Chapter 9
Say Good-bye
I cannot believe this. The video footage reveals certain doom that I had not foreseen.
My throat tightens as I quickly and quietly evacuate. My laptop contains all the information I have collected here. There is nothing more to do then sacrifice the rest of these pawns.
For the betterment of the human race.
8~8~8~8~8~8
As I drive Psycho into the elevator that will take us to the helicopter pad, I pray that the others got out in time. I really, really hope they got out. Cause I can't take Psycho back in there. I just can't. As the elevator takes us up, I growl," So, you realize that if we all die I'm going to have kill you right? It would suck if my mom died in this endeavor."
I heard a slight huff, as well as some rapid clicks. He appears to be looking at the floor, but I know this can't be true when he leans back, his head still tilted down. My tail twitches and I growl," And get your eyes off my ass. Just because I'm dressed like a slut at the moment doesn't give your eyes free license to ogle me like I'm a steak! Sheesh, you pervy alien…"
He groans slightly as he looks back up and weakly shoots me the finger.
I scowl," yeah, yeah, same to you. Freak..."
As the elevator stops and opens, I squeal in a rather high-pitched tone. With good reason, before you start laughing your head off.
There's another army of guards out there. With guns. All of them pointed at me. I don't even know what to do… wait. This room is the last barrier to our freedom. And it's wide. Wide enough for me to…
I growl, my eyes dilating as I realize what I must do. Damn, but this is going to hurt….
And it might not even work.
Something in me snaps," Are you crazy? You're dead if you do this!"
You gotta better idea, bitch?
Not at the moment, no.
8~8~8~8~8~8~8
In the elevator, I look over my companion, contemplating death in an absent manner. Since when have I become thoughtful? I can't tell.
I have never fathered a pup. This would be the greatest disgrace, to me. And yet, after this, I may be considered unfit for breeding. Being captured and held like this by the oomans…
At least the bomb is in place. If I die, I will have gained back my honor. I set it to destroy this whole facility… I hope.
Her sharp voice suddenly brings me to reality as I hear her accuse me of… something. The word she uses is unknown to me. Her tone implies that I'm doing something stupid. And then I realize just where my eyes are focused.
Paya, but that's a long tail...
Ridiculous ooman. Does she really think I'm considering her fit as a mate?
Now that you mention it-
WHAT. THE. PAUK?
With a snort and a shake of my head, I growl and give her the same insult she presented to me, feeling smug as she brushes it off, without a sharper retort.
I feel my heart sink as the elevator opens, revealing a trap. Oh Paya, this is not good. So many Oomans… and I can barely support my own weight.
We are dead.
But then, the Llonng Sain'ja steps out, and starts changing, going from a humanoid creature to a completely different, large and quadrupedal creature. Her serpentine tail snakes out and grabs me by the waist, heaving me weakly onto her smooth back.
This all happens extremely fast, I barely register it, though I manage to cling to her as she runs, wrapping my arms around her graceful neck as she builds up speed, her breath heaving from her nostrils. Heat courses beneath her smooth scales as she lets loose the flame that is within her. But we are not invincible. I feel each impact of the bullets that hit her, each thud that either bounces or strikes home. A pain-filledl, high-pitched bellow echoes from her mouth, along with flame and ice.
A few stray bullets hit me as well, causing me intense pain.
Good. That should rid me of my stupor.
I already feel more awake, as pain leaks through my fogged senses.
The hangar door bars our escape but she only speeds up, ramming into it. Her wings spread out, as suddenly, we are rushing down, over a precipice. I cling tighter with the sensation, trying to not think of heaving what I last ate. The ground below is rocky, a painful death.
Paya… She's not slowing down.
The ground rushes to greet us with open arms. I stiffen for the final blow.
But all at once, there's the strangest sensation, as her wings snap out, injured though they are, she roars with pain and frustration as she catches a draft. We're climbing into the sky, rising through the air, just as the explosion goes beyond the facility. I feel the fire and the heat of destruction, arc over us, consume us and hurl us chaotically further away.
She roars as the impact effects her flight, and her wings level out, as she glides to the tree-strewn ground.
Pauk… this is going to hurt…
I try to time myself before jumping off her back, just as she hits the ground. She tumbles, head over heels, her wings torn and her body gushing blood, leaving trails of it ground into the rocky ground, before a tree causes her to stop completely.
The ground rushes up to meet me, but I reach out and grab a tree branch, swinging myself around, I land on the crook of the tree, my breath heaving, as I rest. Mournfully, she gives a cry, as ash and smoke billow out from the explosion.
With a growl, I jump to the ground, rushing over to her as the explosion folds back on itself, imploding. Soon, there is nothing but a crater in the ground, where the ooman facility was. Good riddance.
I kneel by her, my fingers tainted with her blood now, as I look over her injuries. They are numerous.
Paya… so many punctures...
She's barely breathing, blood flowing and gushing freely.
We're free. Our honor reclaimed, our enemies dead and done with. I tell her this, knowing she will not understand. I tell her that her honor is reclaimed. In this form, her face is slightly elongated, like that of a reptile. Her shoulders are lean, and powerful muscle threads through her entire being. Her coloring is silvery, like moonlight, dappled with darker grays, reminding me of the sky, when the moon is clouded by thunderous skies.
She's pauking magnificent.
I look at her with surprise as she morphs into her first form, her ooman one. Kneeling down, I roar into her face, trying to wake her up. Her heart has slowed, her blood, though it is not gushing as it did before, is still trickling from her wounds.
Paya, there's so much blood. So much…
I work, trying to revive her, to staunch the blood flow. The drug introduced into my system did not last long, thank Paya. It was not enough to put me under. If it did, we would not have made it out. Now, I quickly sling her over my shoulder as I start walking, to find my brother and her kin. I must try to keep this one alive. Her blood trickles down my body, mixing once again with my own blood. Intertwined.
I owe her my life. If it means taking her back home with me, I will repay my debt to her. As I carry her away, my own injuries try to bring me down, but I growl as I walk. My own body is my enemy now.
And a harsh one it is.
All at once, I hear R'ka Thwei's voice, crackling over the intercom in my mask.
"Youngblood! Answer me! Respond!"
"Nice to hear from you, Honored Brother."
"Pauk! Don't scare me like that!"
"I thought Arbitrators didn't get scared."
"Don't think your insolence will go unpunished. Do you have the female?"
"I do. Where are you?"
"Don't try to come to us. We will come to you."
8~8~8~8~8
I woke up to Rosy's dull, sorrowful face. And everything comes crashing down on me.
"Rosy?"
"Hi Lex. You ok? I don't know what Spiky over there is doing. He may be phoning home."
I cracked a smile at the joke, before groaning," I fainted didn't I?"
"Yep. Nice of you to hold out on us for so long."
"Rosy, you and that mouth…"
Rosy sobs and I quickly envelope her into a hug. As Yeti crouches down by us, he speaks quietly," Ship will come. Take you somewhere safe."
I get to my feet, wobbling a little as I feel a little lightheaded and grimace," Why are you helping us?"
"Honor."
"I see."
Rosy bitterly replies, with a biting tone," Your honor won't bring back what I've lost."
He only looks at her before turning sharply away, growling under his breath.
I cringe," Rosy, We don't know if she is gone."
With a sniffle and a hard set jaw, she stands wearily to her feet.
"I'm going to find her."
Yeti's hand snakes out and he shakes his head," No."
She growls," Let go of my arm, you son of a bitch!"
He growls back," Youngblood survived. Has Dragon. We go."
He grabs Scar and starts walking. I look at Rosy, who runs to catch up.
To myself, I think,"Comatose much?" as I walk after them, trying to sort through things in my head.
The facility is destroyed. Why does it feel like this shouldn't be that easy? After my experience at the pyramid, I've learned, over all, that nothing is ever easy. Not this easy.
And Yeti said that the Young blood has Kanani. He never said she was alive.
I run to catch up.
8~8~8~8~8
I laid the Llonng Sain'ja down on the ground, waiting for my Brother and her kin to come. I've done all I can for her for now. Now, hwever, I growl quietly as I hear a heart beat, not far from here. Another ooman.
I scent the air, and growl.
It smells familiar.
And I'm going to kill it.
I cloak myself as I leave her.
There's no escape, little Ooman. I'm going to have your skull.
8~8~8~8~8~8
I'm dreaming. I've got to be. This is really weird.
All around me is a mist, a swirling darkness with illuminating stars.
I hear soft laughter, bitter weeping and imploring voices.
"Where am I?" I call, feeling frightened and disturbed.
The mist parts slightly, and I blink as a form, familiar and alien alike, walks towards me.
His eyes are dark amber, shimmering like sunlight. He's about as tall as Psycho (where is that bozo, anyways?) with a long prehensile tail that's waving slightly behind him.
Twin devilish horns jut out from his forehead. His scales are black, dappled with white, and his teeth are sharp. He looks a lot like me, minus the silky mane. Devilishly handsome, if you ask me. He's wearing what looks like the garb of a japanese warrior, but more modern.
"Kanani," his voice is deep, kind, and he gives me this sad, rueful smile. There's mischief in his eyes, but I find no trace of it in his voice.
"Who the hell are you? Please tell me you're not God!" I blurt.
Damnit, if it IS God, then I just shot myself in the foot…
He throws back his head and laughs," No, my dear, i am not thew Almighty. I should have known you'd be so like your mother. I have a feeling she would have said the same, if this was her first time meeting me."
Hold the phone…
"F-father?" I gasp out. I'm pretty sure I might start hyperventilating.
He chuckles," In the spirit."
"Wait, so, I'm dead? I can't be dead! I've got to get back and-"
"No, you're not dead, just unconscious. Your companion is working very hard to save you," he trails off, a little disconcerted it seems, before speaking again," Your mother was everything to me, Kanani. I'm so sorry that… that I haven't been there."
I snort," You're dead. You don't have to apologize for that."
"That's the thing though. I wasn't careful. I should have been more careful, but I got cocky, and now, my skull is a dust-collector in someone's trophy room," he adds a little smugly," Though I did put up a hell of a fight. Killed my attacker. Bit that sucker right in the neck. My venom was much more potent then yours is, though I couldn't control it as well as you do."
I shift," Wait, if your attacker is dead, why is your… skull a trophy? How do you know all this?"
"I'm dead."
"That makes you omniscient?"
"No, but it helps," he grins and I snort as I wait for his explanation.
"Someone tried to help me, to save my life. But they were too late. And since I was a worthy opponent, they deemed my bones attractive enough to adorn their wall," He laughs, seeing irony," I always knew I was a handsome devil."
I swallowed hard," Father… was it one of the hunters? Someone like Psycho?" I feel a churning in my stomach. If that's true… oh hell… One of Psycho's kind killed my father. Widowed my mother and orphaned me…
His eyes cloud over.
"Remember, Kanani. Things are never as they seem. Do not let bitterness ruin you. Your tongue is sharp enough as it is," he chuckles," Your temper is like hell. You're truly my daughter."
He comes to me and puts a hand on my shoulder," I can never redeem myself as your father. But in this dream, the least I can do is tell you that I'm proud of you. I always have been. I always will be."
Damnit, I feel tears in my eyes. I never realized… or didn't want to realize… how badly I wanted to hear those words... From him. My father is proud of me. How many people can say that about themselves?
He bends down and kisses my forehead, murmuring," Farewell, Beauty."
It's then I wake up, opening my eyes and sucking in air. The sight that meets my eyes is a bit shocking.
Well shit.
Psycho's got a human pinned to a tree. T
On the ground, by their feet is a case, a computer bag for a laptop.
I moan slightly before looking down at my body.
"Oh holy shit. I look like a pin cushion!" I croak.
The human gasps," Help me! Please!"
I look up at him balefully," Buddy, even if I was in shape to (cough! cough! HACK!)" I gasp as I sputter. Blood comes out my mouth. Shit.
"-I'd drag you to hell myself," I finish before curling on the ground, in pain.
It's then I hear that meaty sound of flesh ripping. I shudder as a spray of blood sprinkles onto me. Psycho crouches by me, grumbling as he puts a hand on my forehead.
I mumble," Psycho, thanks. For everything. Hell, you can ogle me all you want now. I don't think I really care anymore."
He purrs, a sound I didn't think he could make. It sounds soothing…
And then, he gently traces his claws through my hair. Feels… feels good… Hell, I don't wanna pass out again… I don't wanna-
I pass out.
8~8~8~8~8~
Breath burns in my lungs, as I try to urge Sir Spiky Pants to hurry up. He finally concedes to break into a light jog, which I actually have trouble matching up to. At least we're getting somewhere. Fear and hope struggle within me. I moan softly, unwilling to accept that my daughter's dead, my logic telling me she couldn't be alive and that I'm all alone in this world.
However, the smell of raw flesh and blood hits me like a brick wall, and I scream, as I see a skinned human, hanging to dry.
Shit, shit…
Blackness takes over.
8~8~8~8~8~
Lex swallowed convulsively before heaving her last meal.
I stride over to Kha'bj-te and grab his shoulder, shaking it," Your honor has been reclaimed."
"Thank you, Arbitrator," he responds, in a humbled tone," The Llonng Sain'ja, she is alive, but barely. I cannot allow her to die."
"I called my ship. It should here very soon."
"What will we do with the oomans?"
"For now, they are not safe here. And they have seen too much. We must take them aboard."
He nods sharply before kneeling down next to the Llonng Sain'ja. He's keeping watch over her like she's his own pup. I shake my head as I look over at Lex and Rosy. Rosy is out cold. I snort to myself, as Lex quietly sits next to Rosy, asking me," Is Kanani alive?"
"Barely," I respond sharply.
I hear my ship approaching. I also hear more Oomans.
With a growl, I hoist Rosy into my arms, still carrying Setg'in, and the ship lands, coming open.
Lex sucks in her breath as she catches up with both I and Kha'bj-te. She pauses, passing by a black case on the ground. Without hesitation, she picks it up and we board the ship.
I set the female ooman down in the hall way, barking to Lex," Watch your sister!"
I need to pilot this ship out of here FAST.
I practically dump my brother into the infirmary as I bark to Kha'bj-te," DON'T touch anything and keep an eye on them!" as I sprint to the command deck. Already, the oomans have discovered us. I swiftly punch in a few codes and my weapons system fires on the enemy, killing most of the oomans as I plot a destination swiftly.
With that done, I heave a breath of relief, as my ship rises from the earth and back to the stars.
Now… to deal with my "guests".
I hope people enjoyed this. BTW it's not over!
SHOUT OUT!
Cc: Your review made me laugh evilly. i apologize. And I hope you enjoy this chapter.
Khalthar:Greetings, new reviewer! I'm glad you're enjoying this so far. I've taken your advice into serious consideration and I thank you for taking the time to offer it!
LynxbyLynx:Yeti didn't QUITE get his $$ kicked... not yet. *grins evilly*
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