Chapter four: The red dawn.
The trees are all deep red, the sky is of a yellow shade, the grass a maroon red. With what appears to be ruins of sorts. There isn't enough oxygen on planet so Nina and Danny along with Shane use either biomasks or armour. The three of us yautja get sorted out to go down planetside. "Taake weaponss jusst in casse.." Uzkielle says. Nina takes her combi stick, wrist blade and smart disc. And Danny takes a combi stick and a smaller smart disc. Uzkielle decides on a combi stick as does Osh'ikeille. Shane comes out in the armour. And i take just my sword and plasma pistol. We head for the Scorpion. And fly down while the Lar'ja N'ritja stays in orbit. As we land Shane leans in on my chair, "What will we find down there?" He asks. I slowly shake my head. "I don't know thwei'mei.. But we best be careful." The ship lands with a whir as the engines shut off.
"Danny.. Remember the ruuless.." Osh'ikeille says. "Yes father i know.."
As the ramp lowers we are hit by a swirl of red dust. I wrap a hand around Shanes waist as i walk past bringing up my pistol and leaving first.
Danny gasps "Neens is she going to use her sword on some ogres?" I turn around.
"What's an ogre?"
"Nevermind Ghardeh my love." Nina says. "Danny just word vomming again."
Everyone steps out and look around. I've left a set of clawed footprints in the red dust from my clawed boots.
There is a gentle breeze.
Shane walks up to me as I lower the weapon and holster it along my lower back on my magnetic belting, we all walk up to the yellowed stone plinth, the stone column is at least thirty feet tall. We carry on and Danny walks up to one of the trees, his armour is very angular at the shoulders, he has a crimson red chest piece that covers his chest abdomen and sides with d'lex and his back is fully protected. His hands are in clawed gauntlets and feet are in bladed boots He turns to Nina as he touches a tree and a string of amber sticky goo pulls away.. "Ewww reminds me of melted mozzarella.."
"Doo noT Touch.. WIll caussee arrmourr corrosion.." Uzkielle says. "Oh.. Snap!" Danny wipes his hand on the floor but Osh'ikeille rumbles a laugh.
"Mei'hswei.. Dte. Iss fiine Daanny.."
"Uz lets out a snort and shakes his head then walks ahead..
We walk on when Osh holds up an armored hand, the brothers are both wearing a full body armour set just like me, theirs is silverish with deep greys, except mine is more ornate and almost black, i decided to stick with the full armour. Even after repairing my old armour. But 'Black Angel' is now dead so i refuse to wear it. Osh'ikeille and Uz crouch as we catch glimpse of a herd of animals..
Danny crouch walks up to Uz as does Nina and Shane as he signals them over. We are on an overpass..
Osh'ikeille puts a hand on Shane's shoulder and points "R'jet." He says.
They are a docile type of animal that resemble a goat..
We move further on. We carry on when we come to a cave. "Can we go in?" Danny asks.
"Sei-i." Osh'ikeille says. Walking towards it.
We enter and Shane stops.
"I can't go in there.. I'm claustrophobic."
"Keh Shaane?" Uzkielle asks walking up to him and crouching slightly.
"Shane is afraid of tight spaces Uzkielle.. Claustrophobia.. It's a… Fear.. Of tight spaces." His head turns from Nina and then locks on Shane… He lets out a growl he lowers to Shanes level, "M-di… H'dlak… Shaane.."
Shane looks.. "No… Fear?"
Uzkielle nods.. "You.. Should noT.. Fear.. TiighT sspaacess.."
Shane nods.. "I'll try.." Shane takes the first step. Uzkielle stands up as he takes another as Nina looks at Danny and Uzkielle "Sei-i Mei'hswei.. Waalk on.." We follow the two as we make our way in. The cave is large in the entrance but as we delve deeper Shane almost freezes, there is a tight squeeze ahead. I am literally feeling the spikes of Shane's anxiety flare.. His heart rate is quickening.. I see him tense up and clench his fists.. As we hold back, Shane slowly enters the tight crevice and walks on.. His heart rate climbs and he begins to swear. Then silence.. I go in after him and though it was seconds it would have been forever to him. We all make it, then we see why Shane is silent.. Between us is a drop and the next area. It looks like there isn't a way across and Danny looks..
Nina runs and jumps she makes it. Shane runs, jumps and makes it also the brothers both jump and land. Danny and i remain. "I can't make that jump Sky." Without warning i grab him and jump with him in my grip. "Skyyy!" We land and i put him down.
We walk on and find a winding path of rock, we follow it and find it has indeed been mined. Shane releases his blades as we enter a small cavern he saw something and the noise of the blades echoes around the cavern.
"What did you seee Shaane? Uz asks approaching him from behind.
"I don't know.. But i didn't like it.."
He looks at Uzkielle "It looked like a giant.. Bug.."
Without warning we all unleashed our weapons. And walk on.. "Shane.. Was it black and did it have a tail and large head?" Nina asks. He snorts a laugh.. "Hahaha! You all got fooled!" With a roar Uzkielle shoves Shane aside and we all stand down.
"NoT funny.. Pauk'n Zabin.." Uzkielle says growling as he walks past.
"Right what is a zabin..?"
"Insect." Nina says. We all carry on.
Following the path around. We come across a large tundra like cavern.. But this is huge.. The ceiling is at least 70-80 ft high. With glowing turquoise growths we see far and wide.. This place is huge.. "Whoa.. This reminds me of Blackreach in Skyrim Neens.."
She nods. "It does indeed soot sprite.."
We walk on and even my eyes widen.. A grey city long lost to the ages sits nestled in the middle of the cavern.. Its fires still burning. With rock as old as the cavern itself.. Suddenly as we near it there is a noise and this time we see Shane's cyan laser train on something, his caster unfolds and we definitely reach for our weapons this time.. Nina grabs Danny and holds him closer to Osh'ikeille. Several creatures run out with weapons in their hands. Waving them around. I watch as Shane releases his wrist blades and stances. But the creatures stop just several metres in front… One of the creatures speaks in a strangled gargle "Yautja?"
Our universal translators kick in. "Why have you come here..?"
Our masks detect the correct language and Shane.. Is the first to talk.. As he does so his helmet matches the language patterns so they can understand him. "We mean you no harm.. We are just exploring.. If you wish for us to leave we shall with no bloodshed.."
Uzkielle tilts his head at Shane and retracts his blades.
"Four yautja and two unknown creatures.."
"Three yautja.. And three humans.."
"But.. You are yautja.." Shane presses a button on his gauntlet and holds his breath. His helmet fold outward revealing his face.. They all gasp and one walks up to Shane but Uzkielle snarls at it. The creature doesn't take heed and as Shane's helmet closes up it touches his armour. Then excitedly walks back in a giddy manner..
"You.. You come.. Come yautja human.. Shane looks at Uz and holds his shoulder. They are small creatures they have a small slender build but their eyes are wide and large.. They wear strange robe-like garbs.
"Deaunali.." One looks at Nina..
"Yes.. Human.. We are.. Deaunali.."
"Wait.. Like Eve?" Danny asks.
"Sei-i Danny like Eve.." Osh'ikeille says. "Lets go." I say as i follow Shane and Uzkielle.
I find it pleasant that Uzkielle is making sure Shane is alright.
It makes me smile..
When we first landed on the Lar'ja N'ritja, when Uz.. Almost killed me. Shane and Uz were borderline vehement towards each other.. It took Shane a while to fully forgive him and one night when Shane was drunk he told Uzkielle exactly what he thought. Lest to say Uzkielle grabbed him by the throat and roared in his face but Shane showed absolutely no fear and even punched him in the face. It should have ended with Shane's neck being snapped but instead.. Uzkielle let him go and stormed off. I had no part in that moment, whether i was there or not he would not hesitate to kill Shane for that. I remember Shane storming after him but i grabbed him, that was one battle he wouldn't win. But the next day.. Uz changed towards him after i found and told Uz what Shane did in the bunker. Helping Riz.. Killing yautja. Standing by me the whole time. Shane found it confusing, however Osh regarded Shane in a way very highly.. But Osh'ikeille has always been the level headed of the two. Should anything happen to them.. They know Shane would protect Nina and Danny.. Like Ra'zele asked me.. One time.. His deep growly voice echoing in my mind. "Ghardeh i have a job for you should the need arise.."
The memory hits me..
While on the clan ship the Dawn breaker i am alerted by a clan member that Ra'zele requires my immediate attention, him and i have history and always regarded each other as close friends. I walk to the hologram and see his mask fill the screen.
"Ra'zele? You require my assistance?"
"Sei-i.. A human.. Called Nina.. Mate to Heavens Spite and Starbreaker, has asked for my help keeping her children safe.. Should the need arise.."
"How many do we speak of?"
"Three.. Two yautja and one young human child.. I gave her your name Ghardeh.. I know your history with humans, your fascination with them.."
"You were right to do so friend.. I won't fail.. What do you wish for me to do?"
"Nina wants her children safe.. If she fails in her task.."
"Killing the world eater? I am already on the way Ra'zele we are several jumps away. I will have a ship on standby to take her children to safety in case the mission turns awry have a separate comms signal at the ready codename 'Black Angel'.."
"Good good.. That's why i asked you.. Straight on with it without so much as a doubt.. I have told her about you she wanted to know exactly who and what you are. I of course gave you a glowing recommendation without equal Ghardeh.. She trusts you."
"Thank you Ra'zele, i won't let you or Nina down maybe I'll see her face to face.."
Ra'zele nods on the hologram.
"See you soon, N'dhi-ja Sain'ja."
"N'dhi-ja Ra'zele.."
I blink several times and find myself following Uzkielle.
Shane follows the Deaunali and we enter a room with a roaring fire.
"Feel free to explore our city.. We rarely get visitors.. If at all. We apologise for the hostility earlier but we have had run ins with other yautja who aren't as favorable may we ask your.. Names?"
Shane looks at us.
"My name is Shane, this is Ghardeh my mate and bloodkin. Uzkielle and Osh'ikeille.. Who are mated to Nina.
This is Nina and this is Danny, Ninas brother.."
They look at Ghardeh, you are bloodkin and mate to a human.. What grounds are you bound..?"
"Family."
"But you are not human.. He is not yautja.. Therefore you are not family." i frown. "Yes we are.." He looks at Uzkielle and Osh'ikeille who are beginning to tense with the deaunalis choice words.
"And what of you? He laughs. You are mated to a human also? Since when has this be-"
My eyes blink.. In a flash Uzkielle grabs the deaunali by the throat and lifts him off the ground.. No not Uzkielle.. Shane.. the others raise their weapons at Shane and put their spears touching his armour. Uzkielle and Osh'ikeille do nothing.. Nina and Danny take a step back. "Enough.. This is not acceptable. Tell Your guards to stand down.." Shane brings up his wrist blade to the deaunalis face. "Or i'll create a new hole to breathe out of in your face."
"Do as he says.. I apologise Shane."
He releases his grip.. "You are very.. Protective.."
The guards move back and their aggressive looks slowly turn back to a passive one.
"With that aside.. What were you all doing in this cavern?"
"Explorring." Uzkielle says abruptly.
He is still steaming with the deaunalis remark just a moment ago..
Before anything else can arise i walk up to Shane and hold his shoulder.
"We must be going.. Thank you for your hospitality…"
Shane turns to me.. Something is wrong..
"No i think I'll stay Ghardeh.. There are things i need to see." Uzkielle walks up to Shane he senses it almost immediately but as he approaches, Shane lifts his arm and fires an emp flechette at Uz, Osh'ikeille roars and aims his caster. Nina rushes in with her combi stick as Osh fires there is a large yellow-orange shimmer just in front of Shane, i look at the floor to see the curved indenture of a shield barrier.
Uzkielle rips out the flechettes and storms up to Shane as the deaunali take his hand and make him walk with them.
"We will take good care of the human and remove the technology that will help us greatly.. Then you can have him back.. If it doesn't kill him.."
Uzkielle is upon the forcefield and pushes against it. His arm and shoulder pass through but an invisible force smashes him back with a roar and slides across the floor..
"We should noT have come here.." he growls.
Danny notices something and runs to investigate.. He sees an orb of some kind which is glowing orange as well on a broad goblet shaped stand. He picks it up but is sent flying towards the cliff edge i sprint and slide grabbing Danny as Nina shouts his name in pure fear. I get up and notice a deaunali behind us in an alcove creating telekinesis throws, i reach for my pistol still holding danny and fire. It falls forward and into the abyss below. Uzkielle throws himself into the forcefield again he gets his whole arm and shoulder in but his clawed boots begin to dig into the rocky surface and with a roar he gives up.
Danny holds the orb and throws it.. It would have been funny had we not be in immediate danger but the orb flies just a few feet and rolls.. Uzkielle picks the orb up in one giant hand and stands back.. With a grunt he throws the orb with his full strength the orb shatters with a boom and suddenly the forcefield shrinks back.. I run back to the stand but it no longer has an orb.
"There Mei-jadhi."
Osh'ikeille points upward to where i shot the invalid. I sprint and jump grab onto the ledge and haul up with one arm i grab the orb and land with a slight thud and throw the orb at the forcefield once more.. It shrinks back further but still not enough..
"Pauk!" I say with a tensed arm. Osh'ikeille sees the next one.. He digs his wrist blades into the rock and climbs up he takes the orb and throws it on his way down. With a crack and boom. The forcefield overloads and we run further in to see fire projectiles thrown at us. I slide into cover.
"Fuck this!" I hear Danny shout he grabs his smart disk and throws it at one of the deaunali. It slices into it killing the creature then flies back to Danny's grasp.
"Give me back my uncle you bug eyed bastards!"
Uz fires his caster causing major damage to one of the towers. We move on and i ping Shanes position he is in front of us.. We run towards him but I'm attacked by a force i barely see. Nina dropkicks whatever it is but it grabs her leg and throws her further into the area Uzkielle shoulder smashes into the force but is thrown over it's shoulder Osh fires his caster and my eyes widen as a figure of a yautja slowly blurs.. I grab its arm and press its gauntlet it kicks me away.. It's Shane.. Uzkielle gets up and grabs Shane in a neck lock. He smashes Shane in the back of the knee sending him down and there is a strange metallic buckling with beeping coming from the armour. The beeping chimes faster but Uzkielle is ripped from Shanes grasp and thrown almost into Nina. Shane grabs me but i throw him back.
"Shane.. Stop this it isn't you!"
He aims a rocket at my head and fires. My shield kicks in as the explosion hits me sending me flying backwards. My ears ring i see Danny crouched over me..
"Shane needs fear..." He says giving me my pistol back..
I look at Uzkielle and speak in our language.. A first..
"Uzkielle.. Hiju Thei-de Mei'shan.. Mo Shane.."
He looks at me then changes his stance with his wrist blades.. I aim my pistol at Shane and fire as he aims more rockets and fires i jump, they miss and Uzkielles dives onto the armoured enemy. Nina looks as Uz raises his arm. But Shane throws him off.
"ENOUGH OF THIS!" Nina shouts.
She runs up to Shane. But he grabs her and lifts her silently. As he holds her i push the rune on his gauntlet and release his helmet. His eyes are completely black.. Like he is being.. Controlled.. He gasps for air as the atmosphere has little oxygen from the scan we did on the Lar'ja N'ritja. Shane releases her and struggles to breathe he closes his eyes clawing at something.. Trying to find his helmet. Suddenly i feel.. Him.. I quickly press his gauntlet and his helmet folds over. He let's in a huge intake of air heaving with breath…
"Motherfucker!" He shouts.
He turns around and sprints towards the opening and we barely keep up. He disappeared and we lose him. However we do hear explosions and shouting coming from above..
(Shane's pov in his mind.)
"Those motherfuckers.. How could i be so stupid. The moment i felt that tingle something was wrong i should have turned back. I nearly put my whole family in jeopardy.. No not me.. That little bastard inside my head.. I'll gut them, how dare they violate my mind in such an intrusive way.. They want this technology? I'll give them a personal demonstration.. I'll kill them dead.."
Author note: Deaunali that have gone insane? This is madness! And pissing off the family is not the way to go! Things are now going to get interesting indeed. Stay awesome people, welcome to 2019. Yautja words below!
Yautja words.
Thwei-Blood.
Mei- Kin.
Dte- Tree.
Mei'hswei- Brother.
Mei'jadhi- Sister.
R'jet- Docile animal.
M-di- No.
H'dlak- Fear.
Sei-i- Yes.
Pauk'n- F^cking.
Zabin- Insect.
N'dhi'ja- Farewell/Goodbye.
Hiju- Fighting position, the proper position to disembowel another.
Thei-de- Kill.
Mei'shan- Enemy.
Mo- Not.
Lar'ja- Dark.
N'ritja- Dance.
Keh- What. (Non-cannon my own word.)
Yautja- Predator species. (Guuh!)