Kjon's Audio Diary Log
Aug 22, 2621
I stayed in the swamp lands for about a month or so after my meeting with N'yaka-de. I wanted to stay on the move and remain hidden for as long as I could, and if there was one place on this planet where disappearing was easy it was there. Of course I don't just mean willingly either. The place is almost literally alive, every animal, every vine, leaf, and droplet of water comes alive. It's actually less of a swamp and more of a shallow ocean with trees, and other types of foliage growing up from beneath it. Very few land masses exist within that region, and most that do are just small mud islands. How the oomans managed to set up colonies here is nothing short of a scientific miracle if you ask me, especially when you consider how much radio interference there is, how difficult it is to transport materials because of the terrain and that interference, and that isn't counting the things that could kill them. Insectoids the size of dogs, the diseases those creatures spread, and not to mention the reptilian wildlife, like the Boa Vipers, Mega-snappers, Millifauna Snakes, and the meanest of them all, the Razorback Crocodiles.
But those things were nothing compared to the shadows. The colonial marines never have managed to completely wipe this place of them, not after how many of them Weyland-Yutani have released. God knows just how many of nests there are. The place isn't crawling with them mind you, thank Merciful N'yaka-de the fauna is able to compete with them, but because they are able to adapt to the area so well it does little to deter them. Thank the Creator and Merciful N'yaka-de they haven't completely overrun the whole region. Thanks a lot for that Charles.
It's because of this I had to watch my step everywhere I went, foraged for my food, and slept up in the trees at night and even then I wasn't guaranteed any peace given how most of the wildlife ,especially the predators and the shadows themselves are nocturnal. I had to go more than a couple nights without sleep myself, and normally things weren't quite when that happened.
Still for how unpredictable and unforgiving it is, most of this was not new to me. My immune system was strong enough to protect me from any disease this swamp threw, and so long as I was careful and observant I would not become prey to the megafauna. It also helped that the colonies had some materials I could use. I managed to snatch a hypernickle alloy bar from one of their refineries, which I fashioned into a pair of short nonretractable wristblades, a dagger, and even snagged a Mossberg 500. Not the best, but they worked well at keeping the neighbors at bay
One of the biggest challenges I faced though, was when I accidently stumbled upon a small nest of shadows that were set up next to a small colony. Had those stupid colonists not been there I would've simply ran. After everything they did to the colonial marines, I considered doing just that, but I decided not to. I hated them but I made a promise, and I'm a colonial marine above everything else. So I stayed.
Normally when fighting in a nest ,especially alone, I have all of my equipment, plenty of ammunition, a couple explosives, and even some backups if I could afford it. Even the smallest of hives are dangerous places to be in. Even the most skilled Yautja don't even go into hives like this under such conditions. Yet despite that, with only a small number of shells, two small bladed weapons, along with my skill and faith, I managed to sink the queen and her nursery under several pounds of water, mud, rocks, even took a few trees down in the process. For as bad as it was, and even though I was the one who got the piss kicked out of me, it felt nice to save more people's lives. I was also thankful to N'yaka-de just to still be alive, while spending some time to revel in my accomplishment.
Speaking of which, during the nights were I did find some rest though ,especially during the comfortable evenings, I thought about N'yaka-de and my family. It was comforting to know somebody was out there who loved me, and was waiting for me. Those were the moments that made my days worth my suffering.
I couldn't help but take some joyful pride in that. The fact I still had someone with me, and that although I was alone, they were motivating me to continue forward. That and the fact I overcame yet another obstacle with that help, and that I had the scars and a drones head to prove it. As I walked away from that murky hell I couldn't help but smile when I thought about that.
Later on that evening, I began weaving together a hammock for myself. I'd found some strong Cattilon reeds in the marsh some distance away and decided to sleep comfortably that night. As I did I continued thinking back on my meeting with Merciful N'yaka-de and my family. After I'd met them it was just impossible for me not to think about them. All of them. I'll never get tired of that, ever.
As I thought, though I didn't pay attention to my surroundings, and as such I was blissfully unaware of another predator that inhabited this swamp. How I hadn't heard it, given how noisy it'd been as it approached, I can chalk up to my carelessness, but thankfully I had the speed and sense to react in time when I heard it come up behind me.
It was one of the colonists. A middle aged man with a short husky build, a bald spot on his head, a scruffy beard, and a mining suit with overalls covering over it. He was riding in a huge fan boat and had an AR-15 with him. What he was doing out here I don't know, nor did I really care when I saw him.
He screamed fearfully when he saw me, which alerted me of his presence. I saw him and gasped fearfully as he pulled his AR-15 out. I went for my Mossberg, but ended up knocking it away clumsily as I did so. I jumped away right as he fired, and quickly fleed into the trees. I ended up taking a shot to the leg as it happened, but it was only a minor flesh wound. I was able to move quickly enough, that he lost sight of me. I cursed myself for being so careless, and made a point to myself not to do it again as I continued watching the ooman.
All was quiet for a moment, the ooman calmed down and put his rifle away. I exhaled quietly in relief. As he was about to leave, a rustling noise arrested his attention. The man raised his rifle and aimed in the direction of the noise. A few moments past, the rustling noise continued followed by the sight of reeds being moved aside as something approached the boat. The ooman began firing at the reeds, but whatever it was didn't stop. The scene continued until it was right on him. Nothing happened at first, but a second later something burst out of the water biting at the boat.
It was a Razorback Crocodile. A giant crocodilian with a thick hide, and characterized by the sharp hair-like spines that run along it's back. The reptilian latched onto the boat with it's massive jaws and began tearing at it with its jaws. The man attempted to shoot the creature, screaming as the rounds bounced off the creatures hide. The monster hissed as it continued to rip back and forth.
I leapt off the tree, and went for my Mossberg. I leapt on the reptile's back, stabbed the barrel at it's face and fired. The creature recoiled hissing and snapping in pain, causing us both to fall into the water. The creature accidently slapped me with it's tail as it thrashed sending me spinning. After regaining myself I tried to swim back up. The pissed off saurian, had recovered quickly from the rather minor injury and speed towards me. The behemoth bit down on my leg, I roared in pain as I felt the insanely immense pressure of it's jaws crush my leg. The creature zoomed through the water with me in it's jaws, before letting me go. The creature quickly returned going for my torso. I felt it move towards me and managed to react, but it's tail slapped me again as it rounded for another attack.
I couldn't see it through the dark murky water and reeds, the creature however could sense my vibrations in the water. I was fighting a losing blindly. Had I not had gills I would've been extra screwed. The ooman was safe now, so there was no need to continue. I tried swimming back up but the creature went after me again. Again I could feel it move through the water. I wrestled with the creature for several painful minutes, clawing, kicking, grappling with it. Eventually It charged at me and I stupidly thrust arm with my wristblades forward. I felt the reptile bite down on my hand painfully, my roaring muffled by the water. I moved my Mossberg towards the creature and shot it point blank, but it didn't respond. Everything was still. I'd killed it.
The corpse of the reptile and I rose to the surface soon after. I gasped for a moment allowing my gills some time to relax, and a moment to thank God and N'yaka-de that I'd survived.
I heard the AR-15 slide above me as I was hit by the floodlight on the ooman's fan boat. I growled in irritation. Figured the ooman would be as ungrateful as the others. In the time that I'd been alone, I'd reverted back to my introverted mentality, just with a less hopelessly pessimistic view on the world. I was actually learning to enjoy being alone. At least up until this point. I remained where I was giving him a dirty look as he held the floodlight in my face.
"Ain't from aroun' here are you?" He said in a heavy southern accent. No shit Sherlock. I growled in irritation. At least he didn't shoot me. He set the AR aside and offered me his hand. "C'mon." He beckoned. I still didn't trust him, but I figured it would be better to climb aboard than risk being dragged down by some other hungry predator. I fought back a painful grunt as I hit my broken leg on the edge of the boat. "Sorry about pullin' my rifle on ya. Thank-ya fer savin' my skin." He said as he helped me in. I had a bit of a difficult time understanding his accent, and my deaf ear didn't lend me any favors either, but thankfully he spoke loud enough for me and every other creature around to hear. After I was on board, the man noticed my camouflage pants and tattoos. "Well I'll be damn'd. You're 'at Hunter from New Hadlay's, ain't ya." I growled.
"Sit tight there. I'll get ya home, and we'll fix 'at leg u yurs." He said as he started the engine. What?! Suddenly the idea of staying in the water wasn't so bad. Before I could get out we'd already started moving, leaving behind my hammock, the skull of the shadow, and the corpse of the reptile which I also wanted to fashion a trophy out of. Dammit. I growled.
We continued sailing through the swamp until we reached the dock of a small settlement. The houses were all set up on this spacious dock, and thankfully there weren't to many of them, and although there were other dock houses like this they were about a hundred yards away. everything was mostly made out of wood with some scrap metal holding some of the damaged parts together, and some sheet metal for the roofs. The dock settlement itself was held several feet above the water by large wooden poles that looked like tree trunks which had been trimmed and shortened. There was an island with a small refinery complex stationed three-hundred yards away, it was the same one from earlier.
As we pulled up beside the dock I read something off of one of the pieces of scrap metal Tazk Forc. Shit! I thought ,almost panicked. Had it not been for what was written next to it I would have already been on the other side of the bayou. Retird Unitd Stats Colonial Marinz. There was a little heart between the two. That made me a little curious.
"Dianne! Dianne! Sum body's been hert!" The ooman called out as he helped me out.
"What is it sweetheart?!" A woman called out from the porch as she turned the flood light on. She was in her late forties, early fifties, about the same age as her mate, slender, white hair, aged not to badly aside form some wrinkling which ineffectively hid her youth from past years. "Oh my goodness!" She exclaimed almost knocking over the flood light. "Travis, what in God's name-?!"
"It's okay honey, it's okay! He ain't gon' hert nobody!" He assured her, which put her at ease momentarily. "Get tha first aid kit. He's busted up pu'rty bad." The man told his wife, who stared at me in shocked awe, and a bit of perplexity as she saw me. She did as requested and retrieved the medkit. Inside it was small and a little cramped, but it wasn't built for a seven and a half foot tall alien so by ooman requirements it was acceptable. The man rested me on the already broken sofa of the living room, and he and his wife began treating my injuries. As they did so the man ,Travis , explained to his wife ,Dianne, about what had happened, which seemed to put her more at ease, especially after she saw I was a marine. That last part put a short smile on her face.
As I was being treated I looked around at some pictures, and framed pieces of paper. It was able to see a picture of the woman of when she was younger. She standing beside two other people, all of them wearing standard colonial marine armor. As I continued looking around I saw a picture of the man, standing beside who I guessed where his friends, all of them in Task Force attire. I was able to put the rest together. A marine and an operative? I thought.
"Mommy, Daddy what's going on?" The voice came from a small boy as he appeared from around the corner of the houses hallway. Once the boy finished rubbing his tired eyes they widened with fear once he saw me. He began crying. "What's the matter ,Benji?" An older voice came. It was a girl, pre-teen, short white blond hair, and a little edgy. "What are you-?" The girls irritation turned to shock. "What the hell is that?!" She cursed, instinctively pushing her brother behind her.
"It's alright kids it's alright." Dianne said as she began comforting the boy.
"Dianne, what the fuck is that thing doing here?!" The girl screamed. Kid had a helluva mouth ,I could tell. And why did she call her mother Dianne?
"Watch your mouth, young lady!" Dianne corrected her. The girl sputtered as she pointed at me. That was an understandable response.
"Dianne, take Stacy and Ben back ta bed. I'll take o'er the rest." Travis said. "S'rry 'bout them." He apologized as I heard the girl and Dianne fight. "Probably don't have a clue what 'ere saying." He spoke as he listened.
"It's fine. Can't say I blame them." I spoke.
"Thought you could." He said.
After Dianne finished putting the kids ,Stay and Benjamin to bed, she returned to help her husband. Once they were finished, they offered me some food, and invited me to stay with them long enough to let my leg heal. I accepted.
The next day I learned more about these oomans ,the Adkins. They were a kind Baptist couple, Travis and Dianne, and as the pictures suggested, Dianne was a retired colonial marine ,enough said there, and Travis was a former Task Force operative. The man was not a lemming like most of the other operatives I'd met, and from what I learned of him he was a good man, husband, and father. It was a pleasure to see the friendlier side of the Task Force. The two met during a combined mission, got married some time after and when they retired they settled down in the swamps as oil miners.
As for Stacy and Benjamin, I was a little surprised to learn they weren't their actual children. Travis and Dianne had adopted them, after their real parents who were also Task Force had been killed. That explained why Stacy always referred to them by their first names, and had such a temper to her, except whenever she was around her little Brother most of the time.
Over the next two weeks I spent with the Adkins, they continued treating my leg, feeding me, keeping me hidden from the colonists, Hell they even supplied me with some buckshot and slug shells for my Mossberg. They were just an all around sweet retired service couple. They were a little stubborn when it came to their hospitality, almost never taking no for an answer whenever I politely declined them, which ,being a service person myself, I could understand and even relate to a little. Although I knew there were good oomans out there, I never really suspected I'd ever find them inside of the colonies, especially one so sweet as them.
Benjamin, or "Benji" as Stacy called him affectionately was a bright little guy who also had a sweet personality to him, and although he was scarred of me at first, the kid grew a little on me. He was very shy, but that was understandable. He kind of reminded me of myself when I was his age.
Stacy on the other hand was an almost complete inversion of the rest of the Adkins family. She was smart, especially for her age, introverted, and most of the time just very upset. I noticed though that she was especially uncomfortable around me and Dianne, always glaring at us angrily out of the corner of her eye. I could also hear her fighting with her parents on some nights, almost always directing her anger towards her mother. She also occasionally made no effort to hide her disliking for me. I couldn't understand what her animosity was for us, no one ever really said anything about it, or I could never listen through my deaf ear when I needed to. I held no resentment towards her though. I could understand what she'd been through, I knew what it was like to lose family, especially at such a young age. Benji was the only real family she had left, and I could admire how protective she was of him, even though I couldn't understand what her reasons were.
As the days passed I helped the Adkins with a few physically demanding projects whenever I could afford to come outside with them, which I did as something of a thank-you for their hospitality.
One night ,right around the time I was about to leave, I confronted Stacy out on the back porch right by the dock. She held a picture in her hands. I could tell what the image on it was, and I could also vaguely see tears running from her eyes.
"You miss them, don't you?" I said trying to be sympathetic.
"Go away." She sneered.
"I'm sorry about them." I apologized.
"Leave me alone." She growled.
I paused momentarily. "I know how it feels... to lose someone you love." I said.
"Huh! What do you know?" Stacy snapped.
"More than you think I do." She didn't respond. "Listen... I'm..." I struggled.
"Don't say it. I've heard it plenty of time's already, and it's done no good. Saying sorry won't bring them back." Stacy threw back. She had a very good point.
"We're... We're just trying to..." I struggled again.
"I already know! You want to comfort me! You want to apologize to me because you think that giving me your sympathy will help! But it won't! It never has and it never will! Talking like it will get better has done nothing but make things even worse! 'Everything will get all better' they say! Well it doesn't! I am never going to see my parents again, Benji is never going to see them again! None of them understand, neither do you, and I expect nothing less from an ugly fuck like you!" I couldn't really disagree with her on most of what she said.
I paused again. "You're right Stacy. Sorry doesn't really do anything to help, and I'm sorry about your brother too... But all Travis and Dianne want to do is help you. I know it doesn't help when you just push everyone else away." I spoke.
"Let me guess that's how you got your scars, isn't it?" How did she know that? "Everyone else says they'll help you, but they're just strangers who want to feel better about yourselves, and even if they want to help all they do is push further and further! They haven't been through what I have so how can they help me?!" She turned her head looking at me angrily with her tearful eyes. She wasn't crying or screaming as she spoke. "You don't even know why I'm like this ,do you?" She asked. I shook my head negatively. "Thought so." She paused sniffling a little attempting to hide her sadness with her anger.
"A marine killed my parents." She said. "They told me it was an accident but I could tell he did it on purpose. He hated the Task Force for what it is just like you do, just like Travis and Dianne do. That doesn't mean they were like that. Mom and Dad were good people. Benji shouldn't be here right now being pampered by two strangers who try to hide the fact that they hate where we come from. Sure they may care about us, but I can tell they think the same about my parents as they do the Task Force, just the same as all of you marines do! All of you! And I hate you for it! None of you know who they were like, and it's because of you Benji won't be able to know who they were either!... If you even tell him the truth that is..." Her voice began to crack and quiver.
Now I could see why she hated us so much. I would be lying if I didn't say I never felt the same as she had ,especially when I was her age. It reminded me of the months I'd spent alone after Mom died. It felt like all oomans were bad. I also felt the same way towards the colonists a couple of months ago too. But although most of them were like that, that didn't mean there weren't those who cared. I knew that trying to explain that to her would do no good. She was angry, and understandably so. It just goes to show not all of the Task Force were bad guys, and that not all of us marines were perfect selfless angels like I'd thought them to be. There was always that grey area that always complicated things.
"Just go! Go away! And leave Benji alone too!" She whimpered. I didn't want to, but I did.
"I know it doesn't help any, but I just want you to know you're not alone in that, and... I'm sorry." She didn't respond. I thought a lot about that poor little girl, even after I left.
After I left the Adkins I continued traveling going in and out of the jungles, deserts, and swamp. It wasn't long though until I finally said screw it and realized I was in no danger of being hunted. I snuck into some of the colonies for a radio, some ammo, medkits, and even some food while I was there. Call it stealing yeah, but it was for survival, and if anybody did notice, what would they care?
I built a cabin for myself in the jungle not to far away from the swamp. It wasn't perfect, but I didn't care really. It was shelter, and it served it's purpose well.
I used the radio to tune into some of the Task Force channels to catch any reliable information on where a shadow nest would be. I had nothing better to do and I figured I might as well have spent it productively. Besides it kept me busy, I protect the colonists, and I stay entertained. I love to Hunt, just like most other Yatja do, and now that I was dead, and since I still believed I had little left to lose besides my life, I could actually appreciate the feel for the Hunt. Very rarely have I ever felt it, but once I finally found the enjoyment, the thrill that comes with the sport... but I digress.
The year passed me by, and although the summer was over the heat had not left. We were experiencing a heat wave which meant summer was lasting longer, which to me meant Hunting season had been extended. Normally it makes not different what season it is when I Hunt, but during the summer I am most active. I can enjoy the Hunt better when it's warmer. I like the heat.
Something strange began happening right around that time. There was something in the heat that made it seem warmer, it was a strange feeling yet one that I recognized. It felt off. My radio also began receiving some heavy interference. I took it apart to see if anything was wrong with it, but everything was working as it should have, and the thing still didn't work. Strange. I thought.
As I sat there and thought about what to do I heard a familiar voice speak. "It has been a long time Mighty One." Goliath. His voice made me jump. How I hadn't sensed him or any of the other Drukathi that were with him I don't know, but then again his species was good at Hunting mine, so I couldn't imagine it was my fault.
"G-Goliath?"
"Greetings ,Mighty One." He addressed me.
"W-What are you doing here? H-How did you know where to find me?"
"We heard of what had become of you, and sought for you. I ,of all, did not think it would be a difficult task to find you, but the humans have spread their seeds far. They are not as pathetic as we thought they were, but still worth very little sport to us." I really didn't need to know about that last part.
"What do you need from me?" I asked curiously.
"As I said, we heard of what the Yatja had become of you, and we find it shameful that such a great warrior as you ,Abomination or otherwise, is treated with such indignity. For a specimen of your creed and tenacity, you deserve so much better than what they have done to you." Goliath answered.
"Shit happens."
"You look ghastly ,Mighty One. I imagine Ph-rills is the one who did this to you?!" He asked angrily.
"No the oomans did most of the damage." That thought seemed to make him more displeased. "What of your allies, the human you adore?" I gave a low growl as I thought about that.
Goliath knew what that meant, which seemed to upset him even more. "Such a warrior as you should not have been abandoned so easily! I should hope they suffer great afflictions for what they've done to you! Especially the humans!" He said.
"No! No. Leave them be. I made a promise, and I'm not about to break it. Again." I added painfully.
"What do you mean?" Goliath asked.
"I-It's a long story, but let's just say I'm not perfect. We all fall from grace from time to time." I replied.
"But you have moved on from that, have you not?"
"Yes, but I don't want to forget about it though. It is as the oomans say. 'Those who don't remember the past are doomed to repeat it'."
"Wise words. These humans are not as dumb as we suspected." There was a pause.
"Is there anything else? Something I can do perhaps?" I asked.
"As I see it you have done much for us. You fought a good fight, spared my life, and spared the freedom of my people. Your blood is of noble origin and I would hope you can continue it's existence, so that it may remain in this world long after your passing. It deserves to be seen." Goliath complimented.
"Thank-you, but that doesn't answer my question." I said stuttering a small laugh.
"Yes, I should like for you to come with us. A warrior of your nobility should not be reduced to digging through the wet earth for food like an animal." Goliath said.
"I-I... I..." I struggled.
"What is the matter ,Mighty One?" He asked.
"I need to stay... so I can protect the oomans." I answered.
He gave a sigh which quickly turned into a soft laugh. "Your selflessness knows no bounds ,Mighty One. I'm honored. But I must insist upon my laws. I cannot see to it that we do not do something for you." Goliath said.
"I-I really don't know of anything I need?"
"Stay with us then, even if it is for a short time. You should receive rest." There was very little I could do to persuade him, that and I had very little else I needed to do...
"Alright. I'll do that." I replied with a short smile. Goliath smiled and nodded before speaking to one of his underlings in his language. He then spoke to his son. I don't know what it was he said, but the smaller Drukathi bowed to me, and spoke something. I smiled, chuckled, and shook my head.