Hadrick's/Ch'ris/Rachelle Audio Diary Logs.
Aug 30, 2621
I came down with my friend Gordon Dale to visit my son's grave. Gordo wanted to pay his respects after he heard what happened, but we never found the time to, until then. The two of them had been on many missions together... They were both friends just like we were... but what did it matter now.
During the visit, Weyland and a army of Predators attacked. But I didn't care. I'd spent the past year thinking about what I did to my son. It was all I could find myself thinking about. I was alone before I met him. Sure I had friends, but I had no family left besides. When I took Kjon, he was all I had.
I'd raised him, and he loved me like I was his Dad. That was all he wanted. Some affection. But I didn't realize that until it was too late. I had no reason to believe he would have ever done something so dishonest, but I did. A father should never have to bury his son, but because of me that's what it came to. I'd driven my own son to his grave. Now I was reaping the consequences of my actions. All of us were. I can't say I really felt sorry for many of the colonists, not after what they've done to the marines for the past nine years, but I also can't say that many of them deserved it either.
The worst part about it all was that I did nothing to try and help. I saw Jennifer Weyland, her sister ,Bethany, and Kjon's friends ,Ch'ris and Rachelle, fighting back against the Predators and the Task Force. Hell, even Gordon tried to put up a fight. It made no difference, but at least they tried. I just stood their miserably and watched. I felt like I deserved it after everything I did, but the thought that maybe I could've done something to help stuck with me, even when the time came for us to be transported.
No one knew where it was. Nobody cared enough to ask. I sure as hell didn't. The only thing I can add is that we had to go through the Northeastern Desert Region just to get there. Needless to say the trip was long and unbearably painful. Both the Task Force personnel and the Predators guarding us would beat us whenever they felt like it. A lot of us had given up hope, I was one of those guys. I just wanted this nightmare to be over with, but I knew it was only the beginning, which made it even worse. I didn't complain about it though, what was the point. Besides, I deserved it.
There were a couple people on the train that hadn't given up yet, and tried to escape. They never succeeded. It was always so irritating listening to their begging and crying. I just wanted some quiet, but these idiots were making a fuss, and to make matters worse it would give the guards a reason to beat us. Again, what did any of it matter?
I remember waking up suddenly to the sound of an explosion. The guards acted quickly. I thought little of it... up until every Predator with us began to scream. The captive Hunters tried fighting their restraints. I'd never seen them so scared before.
I turned around and saw four huge quadrupedal monsters, with thin arms, and skeletal horned heads, they looked like the cross between a dog, a centaur, and a demon. They effortlessly decimated the attacking operatives and Predators with their laser swords and plasma rifles. No wonder the Preds were so scared.
A few of the guards stayed to fight, but they were just as easily taken out. But the creatures outside weren'tthe ones that killed them. There was something else. We couldn't see anything, but we could hear what was going on.. In all my years of service I'd never been so afraid as I was then.
Suddenly the car doors were torn off, and a camouflaged figure stepped inside. It was a Predator obviously, but I couldn't tell if it was an ally or not. The Hunter approached a young couple. It looked like he was about to kill them. They began to beg and scream, but the Predator harmlessly broke their restraints.
"Ki Ki Ki Ma Ma Ma"
As it continued freeing us, two of the guards ,an operative and a Predator, jumped out and attacked. The Predator attacked the invisible one head on, while the operative attempted to reload his rifle. The operative never got the chance to, as he was pulled up to the roof by two black claws. It was a Xenomorph. That terrified me worse than the invisible Predator who effortlessly took his opponent down. After beating him the invisible Hunter slowly began carving him with his wrist knives. The Predator guard was alive while it all happened, screaming horrifically as the invisible Hunter skinned him. It was so painfully distracting to watch, I ignored the Xenomorph that was now standing in front of me.
"Ki Ki Ki Ma Ma Ma"
As the cloaked Predator relished in his kill, a badly wounded operative appeared and began firing at them both. The bug bounced away, but the Predator didn't move a muscle. Most of the rounds bounced off his armor, except for a couple of rounds, which broke his skin. Some of the rounds also hit his wrist computer, causing his camo to malfunction.
N-N-No...No...No I-It can't be... KJON! He's alive! He certainly didn't look like it. His skin was pale and bruised, scars and bullet wounds racked across his body, his dreadlocks were shaved. He didn't seem to notice that he'd been shot. He showed no signs of pain, he didn't roar angrily, he just turned around and continued breathing heavily.
"Ki Ki Ki Ma Ma Ma Ki Ki Ma Ma Ma"
His mask had been repainted with that stupid Marshmello smiley face, now it included three, red, hokey-mask chevrons.
The OP tried reloading his carbine as quickly as he could, but before he finished his arm came spinning off. Kjon ,with lightning speed, threw his smart-disc at the guy. He caught the flying disc as it came back to him.
"Ki Ki Ki Ma Ma Ma"
Kjon slowly approached the OP, when the guy pulled his service pistol. Kjon managed to grab the guy's arm, but couldn't stop him from pulling the trigger. The round bounced off his mask harmlessly. Kjon tilted his head, then broke the man's arm. He picked him up by the throat, pulled out his machete ,which was sheathed on his backplate, before ramming it into him multiple times. He watched the operative vomit blood for a couple of seconds, before decapitating him.
"Ki Ki Ki Ma Ma Ma Ki Ki Ma Ma Ma"
He lightly threw the body aside, and picked up the man's head and put it in his trophy pouch. I was a little shocked by this. He'd sworn never to kill a human, and he just did so. Although after everything he'd been through, I couldn't say I blamed him. I really didn't have much room to talk about it either.
"Ki Ki Ki Ma Ma Ma"
The Xenomorph came down off the roof and approached him. At first I thought they were going to fight, right up until he began petting the fucking thing like it was a dog! I couldn't believe it when I saw it! I knew how much he hated xenos, yet this one he was petting like it was the damn house hold pet!
He turned sharply staring at the rest of us. He kept his eyes on me for a few seconds after he cut me loose. He continued staring at me as he reactivated his cloak. The eyes on his mask flashed menacingly before disappearing.
"Ki Ki Ki Ma Ma Ma"
/
I sat beside my mate as we travelled through the dune valleys inside this strange ooman vehicle. "Trains" they'd called it. I knew very little about oomans, I had ooman friends who had told me of their world, but even for how much they had spoken of it, it was still very little. None of it mattered though. We'd suffered a painful loss at the hands of our enemies, and they had allowed us to suffer the dishonor of that failure by allowing us to continue to live. Worse yet, we would be made to birth U'darahje z'skvy-de. But what had stung even worse was the failure of the promise we'd made with Jennifer and her sister ,Beth. We promised we would set R'ka Bhu'ja's soul at ease by finishing the work he had started.
Our kind was not a very affectionate race, and very few of us displayed such character to others whom we cared for. Even when we considered one another Hunter Brothers we did not actually care for each other as actual brothers, we simply showed a strong honorary bond. We were only brothers in the Hunt. R'ka Bhu'ja had not known this, yet that did not matter to him. He still regarded me and Gkei'moun R'ka as true siblings. But we had returned his love and kindness with betrayal. And now my precious Gkei'moun R'ka and I would suffer the consequences for our treachery.
It pained me to have to see my beautiful mate suffer the same punishment as I. Unlike most others of my kind, I hold a genuine love for Rachelle, similar to the care that R'ka Bhu'ja had shown, but as mates. Rachelle is special to me. She makes me feel joy unlike any other kind of joy I have ever known. Not even the thrill of the Hunt is complete without her. My love for Gkei'moun R'ka is indescribable, and I wish that it may continue even after we enter the final rest. R'ka Bhu'ja had understood that bond greater than I. He'd wished to share it with Jennifer, but he also wished to share it ,in a brotherly way, with us. It was in his final moments that I saw that. He did not only care for honor, and the thrill of the Hunt, but he wished to enjoy those moments with others who he cared for. Only had I seen that, my mate and I would not be here now.
I held my precious Gkei'moun R'ka close to me as we rode through the dune valleys, the memory of our mei'hswei's death never leaving us. His final moments before he'd left this world were filled with the most agonizing grief. Such so painful it could not be comprehended. The awful pain, the unbearable sorrow, the unthinkable loneliness. We had given him that. It was too much for him to bear, and it had forced him to give himself over to those cruel oomans. The sights I saw, I wished never to have seen. But I could not unsee them. Gkei'moun R'ka had seen them too. How dearly I wished for her not to be here now. But it was too late for her... too late for the both of us.
All we could wish for was that R'ka Bhu'ja had been accepted by his merciful Master God. He should no longer suffer that unimaginable sorrow and loneliness. He should be hunting with the gods. Such a fate we would assuredly not receive. The Black Warrior never showed such mercy to dishonorable prey such as us.
As we mulled in our sorrow, we were suddenly stopped by a disturbance. It was... the ancient enemy! Legends spoke of the ancient enemy and their conquests. The battles we waged against them ,brutal and filled with terror. They had since gone away. Most of them are no more than dust to the sands of time now, but there are few that still exist. R'ka Bhu'ja had fought this remainder of the ancient enemy in the defense of his clan. Through the strength of his Almighty Paya, he had achieved victory, but was swayed with compassion, and allowed them their lives and their freedom. He'd ended the primeval feud we'd held with them for so long. Yet now they are here! Why?!
Gkei'moun R'ka held me tighter ,as did I her, both of us petrified with fear. If this would be how we should die, than we would both die together. But such did not come to pass. The ancient enemy came for the Ic'jit and their ooman allies. Strange ,I perceived, What interest had they with the oomans? There were those who stayed and fought, and they too met the Black Warrior's spear ,but not by the hand of the ancient enemy. There was another Hunter with them ,no, two, there were two. I could sense it.
We could not see, but we could hear. I could sense something familiar about these hunters. Sa-v'ar! I thought confused, She is still alive! The other's musk was not so clear. I watched as the hunter began to free the captives in the room beside ours, slaying three of the remaining guards as he did so. We could not properly see him, but the scent of his musk became stronger, his voice louder, but still unclear. As he entered our room, his identity became clear. His musk was unmistakable, his voice was but a chanted whisper, but we could understand it.
"Ki Ki Ki Ma Ma Ma Ki Ki Ma Ma Ma"
R'ka Bhu'ja! How is he still alive?!
There was something to his being that was off. His musk was different, he reeked with the musk of the dead and decay, yet he was alive. That could not be! He could not have survived, but it was the only way he could be here now... unless... unless he had come back from the dead! That was not possible! No Hunter had done so before! But he was here now. How else could such a phenomenon be explained? He had come back from the final rest.
His Paya had become angry and allowed him to rise up from his grave to take his vengeance, not just upon the Ic'jit, but upon us as well. But R'ka Bhu'ja did not do us any harm. Instead he freed us, just as he did the rest of the captives. His eyes stayed with us, burning like fire. I knew it was the light of his bio-mask, but it felt like they were his true eyes staring at us; burning with unholy anger. For a short time Sa-v'ar too reunited with us. Gkei'moun R'ka and I had missed her greatly, as had she (Sa-v'ar). R'ka Bhu'ja's hatred for her and other kiande amedha was no secret, but he had rescued her as well. Why? Our reunion was short lived as she followed after him. He was n'yaka-de to her now.
Upon leaving to free the others, we reunited with Hadrick and his friend ,Gordon. We attempted to look for R'ka Bhu'ja but he was no where to be found, neither was Sa-v'ar, nor the ancient enemy. They had vanished. Despite their mysterious leave, I could still hear R'ka Bhu'ja's chilling chant.
"Ki Ki Ki Ma Ma Ma Ki Ki Ma Ma Ma"
Before he had left us though, he had left something behind. It was awu'asa (armor) and weaponry. It was standard "colonial marine" equipment, only some of the armor was made for us to wear. Among it he'd left us two bio-masks each decorated with the images of our favorite "slasher villains". Along with them were two wristblade gauntlets, two M240s, a SPAS-12, Mossberg 500, and a small note.
I forgive you, Mei'hswei, Mei'jadhi, Ooman Father. N'yaka-de and his guidance be with you all. Continue the Hunt. It read.
We were put off by the message. He had returned to seek revenge yes, but he had also come so to save us. He still held a deep care for us as his family ,the same as he always had. Our amazement was great, but we did not let it last... Continue the Hunt. It was not merely a message of forgiveness, but we ,Gkei'moun R'ka and I, interpreted it as a message from R'ka Bhu'ja's great Mastet God. Our gods had condemned us for our dishonorable failure, but this new Paya had compassion on us. That Master God had not merely brought Kjon back to life to seek his vengeance, but to save, and to protect those the Ic'jit and their allies preyed upon. This God wanted us to aid Kjon. He wished for us to Hunt.
As I looked at Gkei'moun R'ka, we thought, but we did not ponder long. A ready smile dawned our faces when we turned to face each other. For the mercy of this great N'yaka-de Paya, and for the love R'ka Bhu'ja had shown us, we willfully accepted this new calling. This new honor. We would aid in this great ka'rik'na. We would gather together and fight back against the armies of the ooman ,Charles Weyland, and the bad-bloods. We would rain down fire upon our enemies, so hot that it would blind the sun itself.
Let the Hunt begin.
/
Upon receiving R'ka Bhu'ja's message, and the equipment he had left us, we gathered what few of our clan remained with us, as well as those of the Schroalatic Clan. Hadrick and some of his colonial marine allies on the train also joined us. As we prepared ourselves a nervousness swept over me. This was much different from other hunts I had taken part in. Despite my fearfulness, it stirred my excitement and ,even more so, my anger. The Ic'jit had attacked and captured the clan who'd saved me when I was but a newly born pup! They had also harmed my ooman friends, my mate ,Yeyin Ju'dha, they stole our honor, and they killed our brother!
That did not matter now. We were still alive, and we had been given an opportunity to regain our honor, and take vengance upon our enemies who'd wronged us. Again, this was not like before. This was a different Hunt, a different way, a different honor. R'ka Bhu'ja's God had shown mercy unto us, and for this we saw it as a sign. This new God wanted our help, at least that is what Yeyin Ju'dha and I perceived. Why should we not show our gratitude for what He and R'ka Bhu'ja had done for us? Besides why should we have been subject to our own rules if the prey we hunted did not abide by such laws either. The Ic'jit deserved no such respect, and for what they did, and they would receive none. I would take great pleasure in fighting along side my mate and our ooman allies against our enemies. The thought of spilling their thwei made me all the more excited with each passing breath. I would cherish this moment.
Let the Hunt begin.
/
As we rallied together, most of the yatja had complaints. They did not want to fight alongside the colonial marines. They were to stupid to see that these oomans had been oppressed just as we had. These oomans were not our enemies. They were terrified of the Drukathi ,and such an excuse was very understandable, but it was still only an excuse. They also despised R'ka Bhu'ja. They were too ignorant to see he was their ally. Their refusal to fight was strongest with him. Those of his clan still held firm to the belief that he was a dishonorable Abomination. Even after his name was cleansed by the truth, they still persecuted him. It was they, who were the dishonorables! There were even those of our own clan that held the same opinion! Had it not been for him none of us would have been restored! Our clan was easier to persuade, although the Shroalatic Clan was much more stubborn. Gkei'moun R'ka, Hadrick, and I had to threaten them into joining, which they wisely did so.
Hadrick's knowledge of the planet and his understanding of the ooman opposition, and their weaponry, our understanding of the Ic'jit, and our combined recognition of the kiande amedha helped give us an advantage. Our combined strategies also helped even the odds. We targeted most of the populated settlements where supplies was plentiful to us, and ,more importantly, so were our captive allies.
Those who could work were valuable. Those who could manage our armor and weapons, those who could specialize with our necessities (food, medicine and other essentials) those who could prepare those items, and even those who could clean were useful. Anyone who had a special skill played was important. Those who could fight were more than welcome additions to our cause as well. In mentioning that I must add that it was not only the marines who aided us, but some dissenters of the Weyland Utani Coorpate Secuuty Task Froce (difficult for me to pronounce some words) who joined us as well. Many of us did not like the idea of it, not after what many of them did, but they were not like the majority who stood by Weyland and the Ic'jit. They were truly honorable warriors who sought the freedom and defense of the people who they'd sworn to protect. To me they were not of the Task Froce, but they were of the colonial marines. Hadrick and my dear Gkei'moun R'ka thought so as well. Their added numbers helped us greatly in many of our battles, and their efforts in fortifying and guarding areas we'd retaken also aided us greatly.
With that being said, R'ka Bhu'ja's efforts ensured many of our victories. He and his armies were laying devastation on many of Weyland's support settlements. He had also gained allies of his own from many of the settled areas as well ,many of which had a surprising number of ooman veterans. Our army stayed in communication with his ,and although we did not meet beyond that for most of the conflict, our communication with one other rewarded us well. They targeted specific areas that played crucial supporting roles in our attacks, and "vice versa". However, nothing could compare to the distracting support they gave. Given how active and well prepared he was, R'ka Bhu'ja made more attacks than we did, many of which were fought in areas of much greater strategic difficulty. His distractions gave us more "breathing room" ,further guaranteeing our success.
Our communication not only allowed us to work together on a large scale, but on a more individual one as well. The marines and our clan became very social. Amidst our conflict with the enemy, we were very passive towards one another. It did not matter whether we were fighting, working, or resting, we never fought amongst each other. In fact, we were quite friendly with each other. I would watch as my clan and the marines interacted, each of them working, talking, and even playing together when the moment would allow it. The oomans were not very different from us. We had been told many stories about them, that they were dangerous barbarous creatures that were even more dangerous than the kiande amedha. Other tellings depicted them as stupid, weak, and naive animals. While both are correct, they are also very inaccurate as well. While they are simple at many times, they are a truly complex people. It was an experience seeing our paths unite together, seeing my people bond with the marines. It was like when R'ka Bhu'ja and I had first met. It was most pleasing to behold, and I shall never forget it, even after I enter into the final rest.
Eventually though, our path crossed with R'ka Bhu'ja's once more.
/
We eventually made it to Glamecx ,one of the oldest and richest refinery colonies on the planet. Ever since it was first built it's been mining mineral ores and processing those ores into usable materials. Almost everything that comes out of Glamecx is used to make weapons, ammunition, vehicles, and machine parts. Basically, the idea was that if we could capture the colony, we'd have enough materials and parts to last us for the remainder of the war.
We got in touch with Kjon's group, and brainstormed a plan. They told us they were going to be sending us some support, but it never came. Some of us began to get impatient as we waited, but Ch'ris and I weren't taking any chances. We were only carrying a small scouting team with us at the time. This refinery was a big deal, and would most likely be crawling with Hunters and operatives. Eventually, after a couple of days of waiting for our backup, we got curious. We decided to send a couple of our boys out on a reconnaissance mission just to see if anything had happened. When they came back, they told us that the place was a mess. We decided to take a closer look after that.
The scouts weren't lying, but I couldn't help but think they deliberately left out some details. The place looked like it'd been redecorated by King Kong, buildings were on fire, others were completely demolished, bodies of operatives, Preds, and xenos were everywhere ,all in varying levels of fucked-up.
"Shit. Looks like we missed the party or som'in." Gordo said as he nervously spit a glob of tobacco he'd been chewing on.
"This does not look like any party." Ch'ris said in a clam, but scared tone.
"I agree." I added. Right as I said that, we began to feel light droplets of rain beginning to fall. Only they weren't water droplets... Skinned bodies ,both human and Predator, had strung up all over the damn place. The sight caused some of us to gag. While we'd been fighting, none of the Preds on our side had done any trophy taking or skinning. None of them had the time to, everyone was too busy for it. As we continued the sights became much much worse. I knew what these guys could do. Dad had told me the stories when I was a kid. Those same ghost stories he and his dad were told when they were just kids. I thought about them as a stared at the bodies, and I couldn't help but think they'd been keeping some secrets to themselves.
"I do not think this is our support." Rachelle growled. I could hear the fear behind her voice.
Suddenly, we were startled awake when we heard panicked screaming and roaring coming from the mines. We hid behind some debris and watched as five hostiles (Two Preds and three operatives) came bursting out of mines, before quickly locking the heavy bulkhead door behind them. Some of them had some bad scars and bruises racked across their bodies, and they were gasping like they'd just ran a marathon. Some of them were so badly beat up they looked like they were about to pass out, but they weren't worried about taking a break right now. They were scared. Something had been chasing them. Whatever it was that had them so worked up, was probably the same thing that did all of this.
Something began pounding on the door, but it quickly stopped. The five of them began to calm down, right before a female Predator came flying through the window of the building in front of them. She landed just a couple feet away from them. She had several gory slashes and cuts running up and down her half-naked body. Over the past couple of weeks, I learned that the females were ,often times, the stronger sex. They were not only taller, and stronger, but they were often more aggressive than the males, and because of that, most of the males give the females a respectfully, wide berth. This one was no exception. Whatever just took her out wasn't screwing around.
"Ki Ki Ki Ma Ma Ma Ki Ki Ma Ma Ma"
Suddenly, the steel doors broke open. The five began to run when a xenomorph pounced out and attacked. It managed to catch two of the operatives. Ch'ris and Rachelle recognized the bug and began sprinting towards it. I then noticed it was the same xeno from the train. Ch'ris later explained that it was his and Rachelle's pet.
As they got control of the xeno, the rest of us followed the remaining survivors, who hid in the boiler room. As we went, we found the operative. Dead. He'd been hung upside down, his throat slit open, and his torso dissected; his guts hanging out over the floor
"Ki Ki Ki Ma Ma Ma Ki Ki Ma Ma Ma"
Ignoring the visceral image, we continued. We found the other two hiding between two large pipes. Obviously this was inadequate. One of them was grabbed by a cloaked hand and forcefully held against the steaming pipe. He grunted in agony as it burned the back of his scalp, right before a long bladed object went through the pipe and his neck. The other Hunter ran and hid inside a small crawl space, before closing the safety bars behind him. The camouflaged Hunter easily found him and deactivated his cloak. Kjon.
"Ki Ki Ma Ma Ma"
He began rattling the bars, but strangely he didn't tear them off. I don't know how strong Preds are ,exactly, but I knew it took more than a set of safety bars to stop them. The other Predator began to laugh nervously, thinking he was safe. Kjon angrily looked down at him, before curiously turning to look at a hanging control switch beside him. He traded looks with the Predator and the device, before locking the safety bars, grabbed the control switch, and turned on the 100-ton hydraulic press. Everyone including myself winced as we saw the Hunter inside struggle uselessly.
"Ki Ki Ki Ma Ma Ma"
Once the press finished, Kjon lifted it and lowered it down a couple more times. I don't know if he did that to be thorough, or because he enjoyed it.
"Ki Ki Ma Ma Ma"
Once he was finished he recloaked and stomped off. We tried to follow after him but he was gone ,again.
When we went back outside, we were met by the monsters from earlier. The Drukathi ,Ch'ris called them. They were about to attack, but someone quickly waved them down. A marine. I didn't know who he was, but he sure as hell recognized me, which I was thankful for. This had been our "support," a shit ton of marines, carriers, and a couple Drukathi. I was impressed.
We ended up running into Kjon a couple more times here and there as we went. He never took his mask off, he never stopped to take a break... He just didn't stop... He just kept going... We sometimes saw him take on multiple hostiles at a time, and single-handedly butcher them all. They would shoot and stab the shit out of him, but he'd always shrug it off like it never even happened. Whenever we could, we tried apologizing to him, but he always got away...
/
Over the next couple weeks our company continued making attacks on the remaining colonies. As always we suffered casualties, both human and Predator. We even lost some of the Drukathi. A lot of times we lost, but we kept on fighting. Each time we got smacked down, we got up and hit back. It didn't always work, and we never could liberate some of the colonies, and there were even times where we did more damage to the colonies when we tried to save them. Other times we had no choice but to leave them.
It's not easy being a leader. You make a lot of difficult decisions. Sometimes you make mistakes and it costs someone their life, other times you have no choice but to leave them behind, and you also worry about the people your trying to save too. Sometimes you do the same thing to them. But as the leader, you can't let any of it get to you. You have to just accept it, and do better because you still have people who need you. You just have to accept that it happens and keep going. It never was easy for me... It was the most difficult during those weeks... but sometimes you've just got to suck it up and take some responsibility.
Our progress eventually reached New Hadley's Hope. Although this wasn't the last area we had to liberate, it was arguably the most importance. It was Weyland's primary setup, and ,although we couldn't confirm this, "Brick," and Zell-oah were also there. Naturally the place would be heavily defended. This would probably be the most difficult and dangerous mission yet. Our chances of success were less certain this time around, and everyone was understandably nervous about it. We had a plan, but that didn't guarantee anything. Although if we did take back New Hadely's...
Ch'ris, Rachelle, General Spears ,who'd defected to us, the Drukathi leader everyone called "Goliath" and I were going over the plan at the time. Basically the idea was to create a perimeter around the colony, send in squads to take out targets of strategic importance, secure the civilians, then attack them with everything we had. The plan wasn't the best, but it was all we had. I'll admit, I wasn't feeling too optimistic about the plan myself, but it was either we do or we die. No one was bugging out, and I sure as hell wasn't backing down.
There was one glaring problem. We needed someone to handle their communications, and free the colonists. We had plenty of people with us, but this particular mission was probably the most important job we had, and we didn't have anyone with us who could pull that off. Just then we heard everyone begin to jump as they moved out of the way for someone to come in.
"Ki Ki Ki Ma Ma Ma"
Kjon. Some of us gasped when we saw him. Everyone a little surprised and confused to see him ,everyone except for Goliath and Spears. Goliath smiled when he saw him and gave a respectful bow. Ch'ris and Rachelle, along with a couple other Preds did the same. Kjon ignored them, and looked down at the map.
"Ki Ki Ki Ma Ma Ma"
After a couple of minutes in silence, he pointed down at the map, where the communications tower and prisoners were drawn. He looked at us and growled.
"Ki Ki Ki Ma Ma Ma Ki Ki Ma Ma Ma"
None of us understood. Then he did something unexpected. "...Whose...Hunt..." He was using the voice recorder on his mask. The voice pattern was human mixed with the other recording I couldn't understand. We still didn't understand him. "...Whose...Hunt..." He repeated. I finally understood what he was saying. He was asking who was going to do those missions.
When none of us responded, Kjon pointed at himself, then pointed back towards the map, before raking his claws across it. He was going for them.
"Ki Ki Ki Ma Ma Ma Ki Ki Ki Ma Ma Ma Ma Ma"
Then he left.
/
For the next few days ,as we prepared our attack, Kjon remained with us. Although he was more active around our persons than he was before, he still remained to himself most of the time. He dwelt in areas close to our stead, but not inside of it, and he only ever came out during the late hours. He was normally seen within the trees, staring out at "New Hadley's Hope". The Hunter eyeing his prey. This behavior seemed strange to me, it was alien of him. It would worry me whenever I saw him stare so intently like that. We could not go to speak with him for he would simply leave as he always did. Not that he could speak, aside from his haunting chant. R'ka Bhu'ja was so distant from how he normally was. He was always so thoughtful, and kind, and friendly, and passive before. Now, there was no sign of that youthful being. I did not believe he was truly all gone, but there was so very little left of him... I could not tell if it even was him at times. All I could see was his vengeful husk. I could not blame him for his anger. His eagerness for the Hunt. Perhaps in the weeks I'd spent fighting alongside the oomans, Yeyin Ju'dha and I had learned more of the oomans mindset, while R'ka Bhu'ja, in his state of restless death, had embraced the Hunter's spirit. Ch'ris and I knew that feeling well, but to have seen it so active and focused in Kjon... it was... it was... it was terrifying. I could not understand the uneasiness I felt when I saw him. Yeyin Ju'dha, felt the same as I, but there was little we could do.
The time eventually came for us to attack. The stars were blinded from the sky, and the only presence of natural light came from the many moons, all of which were full. Such an incident was extremely rare according to what the oomans told me. Yeyin Ju'dha and I were the most excited we had ever been. We felt as if we were but young-blood hunters again, eager and ready. Despite this internal ecstasy, we remained focused. We needed as much of our energy as possible for what was ahead of us. This Hunt would be the most difficult. Yeyin Ju'dha and I were to sabotage Weyland's armies supply deposit within their southern areas and eliminate certain persons. Such was a dangerous undertaking, and although we gleefully accepted the responsibility there could be no room for error. If our victory was to be assured we could not be sloppy. We needed to be quick and silent. Never had such a routine undertaking been more excruciating in it's approach. The thought of seeing my mate's sister's head on a combi-stick, made the thought all the more exciting. Still such was no excuse for careless mistakes. None would be made ,however. Once our objectives were complete, we would be allowed to hunt as we wished. I thought about all of this as I prepared.
Yeyin Ju'dha, Hadrick, and I were caught off suddenly, when we saw him.
R'ka Bhu'ja. He was standing within our base, staring off as he usually did, but there was something different to his being. Again I could not say what it was. I had not bothered trying to understand him, since the day he entered our encampment. But he was in our midst now. This was our opportunity to say what we needed to. To apologize to him. We did not wish for the words we'd spoken to him last season to be our final words to him.
"Kjon!" Hadrick spoke first.
"R'ka Bhu'ja! Kjon!" Yeyin and I called out. He made no reply, no chant, he did not even seem to breath.
"Kjon... Kjon?" Hadrick called out to his son. We approached him closer.
"R-R'ka? Kjon?" I spoke. Again he gave no sign of acknowledgment.
"Kjon. Son... I-I... I'm sorry... I'm so... sorry... for everything I did... I know this probably doesn't mean anything to you... but I just wanted to tell you that I am sorry... You've been the greatest son a stupid asshole like me could ever ask for, and I would never ask for a better son than you... I'm sorry Jon... I love you." Hadrick's words were mingled with desperation, confusion, and sincerity. He wanted to make his words meaningful.
"I am sorry as well ,Mei'hswei. You have done so much ,not just for me and my mate, but for that of our clan... You have fulfilled my father's long awaited dream... that which he shall never see... and for that you do not understand how grateful I am... I know that must not mean much to you hearing it... especially from me... but for what it's worth to us, you shall never know how truly thankful I am, not just to have met you, but to have known you, and been given the honor to be a part of your family as you see me... Thnak-you brother."
"I am sorry too ,Kjon. And thank-you... for saving my mate... and my clan. Thank-you and your Paya, for your compassion." I said gratefully. We paused for a short time that seemed to carry on for longer than it was.
"Kjon, please say something." Hadrick requested as he approached. We came close as well. That was when we noticed he was not staring at the colony, but at the moons. There was an odd presence to them. As uncanny as they were, there was also an odd peacefulness to them. That peace reflected with R'ka Bhu'ja as he stared breathlessly at them. Then in that moment he uttered...
"Ma Ma Ma Ma Ma Ma Ma..."
I did not understand. None of us did.
"...They're beautiful...Aren't they..." His false voice spoke through his mask.
"Yes?" Hadrick answered ,confused.
"...it's my time too..." A pained unfamiliar voice uttered. We did not understand it's meaning.
"...protect the Lord's people...Promise me that...Promise me it please..." He faced the ground. Again, we did not understand, but we replied to it regardless.
"We promise, Kjon." I said.
He gave an easy growl, before sharply turning his gaze back to the colony.
"Ki Ki Ki Ma Ma Ma Ki Ki Ma Ma Ma"
"Kjon?" Yeyin spoke.
"...You can't...see...the eyes...of the demon...until...him come callin'...Tonight...there's a bad moon risin'...and Hell...come a walkin'..."
His words were mixed with other words, and although their form was confused their message was clear. He would do what he did best, and he would enjoy it. He marched off into the night and disappeared.
"Ki Ki Ki Ma Ma Ma"