprayed web over his ankles and he was holstered into the air, helpless since his wrists were still bound.

The creature drooled over him as he was pulled closer. His heart skipped a beat. Great! Again!?

In a sudden snap, an object sliced the web and skewered through the creature's mouth. Ethan was free but fell to the ground and then the insect's body nearly crushed him. Shit! He wiggled a few times, using all of his might to finally be freed from it.

"Hide somewhere. It's not safe here," He saw A'sao coming toward him, killing a creature that almost got Ethan from behind.

"I would if you would get rid of these bonds!" His frustration almost cost him there, earning a growl of warning from A'sao.

Still, he could tell from her eyes that she was torn, no guess from her unruly Leader still crushing a few skulls a few meters away. It worried Ethan that he was going to be left like this. Even if he did escape, he would be a dead target walking to whatever was out there.

"Come on!" Ethan yelled a little softer, and then came up with an idea, "I can fight! Just free me and I can get my guns to help!"

A'sao's mandibles curled tightly to her inner mouth, still showing hesitation as she took a glance at Nai'stip, still busy with nearby enemies.

"Come on! Quickly!"

After excruciating seconds of waiting, the female had made the choice he wanted. He stood still as she took a small knife and sliced the bonds with ease, right as a swarm of creatures charged at them. Ethan hurried to his guns, barely got his rifle loaded when one of the ugly insects took a swipe at him. By some miracle, he rolled out of the way and fired, its head exploding in a spray of purple liquid. It tasted nasty, enough that Ethan's stomach began to turn.

Disgusting! What am I fighting?

"You freed the ooman!?" Nai'stip roared, her attention on him as she strangled a creature before snapping its neck. Ethan swallowed hard.

"We don't have a choice!" A'sao shot an arrow at an incoming insect, "He can fight!"

"We don't need an ooman to help! We can handle this!"

Really? Ethan thought as more of the creatures came. It was like a swarm was coming out of the bushes in infinite numbers. Despite the females' efforts, there were just too many. Vi'su began to slow down, even more as she received cuts after cuts that were bleeding green neon blood, barely getting a breath as the creatures held back for a few moments to gather. Nai'stip was no different but since she was the greatest threat, the creatures targeted her the most. It was surprising to him how she kept up for so long.

This was a losing battle and Ethan knew it all too well, "We need to retreat. We can't take them all."

He could see in Vi'su and A'sao that they agreed, clicking their mandibles in a soft chitter. Of course, being the brute and most stubborn female, Nai'stip roared, "We will not retreat! We are Yautja warriors! M-di h'dlak! Dtai'Kai-dte sa-de nau'gkon dtain'aun bpi-de!"

Ignoring the advice, Nai'stip charged with renewed strength, taking down several of the insects with her wrist blades, charging like the bravest of warriors into the swarm. Strong . . . but stupid.

Ethan wasn't about to stick around, this was a death sentence and he'd rather fight another day when more prepared than go out knowing such information. He gathered the rest of his things and called out to Vi'su and A'sao, "Come on!"

He somewhat expected them to understand, their golden eyes expressing it clearly. Vi'su shook her head and charged to help Nai'stip, swinging her combistick to defend her ally, just as fierce if not more.

With one refusal, Ethan turned to A'sao, hoping for a different response. She was the only female that had understood and respected him more than the others but he still saw her looking back. Her hand tightening around the shaft of her bow in an internal debate that he could see all too well. Not you too.

He only had to take a look to know she wasn't going to go either. Her bright eyes were full of confliction, subtly reflected by her chest rising and falling rapidly from her armored chest. She didn't speak, a clicking sound was heard before she joined the fight. Another battle ensued as he watched from a distance.

What is wrong with them? Why would they risk their lives? For pride? That's a fool's game.

Ethan turned toward the border of the jungle, heading there to find shelter and figure the next step to getting out of this hellhole. All he wished was to return to the life of a soldier where everything was as it should be.

Really though?

He stopped after a few steps, frozen as if an invisible force put him there, more like his subconscious nagging deep within him. Are you going to run away like a coward? After everything? They could have killed you but instead let you live in a somewhat way. And what do you do?

Ethan bit his lip. You ran . . . like a coward. No, more like a dog with its tail between its legs.

He gripped his fists and turned around as soon as he heard a familiar roar. A few meters away, two insects had A'sao's arms in their jaws and a third digging into the side of her neck. She did her best to pry them off, thrashing around in a circle to use the momentum but it wasn't enough, green liquid painted everywhere it could reach.

She saved your skin. . . and what did you show for gratitude? He bit his lip.

Vi'su and Nai'stip were too occupied to come to her aid with a bunch more but then again, the Leader didn't even flinch as A'sao roared in pain when her dreadlocks were yanked back. It would be in Nai'stip's great interest for her to fail and he'd guess that being weak was no exception in whatever rules or codes their kind followed.

Ethan kept looking back and forth, between his chance at freedom or repayment for the alien female who took a beating for his life.

You did nothing . . . weakling.

He gritted his teeth and hissed, "Fuck me if I die like this!"

With everything he could muster, he turned around and raced to where A'sao was being ripped apart with more of the creatures swarming in. He aimed his rifle for one at the top, ready to bite into her face and fired a bullseye through the temple; the creature dropped like dead weight and took a few with it. The hesitation from the others was enough for A'sao to break free, mustering all her fury into slicing those unfortunate enough to be in her range, to the amazement and disappointment of Vi'su and especially Nai'stip.

Ethan smirked, the worry in him faded for a moment until the creatures hissed in displeasure and charged at him. I got their attention. Now what, idiot?

He moved as quickly as his body would allow, shooting down one that came too close and switched to another, dropping like flies as he kept up with the never-ending swarm. Can't they just quit!?

He was lucky that his clip emptied just as the creatures halted, hissing from a distance with hatred radiating from them. Something about that made Ethan feel good inside, knowing that beasts driven by instincts are aware of the danger he posed. But when he reloaded his rifle and aimed for them, they didn't move and that struck him as odd.

What are they waiting fo—

One minute, he was standing on the ground and in the next, he was flipped upside down and forced to drop his rifle. What the fuck!? Ethan looked up and realized his ankles were bound by a thick, sticky thread, similar to that of a spider's web. One of the creatures had climbed up a nearby tree and let out the substance through its mouth.

"Really!?" Ethan struggled to rip the thread, unable to do so but he kept going as he was slowly dragged up toward the creature's awaiting mouth, dripping with saliva, "No way am I going to be your lunch!"

He reached for his handgun on his belt but an arrow flew in between, cutting the strands like butter while another pierced through the creature's mouth. Another slam to the ground and Ethan was back on his feet, grabbing his rifle just as A'sao came to him, bloodied and battered but still appearing like she wanted to fight more.

He chuckled, "Don't thank me yet."

A'sao didn't answer with words but let out a soft clicking, almost in a chuckle. At least she's on my side. Both readied up, aiming their weapons as the creatures hissed and crept toward them, the anticipation of an all-out attack got his heart pumping. Come on.

Just as the invisible line between them was about to snap, the creatures suddenly went quiet, even those near Vi'su and Nai'stip. They stayed still before retreating into the bushes from whence they came, leaving everyone left in utter confusion amongst them.

"Where did they go?" Ethan asked quietly.

"Most likely to regroup for another attack," A'sao retracted her bow, hooking it on her back so she could access her wounds, "Typical behavior for K'aka-de."

"Ka . . . chae . . . dea?"

A'sao nodded, "The unfortunate who were taken from their Homeworld and brought here for the Bad Blood's amusement."

She paused, "I . . . didn't think you would stay and fight," He noticed her eyes softening, mandibles barely moving in a curled position as if trying to smile, "You surprised me."

Ethan raised an eyebrow, "What do you mean?"

"Oomans are notorious for choosing life over honor. No better than those beasts."

Nai'stip slowly strolled over, the thick air of tension came with her and Ethan had to hold back any retaliation he wished he could say, or else he'd suffer the consequences. Nai'stip didn't lay her eyes off of him as she spoke, "You shouldn't have freed him. Give him leniency and he'll stab you in the back."

He watched A'sao open her mandibles in uneasiness, "He didn't. He had his chance but remained, even fighting against the creatures. He fought with honor." Ethan saw Vi'su nod in agreement, away from her Leader's prying eyes and for only Ethan to see.

"Still a fool."

"And yet took down a few K'aka-de and turned the tide. He earned it."

"You give the ooman too much credit," Nai'stip hissed with disdain, "He's too much of a liability to keep alive."

Her words carried heavily to Ethan. He swallowed hard, not knowing if she meant to go through with whoever she was suggesting. He flinched when she walked to him, full of intention.

"Nai'stip," A'sao stepped in between, a mistake on her part as Nai'stip backhanded her away hard enough to force her to one knee.

Ethan reacted and raised his rifle but too slowly as Nai'stip smacked his weapon out of his hands and then grabbed both of his wrists with only one of hers. Before he knew it, his hands were bound once again, "Hey!"

Ethan gasped as Nai'stip gave a small twist and he was on the ground, his muscles tightened to the point that the pain was excruciating and he had no choice but to yield.

"Listen to me very carefully, ooman," Nai'stip yanked him by the neck. Their faces inches from each other, "I'm not going to kill you yet. As much as I want to rip you apart and take your skull as a trophy, the mission takes precedence. You might be useful in the future."

Ethan squinted his eyebrows. Why is she sparing me? Before she hated his guts and was the type to take any opportunity to cut him down. Now, she was keeping him alive, for a reason no doubt. It made sense, given the recent battle and all of them struggling to fight back. There was no doubt in his mind of one fact.

The status quo had changed.

She shoved Ethan to A'sao as soon as she got on her feet, "Since you're so fond of him, you will be in charge of watching him until he's of no use anymore."

Ethan grunted, biting his tongue as to not say something stupid. But his attention was drawn shortly to the warmth of two massive arms holding him, realizing that A'sao was holding him so gently. When they made eye contact, it struck something inside of Ethan.

Huh?

Unnerving and strange, he pulled away but stayed within reach of her in case the big female changed her mind, glad she wasn't paying attention. When he glanced back for a moment, he noticed A'sao was looking away, almost like trying to hide her face with her dreadlocks. What's with her?

"Vi'su!"

Nai'stip waited as Vi'su came, "Yes, my Leader."

"What's the update on the Bad Bloods?"

Vi'su played with her gauntlet, a flash of red lights flickered for a moment, "Still based on the eastward side of the jungle, not too far from where we are."

"No doubt they sent the K'aka-de to do their dirty work," Nai'stip growled, "They will pay for thinking they can send beasts to do their bidding."

"We can't charge in like we did," Vi'su lowered her gaze as Nai'stip hissed a warning, "We need to sneak in or cause a distraction so we can get the upper hand."

Ethan didn't like the look that Nai'stip gave in his direction as soon as she let Vi'su's proposal sink into her mind, a mix between delight and annoyance that sent a shiver down his spine. This isn't good. Nai'stip raised her chest and chuckled, the smile she made was the worst he'd ever seen.

"It's time to see what you're really worth."

Hi everyone!

My apologies for the lat update. Starting a new job took a toll on me and I've been getting very little sleep. Still, I care very much for all the readers out there so finally here is a new chapter with excitement, tension and maybe something else? What do you think?

But the dangers are far from over and dark plans are being made on what to do with Ethan. What will it be?

Again, thank you for all the support thus far and Good Hunting to all!

Normal = Human speaking human language

Bold = Yautja speaking ooman(human) language

Dtai'Kai-dte sa-de nau'gkon dtain'aun bpi-de = The fight begun would not end until the end

K'aka-de = insect humanoids from the planet Mu'dalk

M-di h'dlak = No fear