The next morning, the Yautja rudely woke up Lex and the two humans. They walked through the forest without interruption until they finally reached a pyramid of a sort. The Yautja leader motioned for everyone to stop. "You are to follow behind us," the leader said. "Do not deviate from the path," he added.
The group walked in a strictly straight line towards the pyramid and then the leader gave a halt signal. The stone pyramid doors opened allowing them inside. The pyramid was not what Lex thought it would be. It was well lit inside with statues of Yautja on either side of the path. There were also stuffed animals, animal heads, artifacts of various alien races including human, and what Lex suspected were video cameras. The squad leader stopped suddenly and waited. After a few minutes, the pyramid began to move. The walls changed, and rooms shifted just like in Antarctica. The squad leader then led them through the tunnels towards the center of the pyramid. The pyramid then moved again creating a maze of a sort. They then went up towards the top of the pyramid and entered a throne room of sort on the upper level.
"The Prince," the squad leader informed Lex.
Lex was expecting a large muscular Yautja like the Elders she had been with. However, the Prince was not so. He was slightly taller than her, slender, and had no armor on. There was a staff planted in the floor next to his throne. The throne was white and upon closer viewing was made entirely of bone. The bones were mainly humerus and femur bones with rib bones curved around the armrests. At the end of the armrests where his palms rested were two human skulls.
The Prince appeared bored at first and then held interest upon seeing Lex. The Yautja team came before the Prince and bowed in submission. Lex did the same. "Have the female come before me," the Prince requested.
"Bring her to me," the Prince ordered.
The guards escorted Lex closer to the throne and then had her kneel a few steps before him. "Kill the humans," he ordered his guards.
Royce and Isabelle didn't react since the Prince was speaking in Yautja clicks. Guards in cloak behind Royce and Isabelle suddenly revealed themselves. "No!" Lex said out of turn.
The Prince ignored her and motioned with his hands. The guards extended their blades to kill the two humans from behind. Lex's plasma cannon targeted the Prince to the face. The Prince noticed the change in direction as did his guards. They threw her down to the floor and took the plasma cannon off her shoulder. Lex quickly armed the detonator on her wrist. It beeped as the counter started.
"Run!" Lex told the humans in English.
The guards beat her down as she struggled but the Prince motioned again to his guards. They withdrew from the humans and disappeared. "Disarm her," the Prince said to his guards.
They roughly took off all of her arms but were unable to take the bomb off her wrist. The Prince stood up and stared at Lex's maskless face as the counter continued to go down. "I will spare the humans," he promised.
"How can I trust you?" she asked.
"The doors are locked. The humans will die by either my hand or your bomb," the Prince said.
"Then, I will at least take you with me," Lex said bravely.
The Prince waited patiently as the timer was about to end. Lex closed her eyes as she prepared to die. The blast would surely destroy her as well as the entire pyramid. She could hear the shouting and resisting of Royce and Isabelle. At least, she would die knowing she had killed the monsters' prince. The timer ended but nothing happened.
Lex opened her eyes and saw her timer stopped on the last bar. The wristband also became unlocked and was quickly confiscated by the guards. "Interesting," the Prince said while holding a metal rod in his hand. The Prince then turned to the humans.
"Put them in a cell while I consider their fate," the Prince ordered.
The two humans were roughly taken away from the chamber. "Leave us," the Prince said to his guards. When they had all left, the Prince and Lex were alone. As the doors closed, Lex attacked the Prince. The Prince expertly blocked her clumsy attacks and then kicked her down the stairs leading up to his throne. The Prince casually walked down the stairs as Lex got back to her feet.
Lex attempted another attack but the Prince quickly subdued her with quick punches and kicks. He was the fastest Yautja Lex had ever faced. He wasn't using his body weight to slam her to the ground. She fell to her knees devastated by the strategically placed punches and kicks to her body. "Shall we continue?" the Prince asked mockingly.
Her final leverage gone, Lex had nothing against the Prince. "You win," she relented.
"I won the moment you entered my pyramid," the Prince said to her. He then took out the metal rod that was attached to the armor on his leg. "This is an electromagnetic pulse generator. It disrupts all electrical activity within a certain range. Your bomb has been permanently disabled," the Prince explained.
Lex simply stared at the Prince. She never knew such a weapon could exist. "I regret the invention of our energy weapons. Our hunters rely too much on these weapons. Our ancestors didn't rely on them. They used blades, spears, bow and arrows, traps, and natural camouflage," the Prince mused.
"What do you think?" the Prince asked.
"I agree," Lex said telling him the truth and patronizing him at the same time
The Prince touched her arm which had been cut by the guards. He eyed the green blood, smelled it, and then flicked it away. "Your blood even appears like ours," the Prince said thoughtfully.
"When did you change, human, and why?" the Prince ordered.
Lex thought about lying but the Prince had seen through her. She told the Prince everything about her change and what she had done. The Prince seemed to listen intently and questioned her on details. "It is curious how you managed to survive while so many great warriors have perished," the Prince said.
"I didn't betray any of them," Lex said truthfully.
"I didn't make that accusation," the Prince silenced her. "You are a survivor is my point."
"What happens now?" Lex wondered.
"What should a Yautja do with those human prisoners?" the Prince asked.
"They should be released," Lex replied.
"And?"
"Give them weapons and allow them to get far away," Lex added.
"So, they can be a more challenging hunt?" the Prince questioned.
Lex said nothing. The Prince chuckled in a way that imitated a human. It was both sinister and creepy. "Give me a reason to spare them," the Prince asked of her.
Lex thought about it and then considered an idea that might work. "The two humans killed three Black Yautja. They have proven to be skilled killers on Earth and on this moon," Lex began.
"Go on," the Prince entertained her.
"They are strong, fast, and intelligent. They must have good genes to allow them to live, so they will populate the moon with their offspring," Lex said. She was reminded of the classes she took concerning the relocation of wolves.
"Good. You are thinking like a true hunter. On this moon, we have taken the best of the best humanity has had to offer over the centuries. But it wasn't until recently that female humans became worthy prey as well. Killing all of the humans is such a waste when we can design humans to be stronger and faster than the ones on Earth," the Prince said impressed.
Lex simply stared at the Prince with some horror. She had just condemned scores of humans to be hunted all their lives without ever being killed and then a hellish existence for their children too. "The Black Yautja do not consider these things. All they know to do is kill. A man who managed to escape us for years was killed a few days ago. His genes could have been valuable," the Prince said sadly.
"The humans will be released far from here and will have one year to procreate. If they fail to do so, I will have them hunted," the Prince said to her.
"Thank you," Lex said lamely.
"Thank you…?" the Prince said mockingly.
"Thank you, Your Majesty," Lex said after a pause.
"As for you, you will be assigned to my court. No Yautja would ever weaken himself to become a human. And rarely if ever are humans given the opportunity to be one of us. Some of the serial killers that were never caught by human authorities ended up being one of us," the Prince revealed.
Lex wasn't surprised which amused the Prince. "So, you are one of the few that bridges humanity and our kind. What do you think of our kind so far?"
"The truth is that I think you are all psychotic killers," Lex answered.
The Prince clicked amused. "You do not know the whole story. This moon used to be lifeless, but we planted this forest from Earth forests. Humans have nearly destroyed the rainforests, but we have successfully replicated it here on this moon. We came to your planet and gave you civilization. Before we came to your planet, you were hunters. We gave you the knowledge to build cities, form religions, and understand the universe scientifically. Isn't that worth something?"
"Just because you gave us technology in the past doesn't mean you have the right to kill people," Lex said defiantly.
"And yet humanity hunts and kills other animals," the Prince observed.
"That's different," Lex said lamely.
"It is not. Humanity has driven the great apes to almost extinction by hunting. And yet, humans are closer to these apes in intellect than you are to us," the Prince said and then pointed to his forehead. "So, why can't we treat humans the same?"
"You are not that smart," Lex doubted.
"You are speciesists. You put a value on human life and set yourselves apart from all other life forms. You believe in the sanctity of human life. You would kill all the fish of the ocean, all the birds in the sky, and all that crawls on the ground before you would allow one human to die. Let go of your specism and consider humanity objectively," the Prince told her.
"Can you use that intellect of yours to look inward at yourself," Lex said boldly.
"I am an idealist and a reformer. I am not your enemy but your greatest ally. Fate has destined us together, and you will be safe as long as you stay with me," the Prince said.
The Prince and Lex walked down the halls of the pyramid. Lex had no doubt that Yautja guards were in cloak around them. Every so often, the walls of the pyramid would change but the Prince didn't seem perturbed by this. "Some Black Yautja tried to storm my palace. When they did, they become trapped inside and never came out," the Prince said.
The Prince and Lex then exited the pyramid but the Prince held her shoulder back, so she wouldn't go a step forward. "The ground here doesn't exist. It is a hologram that fools the eyes and the sensors in the masks," the Prince told her.
"My mask," the Prince ordered a subordinate.
The Prince put on his mask and stared at the ground. He then gave the mask to Lex. The vision on the mask changed until it turned to a new setting of vision. The pyramid was surrounded by a deep chasm on all sides. At the bottom of the chasm were long spikes. Several animals and Black Yautja were impaled on the spikes. The only way to cross to get to the pyramid was a retractable bridge. That was why the guards had told her to step behind them perfectly. Had she deviated by more than a foot, she would have fallen into the pit.
Lex took off the mask and stared at the Prince. "The hologram changes light frequencies every few days so the Black Yautja cannot adapt. They only see an open green field and then fall on my spikes," the Prince explained.
"You could have cloaked the pyramid, but you didn't. This is a trap designed to lure them to you," Lex realized.
The Prince seemed to smile with his mandibles. "Still, eventually they will discover the edge of the pit," Lex reasoned.
"Observe," the Prince said to her.
Three Black Yautja marched double-time towards the pyramid. They crossed the field towards the entrance. The Prince gave a guard the signal and then suddenly the Black Yautja fell through the ground and disappeared. Lex gave the Prince a confused look.
"I can generate a force field that simulates walking on the ground. Upon deactivation of the force field, the target falls through," he explained.
"Seems too easy," Lex muttered.
"When I hunt, I use the weapons of my ancestors. But for my own personal security, I use the most modern technology we have," the Prince said.
The Prince escorted Lex to the basement level of the pyramid. There, the Prince inspected the three dead Black Yautja impaled on the spikes. "Recover their weapons," the Prince ordered his guards.
The Prince then turned to a senior guard. "Release the humans into the preserve and encourage them not to come back. They are not to be hunted."
The Prince then turned to Lex. "We shall dine now."
Lex was guest of honor at the Prince's table. The table was a metal slab and the chairs were likewise metallic. Lex was placed at one end of the table while the Prince was on the opposite side. The royal guards sat on the sides of the table. A hologram projector was present in the middle of the table. The Prince activated the hologram while dinner was being served. It showed a red hologram showing a 3D image of the moon. There were also texts in the Yautja language flashing on the screen.
The Prince clicked his fingers on the table, as he continued to read the information. The Yautja fleet was being pushed back by the stronger Black Yautja ships. Additionally, there were more ships landing on the moon. Lex could read some of the languages but the Prince was a fast reader. He waved his hand displaying information of a different kind.
"We have a species on this planet that has exceeded its population limit," the Prince said to the group.
The hologram displayed an image of a humanoid looking alien. It was reptilian, tall, slender, and fast. The Prince placed the creature on a list. The Yautja guards clicked in approval of the hunt. "You will be accompanying me on the hunt," the Prince said to Lex. It wasn't a request but an order.
"You expect me to kill it?" Lex asked.
"I am curious as to whether you could without advanced technology," the Prince replied. He then turned to his guards. "The first skull belongs to me. You may acquire for yourselves the remaining trophies," the Prince told his guards.
They abruptly pounded the table in approval. One of the guards served liquid into Lex's cup. She tested it and found it to be fruit juice. "We have managed to plant many of the same plants and animals on this moon as Earth. Many of Earth's most endangered species reside here," the Prince told her.
"Quite the environmentalist," Lex muttered.
The guards looked at her like she was a bug. "Forgive her manners. She has not yet been civilized," the Prince told his guards.
Dishes were placed on the table; an assortment of different kinds of meats. "This is python, this is bear, and this is zebra," the Prince pointed out to Lex. A dish with the dead head of a monkey with its skull cap removed was placed before the Prince. Lex's poor eyesight couldn't distinguish the difference between the meats, so she had no qualms about eating it.
"Millions of years ago, we used to have snouts with many sharp teeth. Since then our snouts have disappeared and all that which is left are these four mandibles. In a few million years, our faces may resemble that of a human," the Prince said.
The guards clicked in amusement at the possibility. "Our species has evolved on many different paths. Humans were descendants of a primitive primate and that primate spawned the gorilla, chimpanzee, orangutan, and all other primates. Likewise, we have also evolved on different planets and moons. The Black Yautja have managed to accelerate their mutation but unfortunately for them, they are devolving. They are nostalgic for the time when Yautja were bigger and stronger but less intelligent," the Prince said.
"I have analyzed your blood and found there to be some human genes. When you were changed, you received dominant Yautja genes. Your human genes still exist but are recessive. Any child you conceive with another Yautja will, of course, be Yautja but may have some human genetic traits," the Prince revealed.
Lex mandibles quivered slightly as an involuntary reflex of embarrassment to the topic. "The biological clock, so to speak, of Yautja females is longer than human females. You have time to consider your options," the Prince said to her.
Lex wondered if she really had a choice in the matter. "Due to our dangerous occupation, there is a severe imbalance in the male/female sex ratio. Sex-selective abortion is prohibited and deeply dishonorable so as a consequence many males have more than one female mate," the Prince continued.
Lex simply stared at the Prince. She hadn't been taught the mating arrangements of the Yautja. She had avoided the subject altogether, so she wouldn't have to think about it. "How many wives do you have?" Lex asked boldly.
"At present, I have six wives and thirteen young children," the Prince revealed.
Lex tried to not appear judgmental. She had been to many countries including India where such marriages existed. She didn't like the arrangement for herself, but she understood it. "What is your opinion of that?" the Prince asked her.
"Congratulations," Lex said with fake sentiment.
"The other Princes typically take nearly a hundred wives each. They spread their seed far and wide," the Prince said.
"Why don't you do the same?" Lex asked.
"There are two different kinds of heirs. There are the heirs by blood who carry my genes. Then, there are heirs by loyalty. These heirs follow my philosophy and teachings. It is my hope that my children will become such heirs. If I had hundreds of wives and children, I would not have time to instruct any single heir my teachings," the Prince answered.
This made sense to Lex. "Are there any wives or any of your children here?" she asked.
"No, this moon is in a state of war. I would not bring them here. If I die, one of my brothers will take my wives and children into his house," the Prince said.
"How long has there been a war here?" Lex asked.
"Several hundreds of years. This is a strategic location for resources and hunting grounds. This solar system has a number of terraformed moons and the gas giant planet here is rich in hydrocarbons. Fortunately for Earth, the Black Yautja have been prevented from extending that far," the Prince explained.
"How can the war be won?" Lex asked.
"Win the war? Why would we want that?" the Prince asked amused.
Lex simply stared at him dumbfounded. "The Black Yautja do hunt and kill us and sometimes do so in dishonorable ways. But we do the same to them. Of all the prey in the galaxy, the Black Yautja provides the greatest challenge. We control their numbers of course, but we will never exterminate them completely," the Prince said.
"Why can't there be peace?" Lex asked.
"Neither side wants peace. War is what gives us meaning. It inspires us to create powerful weapons, ships, and explore the galaxy. If not for the hunt, we would have never had been inspired to explore beyond our own planet," the Prince answered.
"I was an explorer too. I climbed every kind of mountain on Earth, every kind of cliff, and every kind of glacier. I never felt the need to kill anything," Lex said boldly.
"No, humans are different from us. Humans fight for money and mates. Before we came to your planet, tribes would slaughter each other and rape the females. They would destroy their environment killing everything that moved and exhausted the soil when they farmed. Humans have had many nations, and they can't agree on anything significant. We became a unified people and ended the wars through the hunt. We channeled our aggressive nature for one unified purpose. Any attempt to force us to become peaceful in some utopia will divide our planet and cause mass slaughter," the Prince told her.
"So, it's either hunt or kill yourselves?" Lex clarified.
"That is our nature. That is now your nature. Have you not felt the rush of the hunt, the violent aggression that runs through you, and the euphoria of a kill?" the Prince asked.
"Not really," Lex said truthfully.
The Prince simply stared at her. "You require encouragement to hunt?"
"My Elder had to force me into situations to get me to do anything," Lex admitted.
The dinner had nearly concluded as the guards chewed on bones. Lex couldn't help herself and ate until she was full. "Leave us," the Prince said to his guards when the dinner had ended. The table was a mess with food scraps scattered about.
"If what you say is true, then you must be examined. Your brain will be scanned by our instruments. It will not be invasive," the Prince told her.
"You think I'm sick?" Lex asked alarmed.
"I don't know, but you are proving to be more interesting," the Prince said. "You will retire to your chamber and will be escorted by my guards in the morning," the Prince said and then left the room.
As she exited the dining hall, she was escorted by six guards to her room. She felt like a prisoner as the guards made sure she entered her room. The door was then locked.
The next morning, Lex was brought before the Prince by six guards. "This way," he said to her. Lex found herself in the hospital wing of the pyramid. She was placed in a specific spot, and then a device scanned around her entire head a few times. The Prince waited for a few moments as the computer scanned her brain. When it was finished, it stopped moving.
The Prince then sat in front of a large computer screen. It was a red screen with Yautja text. The brain scan located the universal translator in Lex's brain. "One of the signs I knew you were not Yautja when we first met was your accent and use of formal language. At first, I thought you were just flattering me but then you used a formal tone in every sentence; an indication you were not a native speaker," the Prince said.
The computer then gave the Prince more text and diagrams of Lex's brain. Two brains appeared on the screen; one had more red spots and the other had darker regions. "Observe the screen. The brain with dark spots is yours. Large sections of your brain are dormant," the Prince said.
"Is that bad?" Lex asked ignorantly.
"It was probably a security precaution. If you had been given full use of your faculties, your psyche wouldn't have been able to handle it. Right now, you are using the same amount of brain function as that of a human. Very interesting," the Prince said amused.
"You're saying I'm dumb?" Lex asked frustrated.
"You are the dumbest female Yautja in existence. We have transformed humans before, but they had different brain activity than yours," the Prince said.
"Probably because you transformed sociopaths," Lex said scornfully.
"Most likely," the Prince admitted.
"So, what does this mean?" Lex asked.
"It means that the predatory instinct isn't functional in your brain. Nor is the breeding instinct either. With the proper stimulation, I could make that part of the brain function," the Prince considered.
"Do you have to?" Lex asked fearfully.
"It will be painless," he said.
"I want to still be me," Lex objected.
The Prince stared at her. "It has been discussed whether we would have to hunt if we could simply shut down the predator instinct. Doing so is considered an abomination under the law, but your case could provide a new argument. No, you will not be modified," the Prince told her.
Lex felt relieved. "I can't stimulate that which gives us greater intelligence without threatening to turn on the predator instinct. You will have to remain a stupid female for the time being." the Prince said.
"Thanks," Lex replied lamely.
The Prince then escorted Lex to the equipment room. Inside the room were a number of weapons she hadn't seen before. "You will come with me on the hunt. Strip completely," he ordered.
Lex sighed and took off her metallic-looking bra, and a red sash around her waist. "What now?" Lex asked completely naked.
"I don't sense any embarrassment, shame, or anxiety from you. You don't see your body as your own skin," the Prince observed.
Lex realized she was being tested. "You are so defective…it is interesting to me," the Prince said to her.
The Royal Guards cloaked and disappeared into the forest leaving the Prince and Lex behind. "Follow me," the Prince ordered Lex.
The two walked casually through the forest with the Prince pointing out the different species of the planet. Lex could see plants that existed in the rainforests of the Amazon, Central Africa, and Southeast Asia. Occasionally, the Prince would point out species of birds and small mammals commonly associated with the Earth rainforests.
Despite her feelings, Lex was impressed by the size of the preserve. As the vegetation became tougher to move through, the Prince superheated his blades with his targeting lasers and then cut through it with ease. While they walked, Lex couldn't help but assume she was being watched. It was probably true with the Royal Guard keeping an eye on her.
The Prince suddenly motioned for her stop moving and then pointed forward. There was a creature Lex was not familiar with; an odd combination of zebra and deer. "What is it? A genetic experiment of yours?" Lex asked.
He stared at her and shook his head. "It is called an Okapi," he said.
The Prince then took hold of his bow and set an arrow. He carefully placed the arrow into position and aimed at the creature. The Okapi seemed blissfully unaware of the two hunters. The Prince shot the arrow hitting the Okapi in the heart. The beast fell to the ground and stopped moving.
The Royal Guard then decloaked around the kill and carried it away. Lex had suspected the Royal Guard was always around but had no confirmation until now. "What makes one a Prince?" Lex asked curiously.
"I am one of the hundreds born from the King of our homeworld. There are Princes that are adopted into the family, but they do not have the same rank as me. Naturally, the children of Princes are Princes as well," the Prince said.
"Are you first in line to the throne?" Lex pressed.
The Prince stared at her. "I am content with my position in the family," he replied vaguely.
"Are royal females different than normal females?" Lex continued.
"In my experience, royal females are too prideful and useless. However, my wives are humble," the Prince said.
"What is your secret?" Lex asked almost amused.
"I collected them from among the common and among the outcasts. I desire the greatest diversity in genetics for my wives. Unlike your human royals who inbred themselves into diseased states, I desire the greatest diversity," the Prince said.
He then got closer to Lex as if looking her over. "And your genetics intrigues me."
A sudden explosion that ripped through the forest interrupted them. The Prince scanned for the disturbance and saw plasma bursts in the distance. His Royal Guards had engaged Black Yautja foes. The Royal Guard was armed with plasma cannons, plasma rifles, grenades, and long-range blades.
"Let us depart from this place," the Prince said to Lex.
The Prince casually walked towards an open clearing. A Black Yautja decloaked in front of them. Neither the Prince nor Lex were heavily armed. The whole point of the hunting trip was to hunt like past generations. "Stay behind me," the Prince ordered Lex.
The Black Yautja activated his plasma cannon and fired on the Prince. The plasma burst hurled itself towards the Prince but suddenly extinguished itself a foot from the Prince. The Black Yautja growled as if he were surprised. He fired on the Prince again but the same result occurred. A shield of some sort prevented the burst from hitting the Prince.
With the failure of his plasma cannon, the Black Yautja charged the Prince. The Prince set up his bow and fired on the Black Yautja. The arrow struck the Black Yautja's gut, but it didn't seem to affect it. The Black Yautja roared in annoyance and then broke the arrow off.
"Do you have something better?" Lex asked the Prince.
"Patience," the Prince said to her.
The Black Yautja took another step and then stopped. He fell to his knees and tore off his mask. He spat out green blood onto the ground. Lex could see the Black Yautja's gut turning from yellowish to rotten black. The Black Yautja's abdomen suddenly opened up dumping gore onto the forest floor. The Black Yautja roared in pain and fell to the ground dead.
"What just happened?" Lex asked stunned.
"An acidic arrow, which I have in plentiful supply," the Prince said.
The Prince and Lex moved back towards the pyramid. The Royal Guard was retreating towards the pyramid with explosions in the distance. The Prince and Lex casually walked down the bridge towards the pyramid and went inside.
"Casualty report?" the Prince requested.
"One killed and one injured," the squad leader reported.
"The remains of a Black Yautja are in a field. It shall be recovered and attributed to the slain," the Prince said.
The squad leader pounded his chest and left the room. The Prince then went to this throne in an observation deck on an upper floor. As the Black Yautja approached, they fired on the pyramid from a distance. The plasma bursts caused the stone to burst apart and explode.
The Prince calmly activated controls on his armchair. Plasma cannons the size of a 50 cal machine gun extended outside the pyramid and became positioned toward the small Black Yautja army. The Prince then clicked another button with his clawed finger. The plasma cannons fired on the Black Yautja army instantly creating a forest fire. The beams exploded anything they touched including Black Yautja opponents. In desperation, the Black Yautja cloaked themselves but the plasma cannons fired randomly into the forest. Even those in cloak would occasionally get hit killing them.
The Prince waited a few minutes and then punched a control ending the firing. "Damage report," the Prince ordered.
Royal Guard moved around the pyramid inspecting the damage to the pyramid. "Damage is minimal," the squad leader reported.
"Only a little longer yet," the Prince muttered.
The Prince noticed Lex staring with a confused expression. "Come. You should see this."
The Prince and Lex went into an elevator and went down to the basement level. Inside the basement were tanks as far as Lex could see. The entire base of the pyramid was filled with hundreds of tanks. Lex peered into the tanks and immediately something suctioned itself towards her. She realized in horror that the tanks were all filled with Xenomorph face-huggers.
Lex turned back to the Prince with a stupefied expression. "The perfect biological weapon against the Black Yautja. All invasions of their homeworld have failed. All of our blockades have failed. Our ability to contain them has been fruitless and with every generation, they grow more numerous. We are on the verge of losing this moon," the Prince explained.
"Do you know what these things are capable of?" Lex asked.
"I know exactly what they are capable of. They will eradicate the Black Yautja once and for all. When I am ready, these Xenomorphs will be let loose on their home planet," the Prince said.
"And what if we are attacked, and they are let loose here?" Lex asked unconvinced.
"The Xenomorphs will eradicate all life on this moon but that is a small consequence to pay," the Prince said.
"It's not just about this moon. What if the Black Yautja find these things and then use them against other planets?" Lex protested.
"That will never happen. A self-destruct system will kill them all if this floor is ever breached," the Prince said confidently.
"I don't think you are aware of how difficult it is to kill these things," Lex argued.
"Walk with me," the Prince requested of her.
They walked up some stairs to the next level of the pyramid to the Prince's trophy room. The Prince turned on the lights and Lex immediately could see the entire wall dedicated to Xenomorph trophies. There were fifty Xenomorph skulls lined up in rows. Some of the Xenomorphs were shaped a little differently, but they all had the same familiar shape.
Lex pointed to her forehead. "I never received the mark, because I didn't kill any of these on an authorized hunting trip. As a Prince, it was not required of me to 'Come of age'."
The Prince then walked over to a compartment filled with metallic orbs. "The metal is Durimet, a metal resistant to Xenomorph acid. All of my weapons and armor are based on it," the Prince explained.
Lex scanned the assortment of weapons made from the metal. There were staffs, wrist blades, shuriken blades, projectile blades, and knives. There were also masks, plasma cannons, breastplates, and elbow and knee pads made from the same metal. "Why don't the others have this kind of metal?"
"There are limited resources and intelligence among us. I have studied these creatures, and I am the authority on how to kill them as well as how to unleash them," the Prince said.
Four Royal Guards entered the room holding a metallic table. On the table was an unconscious injured Black Yautja. The Prince and Lex looked over the body, as it was lowered to the floor. The Black Yautja's legs were blasted off as well as an arm. There were tourniquets just above the stumps to keep him alive.
"It appears we have a willing test subject," the Prince said pleased.
Lex followed the Prince and his Royal Guards to the floor below. "Bring that one," the Prince ordered referring to a face-huger.
The Royal Guards carefully brought the tank over to the subject. The Prince placed his mask over his face and motioned for Lex to do the same. The face-huger was dumped out of the container and was immediately caught in a net. The face-huger was then positioned over the Black Yautja's face, and then its tail wrapped around its neck tightly.
"Good. Now, move him outside the perimeter. He will cry for help, and his comrades will be honor-bound to receive him," the Prince ordered.
There was a sudden clink of metal forcing the Prince and his Royal Guard to take heed. Lex had her blades outstretched. "I can't let you do this. I have seen what comes out of those things," Lex said.
The Royal Guard was about to sack Lex but the Prince kept them at bay. "Your concern has been noted but there is a chain of command that must be followed," the Prince reasoned.
"I don't care who you are. You can't use those things as a weapon. You won't be able to control them," Lex said.
"Are you going to kill me?" the Prince asked.
"I will if you don't step aside," Lex said boldly.
The Prince turned to the severely injured Black Yautja with the face-hugger firmly planted on his face. "So, you are going to kill him then?" the Prince asked.
Lex thought about what she was doing. She would have to kill the Black Yautja; maybe by slashing its throat or a stab to the heart. It wasn't a person; it was a beast. Lex advanced forward towards the Black Yautja. At the last moment, two Royal Guards decloaked and held Lex firmly in place. The Prince took a stunner and sent a jolt of electricity through her. Lex's knees felt weak, and she fell to the ground.
"The difference between us is our imagination," the Prince said to her and then motioned to his Royal Guard to relocate the Black Yautja.