Chapter 16

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

The sky darkened as the day passed by, no news came but it dulled little to the strong emotion that warmed his body he saw through his vision, the others, who were prepping their weapons and new trophies, had an opposite reaction to the weather, some went stiff while the rest ignored everything around them as they went to their tasks.

The Leader could smell the heaviness before the droplets of water would fall onto the planet and any living creature that dwelled here but it wasn't what he was waiting for. He raised his face, parting his mandibles to allow his olfactory sensors in the back of his throat to take in the dense air, relishing in the silent signal he knew all too well.

He sighed, caressing a mandible in soft delight. A great storm is coming. What could be the best time than this for a Hunt?

"My Leader."

Bhuh'kah was careful in his approach, taking a knee a few feet from Na'tou-Va and for good reason. The posture of his Leader was tense and yet calm, even somewhat excited given the flexing of his claws into fists and then relaxed, back and forth for a continuous-time. If any idiot didn't see the subtle signs, the twisted smirk on his face was a red flag waving right in front of you.

The brief demeanor was broken by the announcement, the grin of delight morphed into a disgruntled expression as Na'tou-Va stared down at his Second as if ready to rip his head off right then and there, "What is it?"

"We've discovered the location of the females," Bhuh'kah said.

"Where?"

"On the northeast side at the base of the mountains. Stowed away in a cave."

Na'tou-Va chuckled, "No more than savages. Tou hulij-bpe sa'vitu en lar'ja." He glanced to the sky at the sound of thunder shaking the ground and the clouds sparkling with each flash, getting closer and stronger.

"It would be best to strike them now," He sensed the eagerness in his subordinate, "They are weak and vulnerable, even so, that they are protecting that pathetic ooman male. To think that they wou—"

Na'tou-Va grabbed Bhuh'kah by the throat, slamming him with all of his might into the thick hide of a tree trunk. His subordinate squeaked and the others watched from a distance, ensuring they didn't get caught up in a storm among their own.

"What are you implying?" Na'tou-Va hissed, "Are you trying to give me orders!?"

His fingers wrapped around Bhuh'kah's throat, enough to construct his airway but teetering on the edge of suffocation, a warning that he could end his life right away.

After gagging and spitting saliva, Bhuh'kah gasped, "No . . . my Leader . . . I merely suggest that—"

Bhuh'kah shuddered as Na'tou-Va ripped off his codpiece and gripped his ze'pha, an involuntary growl came out of his throat but quickly cut off with Na'tou-Va squeezing him.

"I know what you're suggesting," The Leader leaned in, letting his breath flow onto his Second's face, "You want to do more than hunt down the females."

Bhuh'kah swallowed, the heat in his body began to spark, "I . . . My Leader . . .!"

Na'tou-Va slowly stroked through the loincloth, his claws tracing the veins that run along his cock, deliberately pacing himself to make the torture last. Bhuh'kah shook, unable to control his muscles and spewing his musk in the air that everyone could smell. The Leader was unfazed, not even a twitch, staring straight into his Second's eyes with ill intent.

"Don't be coy with me. I know full well, as a male myself, that we have needs outside of the Hunt. . . Needs that must be fulfilled to our desires."

Na'tou-Va moved his face inches from Bhuh'kah before stretching his mandibles, stroking the spots he knew would elicit a response, particularly between the ridges where open flesh was exposed over his cock. He grinned as his Second rolled his eyes in the back of his skull, purring as the strokes grew tighter and longer, the sensation overriding all of his senses to the point he couldn't focus on anything other than the pleasure.

It didn't last long.

Na'tou-Va moved his fingers into position and dug the tips of his claws into the sensitive points, a shock of absolute agony took over and Bhuh'kah howled into the sky for everyone to hear, all moving further away. The anger inside Bhuh'kah reared its ugly head and he roared right in his Leader's face, a mistake he regretted.

The next thing anyone knew, Bhuh'kah was on his back, flipped so fast his vision kept spinning afterward, the pain mixed with dizziness almost got him to double over and spew his guts. He didn't have time to feel the full effect when Na'tou-Va drove his spear through his right leg, fire and shock traveled into his chest and exploded into a thousand needles across his hardened skin that he choked on his words and gave a silent cry.

Na'tou-Va waited, relishing in the sight below his feet before speaking, "But keep diligent on your work first. Such thoughts get a Bad Blood killed, much of our kind have died due to simple incompetence."

The Leader leaned closer, his Second turning away as the breath of Na'tou-Va tickled at his temple, "Do you understand?"

Bhuh'kah shakily nodded, "I understand."

Na'tou-Va let him go, stepping back with his arms crossed, watching his Second silently whimper in pained pleasure as he struggled to his feet and fixed his loincloth to its proper place. He could see the rage slowly building in the young male's eyes but knew nothing would come out of it. Bhuh'kah may be a hormonal fool but he was no idiot, challenging someone like himself was a death sentence, even for the slightest of offenses. It was a necessary precaution to display such discipline to anyone in his clan, one he'd learned the hard way across his time being a Bad Blood. Never trust anyone.

After a brief period, Bhuh'kah bowed his head and pressed a fist to his chest in respect before limping away from him. Na'tou-Va watched in amusement as his Second snapped at a youngling when he accidentally bumped into his side, a fight ensued and the two males were punching and clawing into their hides. Green blood splattered everywhere and any Yautja that were in the wrong place at the wrong time were brought into it, the whole situation evolved into an all-out brawl that ended quickly when more males came to break it up.

Nothing more than beasts huh? He huffed and turned back to face the setting sun. Better than cowards.

"D'aki!"

He called for the male with black blotches covering his body like a disease, a low-ranking hunter solely because of that trait, and he came hurriedly toward his side. He didn't acknowledge the male until he dropped to his knees and bowed like an obedient servant, "Yes, My Leader."

Na'tou-Va hissed, "Gather the best shooters we have available. Make sure they know to be ready to move out by nightfall."

"Yes, my Leader."

The male left and Na'tou-Va, in privacy, moaned as he opened his tusks at the thought of what was to come, not just the females and what they were going to do to them. He imagined the ooman male, the ugly, pale face looking back in horror as he awaited death. It was a pleasant thought until his vision darkened back to the moment he first met it.

Instinctually, he rubbed the area of his arm, touching the edges of the deep scar in the shape of a crater. The determination in the ooman's eyes . . . he didn't like one bit, interfering in his plans and destroying any hope of ending the turmoil with the females early on. Anger made his body rigid and his claws dug around the scar, creating punctures that burned, only adding fire to his emotions that were tethering him to the edge of going insane.

Then his mind turned in another direction. Think about the trophy if you kill the ooman. What a glorious victory to possess the skull of the one who humiliated you.

Na'tou-Va grinned, joy mixing with the rage inside him, urging him to act. Turning away, he headed back to the group with pride, howling in the air for all to hear.

"We leave immediately! It's time to finish this once and for all!"

He roared with the others, their chant resonating through the trees and into the sky for all to hear.

The walk back to the hideout being awkward was an understatement, everyone remained silent except for a few growls from Nai'stip to keep up. Ethan kept his head down, staying out of trouble would be his initial reason but his head was filled with questions from his intense encounter with the female Leader.

History repeat itself? Is this not the first time this has happened?

He closed his eyes tightly, the bombardment of unanswered thoughts made his head blow up like a balloon. This is insane. It's not my business after all. Why would I—

He nearly tripped himself when he saw A'sao, her head lowered as if she was a kicked puppy but doing her best to hide it, not that anyone could blame her. Still, the sight of her sparked something inside, masked as pity until the recent memory began to plague his mind, replaying the 'accident' of a kiss that went on between him and A'sao.

Under normal circumstances, such an act would have been revolting, to be intimate with an alien from who knows where and similar to the ones that are trying to kill them. This is nuts. No . . . That is an understatement.

Ethan tried to shake off such nonsense but then his lips grew in warmth and his fingers involuntarily caressed them. But . . . her mouth was soft, very surprising . . . and she did apologize. His head started to fill up with pressure and like a balloon, he feared all of these emotions were going to make him explode.

"Distracted, ooman?"

Hearing Nai'stip's deep voice, Ethan came back to his senses and when he did, he realized that they were back in the cave, time had gone fast, and noticed everyone was staring at him, even A'sao who appeared concerned out of Nai'stip's view.

"No, I'm fine. Just tired," It was the only explanation he could give, a poor one though.

Nai'stip huffed and turned away to the dying fire but not before giving a side look that gave a clear warning of 'Don't even try, idiot' and with a face of a crab, it sent shivers and chills throughout his body.

"Back to the matter, while you and the ooman were gallivanting around, Vi'su and I have been monitoring the Bad Bloods' movements. It seems, after our failed attempt to kill Na'tou-Ava, he'd spread his forces along the southern and eastern borders of the jungle."

A'sao spoke, her demeanor changed on a dime, the seriousness of the situation taking over, "Are they attempting to surround us?"

"That's the logical answer," Vi'su pressed on her gauntlet and a hologram appeared in the middle. Ethan watched in fascination at the accurate display of their location, the layout of the planet, and the positions of the Bad Bloods spreading across and slowly stalking at the cave they hide in.

"However, there is a chance that we could make a counterattack before they strike at us," Vi'su pointed in the open spaces between the blinking, red lights, "They have patrols going back and forth at sunrise and during the day but at sunset and throughout the night, it's a skeleton crew."

"And that is when we will strike," Nai'stip intervened, shoving Vi'su away like nothing, much to A'sao's and Ethan's dismay, "We'll use the time frame to slip into the main camp. This time, we will not fail in killing Na'tou-Va . . . no matter what."

A'sao blinked her eyes, "No matter what?"

Ethan raised an eyebrow, given that the females have been speaking in their native tongue, he didn't get all the details but the expression on A'sao gave fair warning that something amiss was going and now with her speaking in English, that question bore ill will.

Nai'stip hissed, "Do you question my decision?"

"In a way," A'sao carefully chose her words, "I understand that our mission is to destroy the Bad Bloods and our honor demands it above everything else. But we need to proceed with caution, given our last attempt as you pointed out."

Nai'stip growled, her shoulders wet rigid, "Are you lecturing me?"

Ethan observed the Leader's knuckles, the veins popping through the skin as her fists clenched tightly. Oh shit . . . He didn't understand why A'sao was still being defiant but it only made the suspicions of another crazy plan grow worse, not a stretch when it came to Nai'stip.

When the Leader took a few steps in A'sao's direction, Ethan panicked. She's going to—

Without thinking, he moved in front of A'sao and stood his ground, that one act took the females by surprise, especially Nai'stip. It was a foolish mistake but too late to take back now so he raised his chin and stood his ground, his fingers curled into fists as he waited for the repercussion.

After the shock faded, Nai'stip opens her mandibles, the heat of her rage was felt even on his skin, "You dare to interfere again, ooman?"

Ethan took a huge breath, "Leave her alone."

"Or what?" Nai'stip glared.

His lips quivered, fear fought to rise in him, "They have done nothing wrong, all A'sao was doing is giving a second opinion. Why do you treat your comrades like trash?"

"Who are you to tell me how a Leader should act?" Nai'stip came closer like a dark cloud looming over the Earth, ready to strike at a moment's notice, "I gave you fair warning, much more than a pathetic prey like you deserved."

Ethan felt A'sao behind him, her hand barely touching his back and almost grabbing his belt, probably to pull him away as soon as things got messy. He stepped forward to avoid her grasp, much to his disappointment, knowing she was trying to protect him.

"I don't need your sympathy. Your comrades are doing everything they can to follow your orders and yet you still lash out at them as if they were no better than Bad Bloods. I had enough."

Ethan kept eye contact as the surprise of his actions startled Nai'stip. Vi'su barely reacted but saw a small sparkle in her eyes as if he said what she wanted to all along. The only reaction he couldn't see was A'sao, still standing closely behind but not doing anything. Is she alright?

Everything snapped when Nai'stip roared, not as loud as it could be but enough to echo throughout the jungle like thunder. She hissed in disdain, all of her hatred focused on him. Here we go.

"That does it!" Nai'stip growled, "I spared you for far too long. You're a liability that needs to be rid of," She unsheathed her blades and came right at him.

"Enough, Nai'stip!"

A'sao intervened, pushing Ethan behind her this time, "This has gone far enough."

Nai'stip snapped, "I'm your Leader, and what I say you must obey! This is the Way of our kind, what our Code of Honor demands! If you would go against that as you did with the last ooman, this time I won't show mercy!"

Ethan froze, stunned. Another ooman?

"Fine!" A'sao roared, "By your behavior, you're not fit to be a Leader, more like an ignorant pup that has been spoiled too much!"

"What did you say!? You better shut your mouth before I—"

Out of nowhere, something flew right between them and pierced the ground in the middle of their group, everyone froze as they looked at the thing. It was some sort of stick with a device attached on one end, a red light blinking in a constant pattern. Ethan tilted his head in curiosity, the item was made of the same material as the female's armor, wires weaving in and out and connected to an outlet on the other side.

What is th—?

"Get down!"

A'sao pinned Ethan to the ground with her body just as the beeping sound stopped and the red light stopped blinking. In a matter of seconds, a blue light blasted throughout the cave and everything was engulfed in a blinding light, consuming all in its path.

Hola my fellow, loyal readers!

Finally got this chapter posted and I went through a lot of editing for this one to be the best as you read. Trust me, I almost went all out and things would have ended differently for two Yautjas if you know what I mean . . . Hehehehehe.

But I hope you enjoy this one and I can guarantee that the next one will have lots of shocks and surprises (if this one hadn't done it yet lol).

Thank you so much for all of the support for my stories and Good Hunting to all! ;)

Normal = Human speaking human language

Bold = Yautja speaking ooman (human) language

Bold and Italics = Yautja speaking Yautja language

Tou hulij-bpe sa'vitu en lar'ja = Only the savage survive in the dark.

Ze'pha = Penis