Chapter 24
Red Sand
(Kanani POV)
A blast rocked me off my feet, causing me to go flying like a flapjack into the air.
OOF!
I collide heavily into Scar, who has just stepped out of a hallway door. Aunt Lex, clinging to the doorway, looks down at the both of us. I realize that neither Scar or Lex are wearing their masks… and their clothes are disheveled… and they, ah… smell peculiar-
"OH MY GAWD EEEEEWWWWWWWW!" I scream before leaping OFF Scar and trying to roll with the next blast whilst doing my all-over-shudder dance, which I'm quickly becoming an expert at.
Aunt Lex, unconcerned with my horrified scream, dance, and expression, which is probably hidden by my mask anyways, yells, "Are we under attack?"
Another blast. Scar gets to his feet and sweeps Aunt Lex off her feet, giving me a short bark before turning around and running clear back the way I had come. Psycho comes from behind me, looking puzzled. I scowl at him.
"I oughtta wallop you, but we got bigger problems. Let's go."
8~8~8~8~8~8
(Kemp POV)
Reality smacks me in the face as the ship quivers in tune with a muffled explosion.
Oh shit. We're under attack.
You never get used to being shot at. You just learn to live with it.
With a growl, I struggle to sit up, as my mind races furiously. By the sound of the booms and the way this massive ship rocks, I'd say we're being attacked by US military. Which begs the question; how did they find us?
And… by the way my body is screaming bloody murder at this time, I'd also guess that they forgot to give me pain medication.
I wonder what the inside joke is? "Oh hey, here's an idea, let's see what happens when the human medic wakes up and his body feels like crap!"
"Hey yeah! And LOL, what a coincidence that he's healing quickly, but painfully!"
"I bet he cries like a baby!"
"Oh, and let's catch it on camera too!"
"Awesome!"
Another explosion breaks through my pain and humiliation, putting me in Sherlock mode again.
As Kanani said earlier, this ship has a high-tech cloak that wouldn't give off a signal the US military could detect.
So how did they get this number?
I have to find out.
My body protests vigorously (And I mean VIGOROUSLY) but I tell it to go fuck itself as I slide to the floor and literally crawl out of the infirmary.
Want… Morphine… crap, my body...
8~8~8~8~8~
(Spiky POV)
How the PAUK can these ooman fighters SEE my ship? I have no idea thus far. And the worst is that we've reached the fifth base, only to be attacked by more of those pauk-de soldiers like the ones that betrayed us.
The realization hits me like a blast from a quadruple shot plasma cannon.
They were waiting for us...
But how did they know to find us? Unless...
Suspicions about the ooman medic, on board MY vessel, rises like the shadow of Cetanu in the back of my mind. But I have no time to deal with my speculations as Rosy relinquishes the controls to me. Quickly, I turn the ship in a rapid spiral, causing two of the jets to misjudge their passing and crash into each other.
Pauk-de six more to go...
The others lurch into the room, barely kept on their feet by the internal gravity force in the room.
I bark at Setg'in and Kha'bj-te, "Get to the gun turrets NOW."
They obey without question and Kanani heatedly questions. "What the hell is going on?"
"We're being fired at, pauk-head!" I bark impatiently back at her as I take control of my ship, moving Rosy to another seat as the ship rocks.
We're under fire, but not for long. I re-enforce the shields covering the ship and bark through the intercom.
"Setg'in, Kha'bj-te, FIRE NOW!"
"WHAT ABOUT ME?" Kanani bellows, smoke curling from her nostrils.
"We can handle this, Kana-"
"HELL NO! I want to fuckin' help!" Kanani screams back.
I growl, exasperated. This is no time for heroics…
Or is it?
At this moment, the jets take out my main gun.
I know this, because as I try to target them, a big error sign flashes across the data-screen. The gun's power cords have been damaged.
"PAUK!" I roar, angrier then ever. At this moment, offensive fire comes from below us, as well.
I can fix the pauk-de weapon, but I'm going to need to put the ship on auto-pilot… or hand it over to Rosy.
I choose the lesser of two evils.
I'm not going to put such a burden on Rosy, not after what she's been through.
With a snarl, I put the ship on pauk-de auto-pilot so I can repair the damage… and so I can prepare Kanani for a mission. Grabbing her hand, I rush to the armory, dragging her along. She comes without a fight, thank Paya, and for a second, I think she's wising up.
"What the hell are you running from?"
I change my mind.
8~8~8~8~8~8~8~8
(Kemp POV)
I crawl and crawl, sweat dripping down my spine and prickling my skin as I freeze, looking at a small laptop that Daniel left behind.
Daniel's equipment… Holy shit, the US has been tracking us the whole fucking time.
I change my mind, I'm really glad that little snot got nailed.
I don't have time to rewind for you. I have to turn this signal off.
I grab the laptop and quickly take it apart, looking for the microchip, or whatever is giving off the signal. My body burns with the action, but I ignore it. I have to turn the signal off, before we become toast.
Mmm, I sure would like a bite of toast right now…
Kemp Mario, FOCUS DAMNIT!
I just called myself Mario. Now, I KNOW I've lost it.
We're fucking dead if I don't get this right…. damn, but I FEEL like I'm dead, or dying...
I rip the whole laptop apart, but the army keeps firing at us. The chip must not be in the laptop...
Ok, new plan.
"HEY LEX! ROSY? KID? MOE, LARRY, CURLY! CAN ANYBODY HEAR ME!"
Pain ripples through my whole body as the ship rocks, throwing me off balance, and causing me to hit the backside of the wall… hard.
I'll never live this down... damn where's my medical kit?
8~8~8~8~8~8~8
(US Sergeant POV)
Three words: Scrubbed. FUCKING. Clean.
The Lab was empty when we arrived. We searched the whole fucking thing, top to bottom. Empty cages, empty fucking rooms… Not even a damned operating system on any of their computers. Not Windows XP, or even 98!
They must have bailed out when their sister labs started going down.
But this gave us the opportunity to set a welcoming committee for the alien crew that killed the Die Hards.
Good old Daniel… His laptop gave out a strong steady signal that we kept watch on as we prepared to take down these E.T. motherfuckers.
Now, as the ship begins to fire back at us, it only makes itself an easier target.
"All units fire at will." I speak into the intercom.
Even with their cloaking shield, we can still "see" them, via Daniel's microchip-bug.
At this moment, we all hear the faint echo of a roar. And suddenly, one of the jets not only crashes, but burns.
From nowhere, a huge jet of fire rains down, taking out specific gun fire.
I turn and yell at the snipers, as soon as I realize what's going on.
"Turn on your infrared and take the hybrid down!"
8~8~8~8~8~8
(Lex POV)
I hear Kemp's call, and I rush down the hall, trying to stay on my feet as the ship rocks under another explosion.
Oh gawd…
Kemp is not only NOT in the infirmary where he's SUPPOSED to be, but he's crawling on his belly like a snake, a ruined laptop under his arm, his whole pale, freckled body now a new set of interesting hues; purples, reds, greens, and blacks. He's completely occupied with reaching desperately for his medical kit, which is barely out of his reach.
This… this has to be the most bizarre thing I have ever seen in my life.
And after all I've been through, that's saying something.
He finally notices me and glares. "Before you start asking stupid questions, listen up! I know why they're firing at us! Daniel left some of his equipment here. I think he left a tracking signal somewhere."
"What? Where?" I blurt, as I crouch by him and push his medical kit into his straining hands.
"I'm a Doctor, not a damned technical geek!" He snarls as he struggles to sit up, groaning as he digs through the contents of his bag. "Damn! Now I'm starting to sound like Bones!" He muttered sourly.
I rolled my eyes as I snapped at him. "Then stop fucking hurting yourself! I'll tell Spiky and maybe he'll know how to locate the thing."
"Brilliant." he returned as he slouched against the wall of the ship, clutching his medical kit and the ruined laptop.
I turned on my heel as I hoofed it to the other room.
This was a new development… one that I didn't like.
8~8~8~8~8~8
(Kemp POV)
Man, I don't care what they think, I am getting stoned on morphine. It's all I have, and my body is NOT feeling any better right now.
8~8~8~8~8~8
(Rosy POV)
Spiky just… he just left! He put the ship on autopilot, grabbed Kanani, and then raced away. My confusion melts though, as I notice the blaring symbols on the screen.
Something's damaged… is he trying to fix it?
I get up, only to be flung back into my seat as the ship rocks under another blast. Closing my eyes for a moment, I try not to dwell on the fact that I am completely helpless, a literal sitting duck, in this ship.
Before I start to panic though, Spiky rushes back to the controls, muttering under his breath… or growling, actually.
And it's then that I notice Kanani's missing.
"WHERE THE HELL IS KANANI?" My panic has returned full-force.
"Buying us pauk-de time!" Spiky snarls at me. I open and close my mouth, not sure whether to cry, scream, or start laughing hysterically.
However, my mind is taken off my current dilemma as Lex suddenly careens into the room, thrown off balance by another blast as she screams into my face
"ROSY!"
8~8~8~8~8
(Lex POV)
"WHAT?" Rosy screeched back at me as I stumbled into the room, nearly flying into her lap.
"We have a situation!"
"NO FUCKING SHIT! WHICH SITUATION ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT, THE U.S. MILITARY FIRING ON US? SPIKY LEAVING HIS STATION DOING FUCK KNOWS WHAT? OR 'NANI DECIDING SHE WANTS TO DIE YOUNG?"
I take a deep, calming breath.
"THE FUCKING MARINE TECHIE PUT A TRACKING SIGNAL SOMEWHERE ON THIS SHIP! We have to find it and destroy it!"
Rosy blinks at me before lurching to her feet.
"I'm on it!"
Spiky is nearly pushed aside as Rosy gets to the control panels, reaching around him to push buttons.
I stare as he bellows at her, "WHAT ARE YOU-"
"SHUT UP AND FLY THE FUCKING SHIP!" She screams at him as a beeping noise sounds out over everything else. I see an image light up the screen as Rosy exclaims, "There! It's coming from the star-window room!"
"THE WHAT?"
"NEVER MIND!" She shouts as she runs past me, down the hall.
I follow after her.
She never makes sense when she's this stressed out.
BOOM!
… And … I hate American Air Force jets right now.
8~8~8~8~8~8~8
(Kanani POV)
Yep, you heard right. I'm not on the ship. Spiky gave me a mission of mercy, or lack thereof, and I'm currently cloaked and dive-bombing the military forces on the ground. Without hesitation, I spin through the air and start attacking the big guns, eliminating the ground forces. Scar and Psycho now begin to focus on the jets in the air, which are totally cheating. But on the other hand, it's not long before those with a gun on the ground start to take potshots at me.
Fucking lazy bitches…
I land on the ground before bulldozing into the nearest snipers, spewing venom at them as I dodge bullets, which fire into some of the snipers, ending them of the misery of my venom… permanently.
Take that, you stupid sorry assed motherfuckers!
I'm not unscathed, though, and as I bleed from my side, I angrily hurl fire, ice, and venom at whoever gets in my way, taking cover behind tanks and tents. So far, the ground forces have turned their attention from Spiky's ship to me, since obviously, I'm a bigger threat at the moment.
You fucked with the wrong E.T.s, assholes. They're MY E.T.s, and I'M the only one who's allowed to beat them up!
At this moment, though, someone blindsides me, and effectively turns OFF my fucking camouflage.
I guess my outline was plain enough.
Suffice it to say that I'm now on the ground with the barrel of a BMF gun shoved to the side of my head.
Gawd, why don't I think before I ACT?
8~8~8~8~8~8~8
(Psycho POV)
Is… that… KANANI?
I bark sharply in anger, as I watch the ooman shove her to the ground. There's no pauk-de time, and I've only got one shot.
Take this, Pauk-de ooman!
My aim is true, for once, and I hit the ooman, right in the head. The blast goes through his head and clear through to his feet, as charred flesh erupts and blood oozes from his ruined form.
Kanani stands to her feet and quickly takes cover as she continues her rampage. I try to continue to watch her back as much as possible while Setg'in fires on the ooman pilots.
"Kha'bj-te, she's fine, NOW FIRE AT THE PAUK-DE OOMANS!"
All at once, the ooman pilots veer off, flying as though they have lost their sense of direction.
At the same time, I hear Rosy's voice, screaming in triumph.
"TAKE THAT, TECHIE BITCH!"
Lex's voice rises also.
"ROSY! PLEASE calm THE HELL DOWN!"
"LIKE HELL I WILL!"
For the love of Paya, is there never a serious moment between the two of them?
I set my sights on one confused jet and take the shot. It erupts in a blaze of fire and debris.
Now then… who's next?
8~8~8~8~8~8
(Kanani POV)
I hear this loud explosion and warm liquid and this dusty stuff splashes all over me. My form is covered with the blood of my human attacker… and bits of blackened human meat.
SICK!
I stumble to my feet, unleashing a jet of fire from my mouth as I run towards one of the last tanks, leaping atop it, I blow open the hatch with all four cannons on my shoulders before blowing fire inside. The screams of men burning alive are drowned out by gun fire and the explosions of downed jets.
I whirl and duck behind the same tank as the soldiers open fire at me, blasting the tank instead and causing it to explode, rocking the ground under my feet and sending me head long into the sand.
And then, I hear it.
Faint, but clear, over someone's radio; Lost visual! Repeat; Lost visual!
So… they finally lost track of Spiky's ship. Good.
Time for Kick-Ass part 2!
…
Kanani, that was corny, and you know it.
With teeth tightly gritted, I move as fast as I can, pain rippling through my body as I leap away from another smattering of gunfire.
The blast throws me completely off balance and I go sailing into the air, limbs akimbo and wings slightly tattered.
But now, the jets are all gone and my job is done.
It's not long before Spiky's ship starts taking out the ground forces.
I growl, knowing that the time has come.
Spiky… this force-field thingie you gave me better work!
I quickly race into the midst of the soldiers and throw down this short pike into the ground. It activates and an energy shield goes up, covering and protecting me as the soldiers open fire. They all draw closer, into a tighter, neater target, as they try to pierce the shield with their guns.
Close, but no cigar, you G.I. Joe douchebags.
I speak into the communicator in my mask, my eyes feeling like they're on fire as I give Spiky the signal.
"Spikster, if that big gun is fixed, then sock it to me."
8~8~8~8~8~8
(Rosy POV)
I look out the window in time to see a huge rocket leave the ship's main gun, right into the midst of the soldiers, who have become one instead of multiple targets. It's then that I also see Kanani, right in the middle of everything like a bull's-eye.
My breath stills as the rocket strikes the ground in a supersonic blast. When the dust settles, Kanani is left. The shield generator that Spiky gave her worked.
…Rosy, explain it to 'em
Yes, he explained to me that Kanani wasn't entirely helpless.
He gave her a shield generator to place over herself BEFORE he fired the big gun at the military.
Actually a smart plan… except he put my daughter in fucking danger AGAIN.
But even though I'm not happy with the situation, Kanani… is an adult. Not a very smart one, at times, but she is capable of making her own decisions, and she was the only one who could… and she WAS begging for some way to contribute to our strategy.
I breathe out, as relief floods into me. The piece of equipment Daniel had placed on the ship's interior is now a useless piece of hardware.
I heave another breath before shakily turning around to face Lex.
"Where's Kemp?"
"Hanging out." Lex replies quietly, "Was that the only signal that they could trace on us?"
"Should be. I didn't see any other bugs on the screen. Of course, I'll have to run the whole thing by Spiky first."
It's then that I take a closer look at Lex. Her netting and her clothes are disheveled, like she took them off and then put them back on in a hurry… I then remember that… she's been alone with Scar… for at LEAST an hour…
"Oh my gawd." I hear my voice, but I'm barely aware of speaking.
"What? What's the matter?" Lex offers me this amazingly shameless grin before I roll my eyes up at the ceiling and shout.
"NOTHING! Nothing's the matter. Now excuse me while I go and bang my head on the wall!"
"Rosy, it's not like you're so much holier then me."
I freeze in my tracks and heave a sigh.
"That's why I'm going to bang my head on the wall."
Lex starts giggling as she follows up from behind me.
"Aren't you going to congratulate me or something?"
"For what?"
"Finding my prince charming."
I stop this time and look at her.
"I'm real happy for you, Lex. But right now, I've got mental images that are giving me a headache, so I'm going to go and try to bang them out of my head."
Lex then really starts laughing.
"Go and inflict horror upon Kemp." I reply dryly to her laughter as I march back to the pilot's room to consult with Spiky.
Good lord, I really do have a killer headache. Which is warning me that… my time of the month is approaching.
Oh dear lord no… not now!
8~8~8~8~8~8
(Psycho POV)
As soon as the ship has landed, I rush out. Kanani is walking along the burned and bloodied sand, a pleased air about her walk and scent, despite the blood that now drips from her various wounds.
"YOU."
Her head snaps towards me, as I stalk towards her.
"WHAT?" she deadpans in a loud voice.
I growl. "DO you realize just HOW much of a risk you took by letting yourself get caught?"
"Oh please!" she snaps. "I had it under control! I had him right where I wanted him in fact!"
"Pauk-de that!"
She snarls as she takes a flying leap, tumbling with me into the hot sand.
I feel her start to hit me with her fists, but her hits are lazy and half-hearted.
Amusement settles along with rage and I all but roar into her face, overpowering and pinning her down into the sand, staring into her chrome-covered eyes. The sun's heat washes over us both as I allow a low growl to vibrate through my body. A smug feeling swells in me as I feel her shudder beneath me.
"Just what was your plan?" I hissed into the side of her head.
"Maybe this WAS my plan." she replies smugly as she brushes her tail along the back of my thigh AGAIN.
But before I can begin to even think about my next move, we both hear the loud cock of a gun.
I get off her and grab her hand, helping her up as we turn to look. It's another pauk-de ooman. A LARGE pauk-de ooman, who's struggling with his gun. It appears to be jammed.
Kanani growls in a low tone.
"We could use a prisoner to interrogate. Can you cripple him?"
I grin under my mask as I cloak myself in response. The ooman has fixed his gun and begins to fire. Kanani presents herself as the decoy while I quickly and quietly sneak from behind the panicking ooman, slicing his thick hamstrings with my wrist blades. He screams in agony as he falls to the sand, blood pooling around his body. Kanani kicks the gun far out of his reach and growls at him, allowing smoke to curl from her nostrils as she makes her demands.
"Alright, soldier, tell me this; How did you guys know we were going to be here? And WHERE the hell is the lab?"
"I…I'm not… Not talking!" The soldier growls in a determined voice. I growl as I move my wrist blade to tickle the back of his neck, just barely drawing blood. But then, Kanani bats my wrist away from him as she hisses at me.
"I've got this, Psycho. Go get your own ooman."
I huff at her imitation of my voice but allow her to continue with her inquiries.
Kanani growls as she spits venom into the sand… right onto a scorpion. The creature goes insane, curling in the sand as its body is consumed. The soldier sees this, his eyes round with shock as Kanani speaks in a threatening tone.
"That venom also burns the hell out of human skin. But it doesn't kill unless I inject it directly into your bloodstream."
He looks up at her as she adds murderously, "You're going to die anyways. I'm not going to let you live so you can rat me and my family out. But you can earn yourself a MUCH less painful death by telling me what I need to know."
"Do your worst, bitch. I'm not-GAHHHHH! Oh SHIT! HHAAAAAAAAARRH!" He screams in agony as she spits onto his hand. The skin turns red, burning under her venom and beginning to blister. I wince, as I realize just how much of a weapon Kanani is as she plants a foot forcefully on top of him, keeping him down as he begins to thrash, trying to wipe the poison on his clothes.
"That was a highly concentrated spray of my venom, which isn't as strong as most poisons, but it burns quite nicely, eh? Now imagine that ALL OVER YOUR FUCKING BODY." Kanani growls. "Are you going to talk now? Or shall I strip you down and drool on your crotch next?"
The soldier's eyes glaze over with something like terror as he cries out. "When we got here, there was nothing! The lab was empty, and there was no data for us to hack into! We set up to kill you and we were preparing to take over the last lab, which is where we think the previous occupants took refuge. Oh, for God's sake, shoot me, but don't drool on my crotch!" He sobbed in anguish as he clutched his hand, curled over as though that would protect him if she decided to carry out her threat.
Kanani doesn't hesitate as she grabs the gun he had held in his hand and unloads a round into his head, turning the sand beneath him from golden to red.
Tossing the gun aside, she looked up at me. I have to admit… I am surprised. This soldier was no weakling, and yet, Kanani drew out all the information she needed from him without any difficulty.
Paya, why do I continue to be surprised by her?
"Now… Where were we?" there's a low purring grin in her voice, causing my own head to turn with want.
But once again… our desire is crushed when R'ka's voice breaks in through the comlink in my mask.
"Kha'bj-te, Kanani, there are oomans still within the base! TAKE COVER!"
I whirl around, switching the vision in my mask. Holy Paya… more oomans with guns. Beneath the sand, a hole in the ground opens up and a plat form begins to rise, showing the ambush. The second wave, if you will.
I growl as I cloak myself, and I hear Kanani do the same as she hisses.
"They never learn, do they?"
The ship vanished behind us, and I hear Setg'in and R'ka run out, also cloaked, as the ship, on auto-pilot, I would assume, rises up into the air.
We charge forward, as one. I hear the beat of Kanani's wings as she rises into the sky,
and it is not long before blood stains the air once again.
8~8~8~8~8~8~8
(Scar POV)
Even as the scent of blood fills my lungs, my mind is not completely in the fight.
Lex is amazing…
My only motivation to stay in the fight is that these pauk-de soldiers interrupted a crucial moment between me and my mate. For that, THEY MUST DIE.
I snarl as I rip entrails, smash through guns and fire my plasma cannon. Already, I have more pauk-de bullet wounds, but this does not stop me as I grab one ooman by his throat and hurl him into the gun fire of his own comrades, his body exploding mid air. The sand turns to red mud beneath our feet as the number of soldiers begins to dwindle down to nothing more then mutilated and torn bodies.
8~8~8~8~8~8~8
(Psycho POV)
Kanani takes out the whole left flank of soldiers as she exhales fire, making them go mad from the pain. I end their misery by slicing off their heads, as they run in disoriented circles.
R'ka is pissed off about the damage done to his ship. His roar of anger echoes through the air as he crushes the soldiers beneath his feet, slicing open their bowels and leaving them unfit for trophy taking.
I mentally note that this whole second ambush is a GOOD thing, otherwise, my elder brother may have had more reason to beat up on either me, or Setg'in… though more likely, me.
As the sand runs red with blood, blackened by charred corpses, Setg'in finishes off the last of the ooman soldiers with an angry growl and a slice of his wrist blades.
R'ka reaches into his pockets and pulls out three detonators, as he walks to the entrance of the lab. Looking down, he tosses the three explosives in and then turns to look at us.
"Let's go."
8~8~8~8~8~8~8
(Kemp POV)
Pain is starting to sort of go away. The morphine hasn't taken full effect yet.
I hope my body is finally knitting back together. My core still hurts when I move, but not nearly as much as before.
Too fucking easy. There's gotta be a catch.
The "Catch" comes barging into the hallway, as "Moe" aka Spiky, the tallest of the E.T. hunters and the captain of this vessel, stands over me, his breath heaving with rage.
I swallow hard.
What did I do now?
"Ooman… did you KNOW we were being tracked?" he growls, his wrist blades sliding out. I guess he means to intimidate me.
Funny thing is, it's working. There's fucking BLOOD drying on those blades...
"No Sir. Lex can tell you that I slithered from the medical room to the room where my former teammates had spent the majority of our time, and that's when I found the laptop and concluded that the ship was bug-GACK!"
He lifts me up by my shirt, looking me in the face as he growls.
Please dear God, don't let me piss my pants like Mitch did, please, please-
"Spiky… I never would have killed my OWN TEAMMATES if I wanted you guys dead." I manage to gasp out.
I pray that he can read the conviction in my tone, cause right now, I can barely talk
Suddenly, an angel comes to my rescue.
"SPIKY! For heaven's sake, PUT HIM DOWN!"
Rosy races in, her face shiny with perspiration as she stands in front of the huge E.T. and glares at him.
He looks at her and then at me before lowering me to my feet. I crumple to the ground, gasping for breath as pain lances my senses.
Crap, crap, crap,-
"If you think he planted the device, Spiky, well, you're FUCKING wrong. He's the one who warned us about it… and he also saved our lives back at the fourth base. He's a hero, not a fucking criminal."
Rosy's voice is not really accusing… it's just… well…
Motherly.
Spiky regards me, and the wrist blades go back up, as Rosy kneels by me and helps me to my feet.
This is awkward.
Spiky finally grumbles an apology.
"Forgive me, Ooman. We do indeed, owe you our thanks."
I nod stiffly.
"I'm sure the human race isn't the most trustworthy species on your list after the stunt my former team pulled." I concede, just as grudgingly, as a thought squelches the anger in me.
I really don't want to start a fight with these guys.
Spiky then takes me from Rosy and helps me back to the infirmary. I'm able to walk, even though my stomach is cramping up.
Spiky checks out the medical equipment and then looks down at me.
"STAY here. If you don't move for another hour, then you will heal completely. But if you continue-"
"I know, I know. So what else is new?" I mutter. Not exactly the smartest thing, but I'm too pissed off to care.
Kanani barges in at this moment and announces. "The lab is empty. We interrogated one of the soldiers who was left. He said that the lab was abandoned when they got there."
"The fucking scientists probably retreated to that last base. We need to hurry, before they completely vanish." I grumble.
Kanani looks at me, noticing for the first time, that I'm still here, I guess.
"How's the Leprechaun?" She drawls with a fanged grin.
Hell no. I'd rather be called Mario.
"Kid, considering that I blew my life to save yours-"
"Don't be so sensitive, Kemp! You know, you DO look like a Leprechaun. You're short, ridiculously red haired, and-"
"I KNOW WHAT I FUCKING LOOK LIKE!" I shout, red hot anger blinding me for a moment as I begin to sit up again. However, my plans change when my torso doubles up against my knees in pain.
All at once, my medic pack is pushed into my arms.
"Better take some pain killers, or something, before you turn permanently red, like your hair." Kanani's voice is still sarcastic, but this time, I'm not angry.
"Thanks… kid…" I cough, "Already had some. Waiting for it to-"
"Say no more. I'll come check on ya later." Kanani grabs her ipod, which is sitting on a shelf, and waltzes out. Spiky looks down at me before shrugging and following her out.
I lay back and try to follow everyone's advice.
Relax Marillo. Just fucking relax.
…
This shit keeps getting weirder. I'm in a ship with aliens and a dragon… Who's just a kid.
Probably a virgin…
…
Why do dragons always want to eat virgins? Do they taste better then non-virgins?
Heh heh…Heh...
8~8~8~8~8~8
(Weyland Clone POV)
Ever since the last specimen was captured, it seems that all my secret, and most prized projects have self-destructed.
Quite literally.
"Mr. Weyland, sir? Project Hades has just been completed. But bases 661, 2, 3, 4 and 5 are gone."
"It's time for us to prepare to greet our guests." I replied to my second-in-command. He doesn't appear nervous, though many others would be.
"Sir, who is coming first? The army, or the renegades?"
"The army isn't coming. They don't have the technology to detect the location of this base. the renegades however…" I think for a moment. The information on these intergalactic "Hunters" that the first Charles B. Weyland collected has grown considerably in the past few years. I know their technology is far superior to that of human technology. And though I have never been able to match mine with theirs, I will have plenty of defenses for the Hunters who now approach.
It pains me that so much work has been undone by such a varied crew of non-human and human alike. But if this is to be my last stand, then it's going to be a good one.
"Prepare project Hades and Project Cerberus. We'll need the both of them, if we're to greet our guests properly."
"What about the DNA donor?"
"Keep her heavily guarded. Release the Manticore hybrids into that section."
"Yes sir."
8~8~8~8~8~8~8~8
(Lex POV)
In case you're wondering… no.
I didn't actually, uh, make it to third base with Scar. For reasons I'm not going to go into. I gotta say though…
I'm one lucky girl.
(smug grin)
You do the math.
Anyways...
(scowl)
After we destroyed the fifth lab, Spiky set coordinates for the last lab… which is in Antarctica.
Doesn't bring up any unpleasant memories at all… That's sarcasm, by the way.
Something makes me catch my breath, as I stand at the "Star Window" -the room with the big window- Looking at the rushing landscape below me. This is it. After this base… I'm leaving earth.
Good riddance.
But on the other hand… my father and mother are buried here. And I HIGHLY doubt there will be Starbucks back at Scar's hometown.
You can't have it all, Lex.
Whatever happens…
If me and Scar get 'interrupted' one more time, I swear I'm going to shoot something.
As this thought runs through my head though, I suddenly hear this… this insane cackle. I know it's not any of the Hunters, or Kanani, or Rosy…
Kemp?
I gotta see this.
I start speed walking towards the infirmary, joined by Kanani, Rosy, and Psycho. We all stand at the doorway of the infirmary.
…
Kemp has finally gone off the deep end!
8~8~8~8~8~8
(Psycho POV)
After being stuck in an ooman's lab for months, escaping with an ooman who turns out to be a llonng Sain'ja, fighting off cheap hardmeat knock offs and becoming acquainted with the oddest pair of ooman females I have ever seen, I thought that I would no longer be surprised at anything.
I was wrong.
Again.
I stand with Kanani and her kin, watching the ooman healer, who seems to have had a sudden switch in personality, going from hard and bitter to…
Singing.
He's pauk-de singing.
The subject matter of his song, however, gives me further pause, as he flourishes his arms and belts,
A ... Dragon has come to our village today...
We've asked him to leave, but he won't go away...
Now he spoke with the King and they've worked out a deal...
So no homes will he burn, and no crops will he steal...
Now there is but one catch be it slight yet a bunch,
For now twice a year he invites him a virgin to lunch,
Well we've no other choice, so the deal we'll respect,
But we can't help but wonder and pause to reflect...
Do... Virgins taste better than those who are not? Are they salty, or sweet,
or more juicy or what? Do you savor them slowly, or gulp them down on the
spot? Do virgins taste better than those who are not...
I hear a snicker from Kanani, even as Rosy and Lex stiffen, their spines straightening and their breath cutting short. I almost move to shut Kemp up, but he hardly seems to notice us.
Now we'd like to be shed you and many have tried,
But they can't seem to get through your thick scaly hide.
We can't help but hope that some day some brave Knight will come by,
Because we can't wait around till you're too fat to fly...
Now you have such good taste in your women for sure,
They always are pretty, they always are pure,
But your notion of dining, it makes us all flinch,
For your favorite entree is barbequed wench...
Do... Virgins taste better than those who are not? Are they salty, or sweet,
more juicy or what? Do you savor them slowly, or gulp 'em down on the spot? Do
virgins taste better than those who are not...
? I am pauk-de confused.
Rosy whispers, "What the hell is wrong with him?"
Now we've found a solution, it works out so neat,
If you insist on nothing but virgins to eat,
No more will out number ever grow small,
We'll simply make sure there's no virgins at all...
Do... Virgins taste better than those who are not? Are they salty, or sweet,
more juicy or what? Do you savor them slowly, or gulp 'em down on the spot? Do
virgins taste better than those who are not...
What the- Kanani is recording this with her music device. Her shoulders are shaking so hard, and her heart is beating rapidly from her shortness of breath.
Rosy finally blurts, "WHAT IN THE NAME OF A FUCKING LATTE?"
The ooman medic looks over at us for the first time. His lips pull back in the most idiotic expression I have ever seen and his eyes light up as he looks at Kanani, "Hey, 'Nani! Yer a dragon, an, yer a virgin too, right? Can ya answer ma queshun?"
She walks over to him, holding up her ipod as she chuckles, "Not really. I've never developed a taste for humans period."
And then, pauk me, she turns to Rosy, her own mother, and asks, "Hey, ma, did Dad ever give you any hints about the answer to Kemp's question?"
A strangled noise erupts from Kanani's mother. For a second, I think of backing away, as I am closest to her at this moment. But instead, she turns and stomps away. Lex quietly speaks, "Knock him out, Psycho. PLEASE."
At this moment, however, Kemp passes out, all by himself.
Kanani giggles.
"Man, I love this guy! We should make sure to give him morphine more often!"
"M-morphine?" Lex stammers, the confusion and anger suddenly gone.
Kanani raises a brow.
"You guys seriously had no freakin' idea? We forgot to give him a painkiller, he took some of his own morphine and got pauk-de high on it! And now, I can blackmail him whenever I want to!" She giggles as she starts playing the recording back. Lex starts chuckling as she turns and walks off, to find Rosy, I guess.
I shake my head.
Paya, that's it. I will never cease to be surprised by any of them.
At this moment, I trip. Don't ask me how I tripped, but I did, falling over on top of Kanani.
She gives a small yelp, but does nothing to stop our fall, as we hit the ground. Her ipod falls from her hand and hits the floor.
"RAPH!"
Scrambling madly, Kanani wriggles out from under me and scoops up her ipod.
She stares at it before letting loose a long screech.
"NOOOOOOOO! PSYCHOOOO!"
"What?" I bark.
"YOU MADE ME ERASE THE RECORDING!"
…
Pauk me. I gotta run. She looks like she may decide to find the answer to Kemp's question by devouring ME!
Man... I thought I'd never get this chapter done. (head-desk) To all who have been waiting, I hope it was worth the wait!
Now, Kemp's song and the idea behind Kemp getting all woozy over Morphine was Kalthar's idea! Kalthar heard the song and suggested that little scenario be written, which I obviously decided to go ahead with. Kalthar also helped with tidying the dialogue, putting in amazing Star Trek references that were AWESOME and doing the overall editing and proofreading.
Kalthar;
YOU ROCK, DUDE! Thanks so much for all your awesome help!
Now...
SHOUT OUT!
TO ALL REVIEWERS: Thank you, ALL of you! I get so excited every time I read a new review, and you guys are all extremely encouraging!
Jinxed just in Time: He smacked her rear. *grins* and interestingly enough, the fighter pilots delayed Psycho's punishment.
HuntressOfTheWeird: I'm still alive! I'm still alive! HAHAHAHAHA-CoughHACKwheeeze... ahem. Yes. I am here. And I hope you enjoy this chapter! :)
D'Fuentes: Thank you, thank you *bows deeply*
Dra9onf7yz: I loved those parts too! Thanks so much for your review!
weirdCOMBO: heh, yep, Spiky was DEFINITELY pissed off. :)
Andi-1990: I'm sorry, but I hope you haven't given up on me! Thanks for the encouragement!
Ice Ranger Demon: lol, me too! writing it down NOW!... after I publish this chapter anyways.
SesshiraRayu: Lol you bet!
AnimeDreama: lol, thanks, my friend!
Horser01: Thank you for your kind words! Am very flattered! And dude, sorry but no can do on the favor, I'd miss you too much to allow you to be eaten by Xenos. :) I like hyper reviews, they're funny!
midnight848118: Thanks for your review! ^_^ and I'll try to write fast, cause that;'s 'zactly what *I* would like to find out. ;)
LynxbyLynx: I'm sorry bout your plot bunnies, but thanks for reading and reviewing so encouragingly, my friend!
XLR8OIN: Thanks so much for your review, friend! I';m also happy to hear that the Alert is working! ^_^ And thank you for updating YOUR story, I can't wait to read that last chapter!
Lady Augustin: Thanks, I'm glad to be back as well, just sorry that it took so long for me to update again. thanks for your review!
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TO ALL WHO HAVE READ, REVIEWED, FAV'D OR PUT ON ALERT: THAAAAAANK YOUUUUUU!