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Chapter 4

Missing You

Rosalie's always been pretty different from me… but not by much. We differ in that while I enjoy the outdoors, she's always loved more indoor activities. Flying in a helicopter COUNTS as indoor. You might have the window down, but you're still separated from the outside by a wall.

Her daughter, Kanani, is of course, an interesting creature. She shares her mother's fear of heights (which is negative zero) but she's not separated from the world by a sheet of metal.

She takes the headlong dive.

Of course, she has a parachute; those fantastic silver wings of hers.

The first time I saw her change form, I was, well, scared shitless. Rosalie would have been too, except her Husband wasn't human. At all.

As far as I know, from what Rosy's told me, he had the ability to shift from a full dragon form to a form that was more human, but still scaly, fanged, clawed and winged. I never saw him, but I can get a pretty good picture, looking at Kanani's transitional form. It's so strange. Her eyes, usually amber brown, turn this crazy golden red color, like bronze almost. Beautiful amber cat-like eyes.

Her hair gets crazy thick, and tiny horns protrude from her mane. (They only look tiny, buried beneath her hair. They're actually about 10 inches long each, shaped like delicate black cones, with a silver glint. Hard as steel too.)

All in all, she's an average kid in the form of a creature that would never be accepted by society. So, she remains in her human form… or, that's what she'd like us to think. I know she takes little trips outside in her full dragon form at times.

Sly girl.

As I sit in the airplane seat, calm and composed outwardly, I try not to let my mind drift too much. I can't. Not after what I went through at Weyland's pyramid. All I told the people who found me was that a terrible, terrible accident occurred. I would say nothing else.

I couldn't. After all, who would believe me?

Excepting, of course, my little sister and niece. Maybe it was wrong of me to distance myself so much, after the incident. But I just couldn't stay in one place for long. Yes, I have an apartment. That doesn't mean I'm home a lot. I've done some crazier things. Nothing so crazy as the pyramid though. But suicidal things for sure.

Climbing a melting polar ice cap… rock climbing where wild animals run rampant, among other things I'm not even going to mention lest you brand me a lunatic. Or am I too late?

A sob escapes me, disguised as a sigh.

Scar…

He had no official name and maybe the one I picked for him was stupid, but it fit. I never understood a thing he said… but somehow, I felt this connection to him. Standing at the cliff's edge, bleeding in the snow, after that last explosion… I don't think I've ever felt anything like it. The aftermath of the destruction of the pyramid left me with such a feeling of adrenaline and relief, all at once. And I knew he felt the same way, as he unmasked himself. His mark on my cheek meant something to me. I knew he didn't consider me as prey anymore. Not as "cattle", like Sebastian said.

There was one last Alien, which survived… don't even TRY to get me to explain that, but it killed about the only friend I had left.

Have I mentioned I'm trying to not think about this?

*sighs*

I think I've certified myself as a lunatic.

Oh. Well lookie there. I'm back in the USA. Now, to get some answers.

Rosy, you'd better have a good excuse for not answering your phone.

8~8~8~8~8~8~8

The DNA strands are amazing!

I can hardly believe the intensity of the bonding between human and nonhuman cells. So fascinating… the regenerative powers are awe-inspiring as well. Each test that is run leaves me hungry for more.

The Hybrid heals much faster then the manticore. That creature has worn out it's welcome. We can fossilize it's bones and keep them in storage. Hmm… even the Yautja species do not possess the means to heal as fast. Their DNA, complex as it is, is nowhere near as fascinating as the DNA of the dragon hybrid.

Oh, there goes the human again. She won't stop pounding at her cage door. Every now and then, the microphone, set at a low volume, screeches with her cries. Doubtless, she will hurt herself if she continues. I speak of the mother of the hybrid… What would compel a woman to couple with a species not her own, I wonder? No matter. She will be kept. The Hybrid cares for her biological maker, so the human must be kept alive. She serves a purpose.

The manticore however, is another matter entirely. The yautja caged next to the hybrid may be next.

I smirk as I stand up and stretch, looking at my controls systems. Without another thought, I press the button to gas the Manticore's cage. Now, to set up the next experiment.

8~8~8~8~8~8

I jerk from sleep as a a screech rings out in my sensitive ears.

Without another thought, I roll to my feet, ready for anything…

Except what I'm seeing.

A gas is hissing into the cage that the Manticore is resting in. And the manticore doesn't like it. At all.

In fact… Oh sick. Oh...

I turned away, unwilling to watch. After racing around and pounding at the walls, it starts, well, reacting horribly to the gas, which is a cloudy shade of red. I hear it dying a horrible, painful death and my heart starts to pound. I've got to get out of here. Maybe this sounds erratic, but this is a place of death, and if I can help it, I'll die by my own hand, rather then allow them to use me for whatever.

They can't just take from me. No way. No how.

The Hunter watches the death of the Manticore. (I don't want to name him Hunter, damn it! That's just too common. I mean, really. Hunter? Pfft.)

I look at him more closely, determined to not witness the death of the Manticore. I never liked watching things die. It just reminds me of how fragile life is. I don't want to think about that.

So, I look at the alien life form beside me.

Huh… Well, he's pretty green in color. But pfft, he's no pet! I'm not going to name him for his color.

Dreadlocks, eyes that watch and observe. Big husky form. Hmm could call him Muscles…

Then, I take a closer examining of his face. He's brave. I mean, look around. He's in a human's lab. From the looks of his hide, he's already been cut open for examining.

But is he scared?

For crying out loud, he stood up not too long ago and stretched. Like he'd been sitting at a computer for too long. That thought makes me laugh. This dude has spunk.

But then, maybe he's just arrogant.

Ugh. I can't think of a name for him right now. Besides, that screeching is getting louder.

I try to block out the sound of the manticore. It's screeching and howling. Geez, how long does it take for a creature to die this way? I gulp as I turn to look. The thing is starting to disintegrate. Holy shit, there's so much blood…

I want to vomit, but I won't. Strange how empathetic I've become for my "natural" enemy. I look up and scream," JUST SHOOT IT IN THE HEAD ALREADY, YOU SADISTIC FREAKS!"

"Why?" comes the mocking tone.

I snort," Cause I just may decide that you should die the same way if you don't."

The voice snorts," That will be the day."

I hiss through my teeth. Man, I'm really missing my dragon form right now.

8~8~8~8~8

I finally give up. I'm so tired. My body hurts everywhere. Panting, sweat dripping from my form, I curl against the wall. I'm so isolated right now.

Malachi, where are you? Why did you leave me?

Stop this, Rosalie. I thought you were done with this.

Well, apparently not. I miss him so much right now.

He saved my life. More then once. I can't help but remember that first day, so clearly. I was taking my plane out for a spin. Just a regular patrol. I had gotten my pilot's license at an early age. Bought my own Airplane as soon as I could. I was having a blast, until…

Well, to this day, I'm not sure what happened. But my engine failed. Damn used airplanes…

I started hurtling to the ground and my seat wouldn't eject. I prayed for a miracle, knowing one wouldn't come.

But I was wrong. Like the sun rising up from a moonless night, Malachi dove down beside me. He ripped open the cockpit and pulled me out, before my plane ate the dust.

I had never felt so safe before. In his arms, soaring through the sky…

It was incredible. He set me down on the earth, looked me up and down and smirked," Perhaps you should grow some wings before you fly again. I won't always be there to catch you from falling, baby."

I smacked him across the face before demanding to know who the hell he thought he was.

Yeah, it wasn't love at first sight. Or so I thought. I couldn't forget him. Every day after that, my heart stuttered when his image flashed through my mind. Which was often.

Oh damn it, I'm crying. I shouldn't be, but I am.

I miss you, Malachi. I wish you were here to save me again…

I stand and begin to pace. I'm going to get out of here. One way or another, I swear it.

And then, I press down on a pressure point in my wrist. Blackness takes over my vision.

8~8~8~8~8~8

I start to my feet when the door opens and some guys in suits come and take the dead manticore. All that's left of the creature are bones. Gross. Everything else is gone. Disintegrated.

I pound on the door," Yo! let me out! Hey! Damn it, what am I? Chopped liver? Let me out! I wanna talk to your boss!"

They ignore me. Bastards.

The Hunter (still unnamed, damn it) rises to his feet and pounds the door, letting loose a roar that I barely hear. I let loose a barrage of pounding. He does the same thing. I pound harder. So does he. And all at once, I hear it. A thin, almost tiny cracking noise. So does he, apparently, cause he starts really bashing. I join him in his efforts. We're getting out of here. Damn it, WE'RE GETTING OUT!

They gas us both. Resisting as hard as I can, I continue pounding, screaming as electricity arcs through me. Oh damn it!

"DAMN IT, SO CLOSE!" I screamed.

I fall to my knees, sobbing hysterically, hyperventilating. The walls feel like they're caving in on me. I need oxygen…

8~8~8~8~8

Before I am taken by my subconscious, I look at the ooman female, my vision beginning to cloud. She helped me crack the glass. She's got to be strong, stronger then I suspected. No wonder they took her. If I wasn't trapped like this, in need of help, I would consider her as a worthy prey. But I am beyond the Hunt right now. Right now, survival is the biggest priority. And this female may be the ticket to my escape… or my demise. The more test subjects there are, after all, the less important they become.

All I know at this point is that my time may very well be running out.

So, ya'll what do ya think? Am I doing this wrong? Anything I can improve on?

SHOUT OUT!

Silent Hunter: *laughs* there's no way you're in the wrong place. I'm glad to see you here!

Megan:Yay! I'm not alone! I myself am a dragon fanatic, and... well, call it random. As for the falling in love... we'll see. :DD Thanks for reviewing!

Ahem. Please drop a review! Questions, comments or constructive criticism. It's all good. ;D