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The next one was bagged easily when the vessel landed on it, several Predators complaining to the pilot who laughed heartily at them all while claiming the kill.
Ianto was first off on the rooftop of the next location, a high rise building that he knew was going to be both fun and bloody annoying as the Predators started trying to smash the domed skylights.
"Stop being bloody twits" Ianto demanded as he strode to the door and turned the handle, opening it with ease, "these new ones have a feature so you can't get locked up here. You need to calm down or you will run right past one."
"Rumtuck is correct" Maddy crowed, "Heddor, you lost your toe to one that way."
"Did not" a large black one defended himself, "I deliberately used it as bait!"
They all roared with laughter and then Ianto watched with horror as the tail barb of an Alien struck Heddor from behind exiting his lower stomach region as his eyes locked onto Ianto's. He had been Rumtuck's friend, they had sparred and grown together and in that moment Ianto gladly gave himself to the rush of anger, surging forward to slice the bard off while yanking his friend towards him, the Alien blood quarterising the would as it was expelled from the tail, the Alien now screaming as it writhed in a ball, trying to catch its own tail.
"Motherfucker!" Ianto screamed, leaping onto it and Maddy barked a warning as they tumbled over the edge of the building, slamming into the balcony of the upper floor, which gave with the weight once Maddy leapt on top of them both, then they plummeted down to the next level…the next…the next….
Big Red leapt, his arms wide as he sailed over the abyss like he was diving into a river, his hand snatching at the Alien's tail as it flicked out into the air and they were all freefalling now, Ianto's whoop of surprise drowned out by the wail of the Alien as it was forced beneath the strong Predators and it smashed into the roof of a car, crushing it down as the tyres burst, all of them laying there stunned.
"Ouch" Ianto muttered as he released his hold and slithered to the ground to sit winded.
Maddy tore the Alien's bottom jaw off, exposing the second mouth and her fist slammed into it as Big Red removed himself and knelt by Rumtuck.
"Rummy?"
"Just winded" Ianto panted, "Fucking whore. That was fun."
The Predator laughed, deep and unnerving, "Wanna go again?"
"Not as much fun when you know the kicker at the end" Ianto said as he now straightened and accepted the large arm for support, "Maddy? You got it sister?"
"I share this kill with my brothers" she said grandly as she stepped from the poor crushed car, "We all eat tonight."
She then slapped the Alien mouth/tongue over her shoulder and walked off as the two men watched her go.
"I am NOT eating that" Ianto spluttered, "I have no idea where that's been."
Big Red turned to look down at the one in his brother's armour and he blinked, then threw his head back as he barked with mirth. Rumtuck. Always so silly in the heat of battle, he had missed him.
"Come on big fella" Ianto slapped him on the shoulder still unaware that he was talking to a family member, "Lets catch that one before she gets too many kills ahead of us. We would never hear the end of it"
"We never do" Big Red said as he followed without a second thought, Rumtuck always the one to lead.
Maddy turned to watch them approach, their matched stride and swagger despite the size difference and her heart soared as her brothers flanked her. A unit.
She glanced down and saw Rumtuck had procured a souvenir from the first kill of the day, the Alien's tail tip joining the back dew claw of the bucking Alien. He always likes trophies, of all her brothers he was the one who liked to keep count, count crow.
Ianto flashed a smile at her as he brushed past, stepping onto the vessel's lowered ramp and holding out his hand. Maddy reached for it, slapping her hand onto his forearm as he slammed up to grasp hers. Ianto pulled her onboard as they started to rise and Big Red watched as Maddy slid around to hug Ianto from behind for a moment before heading into the bowels of the vessel for a drink.
He would not have believed it. If someone had told him that his brother might live on in another creature he would never have envisaged one so small, fragile and…blood thirsty.
He liked this one.
Rumtuck always was a bit rabid in battle.
Some things never change.