Chapter 5
Bust A Move, Baby Girl
(Lex POV)
I look around, disturbed. Rosalie's house has been trashed. No one thought to report this? Unless people are being paid to keep their mouths shut.
Wouldn't be the first time…
With a scowl, I go to a picture on the wall and take off a piece of the frame, revealing a code within the frame itself. I swiftly punch in the codes and, to the side of the wall a hidden drawer pops out. Rosalie really didn't trust her fellow man very much. I remember the day she installed the tracking chip into Kanani. That had been… interesting.
After asking her where she got the chip, she just replied, "Don't ask," and set about the task of implanting. Kanani had been very small at the time, pretty docile, and allowed her mother to insert the tiny chip into her shoulder.
Now, I find that this might be the way for me track my little sister… though it's only a transmission from Kanani that I see. I set my teeth as I look at the indication of Kanani's location. It's in a very isolated part of Colorado. Figures. Of course they would be in one of the most isolated places in the country.
I growl as I stalk out the house. One last look at the cute little home where Kanani grew up before I climb into the jeep I rented. Time to drive hard, all night long, all day long.
With the tracker in hand, I growl under my breath, "Bitches. Ah'mma kick yer asses if my little sister's been hurt."
8~8~8~8~8~8~8
(Just outside of Earth's atmosphere)
(Arbitrator R'ka Thwei's POV)
Kha'bj-te's been gone a very long time. And the distress signal from Earth does not comfort me at all. Bad memories flood my mind as my pod is ejected from my ship. The Young Blood is such a clumsy warrior, but he has a good heart. Unlike many of my other brothers, who I suspect I may have to one day chase down as Bad Bloods.
Kha'bj-te left about six ooman months ago on his first hunt without anyone to watch him. Big mistake. His Elder should have known that the Young Blood was not ready. Kha'bj-te is extremely accident prone and stubborn enough to attempt the impossible.
As my pod enters the atmosphere, I prepare myself for a very hard hunt. For though Kha'bj-te is clumsy and bumbling, he can hide his tracks well when he wants to. And since his distress signal's no longer transmitting, I will have to rely mostly on my own skills and guess work.
I close my eyes for a moment, remembering another one of my young brothers, an unblooded warrior, who had come so close to completing his Chiva. So many things had gone wrong that night. I'll never forget the ooman female who knelt by his side as he lay in the snow.
She was so small. I watched as my father gave her a gift, a ki'cti-pa, before turning to leave. I left in my own ship. I had gone to observe Setg'in's Chiva, on my own accord. After all, what Arbitrator leaves his work to watch the Chiva of a trio of Unbloods? I will say this, it was nothing like my own Chiva, so long ago.
Setg'in fought bravely, despite the odds. I helped carry his body to the ship, watched anxiously as his body was stabilized before I was called away. But though he had not died yet, another terrible thing occurred during the transportation.
I do not know why his body was not scanned. But within him was an abomination. And it caused great havoc. Setg'in and his comrades were destroyed. One of my best friends, a fierce Arbitrator named Nracha-dte, went after the creature that had sprung from Setg'in's chest, dying as he brought down countless enemies.
I will admit that trepidation filled me, upon discovering that my Young Blooded brother's signal was not very far from the location where Nracha-dte gave his life. The impact of my pod in the Earth occurs, causing the Earth to tremble violently. As the door opens, I take a breath and step out into the forest that surrounds me. My camouflage is on, my senses alert and my will steeled.
I will find my younger brother or die trying. I will not let him pass on as Setg'in did.
8~8~8~8~8~8
(Kanani POV)
I come to, feeling like crap.
Damn.
This is different.
No clue where I am cause it's completely black. Until I stand up. Then, a little door opens, allowing for a pool of light and I barely see something rush in before the door closes again, leaving me in utter darkness. Whatever it is, it reminded me of a bug, but HUGE.
Oh shit.
Oh shit, what the fuck is that thing?!
I scream as this huge creature runs at me, screeching like a wounded Manticore. (Poor thing, I'm really missing it right now)
I move my butt, ducking out of the way as the creature leaps like a jaguar. It turns and hisses at me and I hiss in reply. It comes at me again, and suddenly, a huge, bony tail strikes me, causing me to go flying through the air, slumping against the wall. It rushes at me. And I don't even think, as I morph. I turn around sharply, bringing my tail up to whack the creature against the wall, returning the favor.
I grin as I realize now that I stand a chance against this freak. I take a breath and let loose a roar that vibrates the floors and walls.
C'mon, freak, let's dance.
I growl as it impacts me on the floor. Damn, it's heavy. Its head is elongated anwhoooooaaaaaa!
My head ducks to the side as an inner mouth shoots out. Its claws scratch at my scales. Holy son of a bitch. It scraped my scales.
You bitch!
I breathe in and exhale. Fire arcs from my mouth. The thing shrieks, loosening its grip, I kick it off. My tail lashes behind me as I turn to run. I feel the wall with a wing tip, before leaping, using my claws to grab the wall, I push off, gliding through the air. The creature scales the wall and tries to jump on me. I turn and this time, I spit my venom. I nail the bitch, right in the mouth, too!
Doesn't seem to do much damage. Shit.
Well, new plan. I breath fire, igniting the room, I pounce on the sucker, holding the thing down with my own claws and using my tail to keep it still as I burn its head, cooking it. I'm tempted to take a bite of my prey, (they haven't fed me and I'm starting to get a little desperate) when I realized something. Its blood is starting to burn my scales.
Oh shit!
I back off quickly, wiping the blood off on the wall, which helps somewhat. Though my scales start regrowing pretty fast, I still hiss at the creature and roar loudly, taking out my anger.
I turn and then exhale fire again, lighting up the large room I'm in. And then, I hear the hiss of gas.
Well shit.
That was it?
That's all?
The hell it is.
I race at the walls, intending to break through, but I get nailed instead with electricity from the collar around my neck. I revert to my human form as the pain increases. Well damn. How did they do that?
My screams echo off the walls as the gas spreads out, fanned into my face, burning in my nostrils before I black out.
Stupid… mother… fu…jers…
8~8~8~8~8
(Kha'bj-te POV)
I watch as they bring her back. They place her in the holding cells that are across the hall, again, directly in front of me. She's wounded, but her wounds are already staring to heal. I watch, fascinated.
So that is what makes her special. Something disturbs me however. The wounds are the works of claws…
The claw marks are familiar. Did they… did they turn a Hard Meat loose on her?!
The thought is shocking. And if they did… how the pauk did she survive? Did she have weapons? Or did she take it down… all alone?
My respect for this female is growing. As I sit back in my cage, I wonder, not for the first time, if I am cursed. After all… I am the luckiest hunter in the galaxy. I am clumsy, impudent and foolish, yet I live. So far. I couldn't begin to count how many situations I have been in, where logically, I should have died and yet, here I am.
Will anyone miss me? The thought catches me by surprise.
I snort. Perhaps not. My oldest brother, R'ka Thwei, an Arbitrator, may be the only one to miss me like one misses a broken arm. I growl as I stand. The glass, though it is cracked, will not crack any further. I tried with all my might to bring down this wall by myself, when I had woken. I failed.
I growl, irritated. I need her help. If only I had tried sooner, to make an ally of her. If only, if only…
Pauking, useless, haunting words.
8~8~8~8~8~8~8
(Head Scientist, Dr. Kepler POV)
"Doctor Kepler?"
I turn at the sound of the voice. One of my fellow scientists is waiting to ask a question. I pause, waiting as she asks, "Will we need the secondary Yautja after all? I mean, we've done all we can with him. And the other one is still in stasis."
I nod quietly and patiently. She's so hasty. Really needs more training.
I gently respond to her waiting silence. "I know. I need more time to figure that out. I want to see how he reacts to the Hybrid's wounds. He ought to recognize them. It will be interesting."
She nods her consent before leaving.
8~8~8~8~8~8
(Lex POV)
I can't believe these Park Rangers! My suspicions are kicked up a notch when they tell me to leave. Tell me this park is off limits to visitors. Oh the hell it is.
After suffering engine trouble, fighting off bears (don't ask) and then, finally, finally making it this far, I'm not about to let a couple of rangers turn me around.
Uh-Uh.
I sneak past them, somehow or other, following my instincts. There is more to this place than meets the eyes, I can just taste it.
And besides, my tracker is working just fine. My niece is alive and chances are, my sister is too.
Treading carefully now, I make sure my gun is strapped securely to my hip. I'm carrying another weapon on my back. It's disguised as a backpack. The spear that I received from Scar's… mentor, I guess, I had buried in Rosy's backyard. I dug it up before coming here. Somehow, I know that I'm going to need it on this hunt.
I'm getting closer.
I… well shit.
I'm right on top of them.
And that's when hell pretty much breaks loose. Guns are fired at me, and I take cover. There are guns that were hidden under the ground. Damn it! They're starting to blast away at the tree I was hiding behind.
Shit!
Shit!
Shit!
As I race, ducking down at a shelf in the ground, I try to think. I glance at the trees… and stare.
No way… there's just no way.
Three blasts of fiery blue are shot from the tree, and the watery outline of a familiar figure jumps down beside me. I remain frozen. The guns are no longer firing. He must have taken them out.
This guy is at least 8 and a half feet tall. He's… oddly familiar. I remember one of the hunters, a HUGE hulk of a Hunter, who helped carry Scar away. This can't be the same guy, can it?
I stand up, looking at what might be his face, and I speak. "My family's trapped here. I'm trying to get them out. Will you help me?"
I hear a snort. Probably not. And he goes on his merry way.
I growl as I walk over to him, standing in his way.
This is the second time I'm running after one of these creatures, demanding and angry. Told you I was suicidal.
He doesn't kill me, surprisingly, though he doesn't act very happy as he takes my shoulder in hand and gives it a shake.
I swallow my pride and take out my gun, cocking it back, I tell him, "I don't know why you're here, but if there's something I can help you with, I'll do it."
8~8~8~8~8~8
(Arbitrator R'ka Thwei POV)
The ooman female from Setg'in's Chiva! I can hardly believe what I'm seeing as she dodges the shots from the hidden guns. I growl to myself before taking out those guns. I tracked all day long, finally coming here. The trail was lost, but I did not stop. Seeing this female here gives me pause. And as her words are translated though my mask, I growl quietly. There is something wrong here. It tastes of the type of mischief Kha'bj-te falls prey to so often.
As an Arbitrator, I like to work alone. But if her family is involved, there may not be much I can do to stop this female from following me, save skinning her and placing her skull in my trophy room.
She is marked, however, so I cannot do such a thing. Setg'in gave her the mark of a Clan, which makes her an equal to a Youngblood.
She will have to prove her worth all over again, if she wishes to gain my respect.
THIS CHAPTER HAS BEEN UPDATED COURTESY OF KHALTHAR!
SHOUT OUT!
Silent Hunter: I'm going to make the battle as epic as I can! Thank you so much for your support!
And to all who have fav'd or put this story on Story Alert, THANK YOU! you are noted and appreciated!
Please drop a comment, if you do like this story, or if you don't like this story!