Chapter 7: Pandemonium
Ke'varde was surprised by her reaction. Letting her go slowly he uncloaked looking her over. He was not happy with what he saw; she had a busted lip, a black eye forming, bruises on her throat and a few on her arms, not to mention the fact that she had blood on her shirt. Cocking his head to the side he thrilled quietly in question and indulged his impulse to caress her bruised throat with his fingers.
Hul'sin and Ek'tan watched the exchange in amusement. Glancing at each other they both moved down the passage to check out the activity in the chamber beyond, giving them a little privacy. Not that those two noticed.
Understanding what he was asking about Cat took his hand in hers squeezing it reassuringly she whispered "I'm ok really" grinning mischievously she added "I didn't know you cared so much Stripes" Releasing his hand she just got what she thought was an un-amused grunt. Watching him walk away from her she couldn't help admiring his figure. Blushing she slapped a hand over her eyes. "Don't be an idiot Cat he's not even your species!" glancing through her fingers she groaned "Dear lord I could probably bounce a brick off of those thighs" Shaking her head at her thoughts she followed her friends.
Seeing that the hard meat queen had her arms and tail already free they would have to move quickly. Moving back to the passage Hul'sin leaned his head to the side motioning to Cat. Joining him she watched as he pointed to his weapon and then to her, asking silently if she had anything to fight with. Nodding Cat took the gun from behind the waistband of her pants showing it to him. Shaking his head he clicked to Ke'varde "The ooman has only the burner to fight with. It will be useless. She needs something more affective."
Nodding the hunter thought for a second then reached for the holster on his left side producing a cylindrical piece of metal that looked like a soda can to Cat, it sure wasn't much bigger than one with what looked like wire running from the top to bottom. Presenting it he motioned to her to pay attention. Her curiosity peaked Cat watched with interest.
Gripping the object Ke'varde motioned to an almost invisible button on its side. Pressing down on it Cat jumped back startled watching the bottom and top elongate outward slightly and from them one long rod extend on each side. Fascinated she saw that the wire lengthened to a certain point then the rods bended making a bow. Taking it from him she felt it was as light as a feather, inspecting it more closely she could see the rods were thicker at the base, thinning until they reached the wire. They were also tear shaped, the thin parts turned outward, putting a finger to it she cut herself barely feeling it whispering with admiration "Ooo me like"
Grunting he reached for a strap around his shoulder taking it off, showing her another cylinder. Opening this one he took out a broad-headed arrow with three blades. Taking the bow from her he positioned the arrow. When the arrow touched the cylinder of the bow three laser dots in a triangle appeared on the wall opposite the hunter. Removing the arrow he gave it to her pointing to the head. Looking closely she saw three small rods lying parallel to the shaft between the blades, they were twice the length of the arrowhead. She had a pretty good idea what the little rods were for. When the arrow imbedded itself the rods would pop up making it impossible to pull out without doing some serous internal damage. "This thing is so cool" Grinning up at him like an idiot she nodded. Strapping the cylinder with arrows to her back she took the bow and arrow from him and whispered "I always wanted a toy like this." thrilling slightly in amusement the hunter nodded moving a few paces back.
Hul'sin watched the ooman admire her new weapon chuckling silently he commented "She seems quite taken by it" himself deciding on his whip for this battle. Ek'tan was ready with his combistick extended at his side saying doubtfully "Yes, but can she use it?" Ke'varde took out his two shurikens extending the blades growling "She seems familiar with the weapon type. She will be fine." Hearing another shriek from the chamber they knew it was time. Cloaking again they motioned to Cat that she would be going in last, with Hul'sin leading the way and the other two hunters in-between. Taking their positions they moved into the chamber silently.
The queen was almost free, all that held her back were the chains attached to her legs. The drone trying to free her was getting weaker from the loss of blood, but still it would not stop until its mother was completely free of her bindings. Sensing movement coming from the opening of the chamber the queen shrieked her displeasure at the party moving in ready for the final confrontation. Ordering her drones to defend her at all costs she tugged at her chains.
The hunters spread out across the room each watching the drones move away from their queen shrieking and hissing. The drone with the missing tail tip jumped from its mothers back ready to attack the intruders. Each drone crouched low to the ground clawing the air, swinging their tails from side to side, aggressively posturing in front of their mother, shielding her, their reason to live.
Cat stayed behind them as her friends moved forward, sticking to the wall she readied her bow. The Predators roared at the drones provoking them into action. The drone in the middle charged at Ek'tan leaping into the air with the intention to tackle the hunter to the floor. Cat saw her chance as it jumped following it with her laser she let the arrow fly straight into the beasts chest making it loose it's focus. The hunter took the opportunity and swiped the spear he was holding impaling the hard meat as it was sailing in his direction and throwing it over himself in the oomans direction. Surprised Cat threw herself out of its way, getting up she glared at Ek'tans back "Watch it Brownie!" The beast struck the wall. The impact pushed her arrow through, parts of its guts with it. Watching it for a second she smirked yelling "One down!"
Grabbing another arrow she pointed it at the drone Hul'sin was fighting. The predator was good with the whip keeping the drone at a distance at first, toying with it. She admired his skill, never being as good with one herself. The whip was made of some kind of stitched thin metal when it cracked the beast it left a long deep gash in its wake. Pointing her arrow she targeted the beast's side being patient for an opening when the Predator would block her view for a second then move away. Getting her chance she let it fly satisfied when it hit the mark perfectly "I love this thing" The drone hissed faltering in its attack when the arrow imbedded itself in its hide. Hul'sin flicked his whip gripping the shaft sticking out of the hard meat. Yanking he pulled the arrow out leaving a huge hole where the rods flared open in its side. The hard meat fell to its knees tossing its head in agony, the Predator raised his arm rotating his weapon in the air, flicking it in the drones direction it wrapped around its neck. Pulling on it he watched the drones head fly off its body landing a few feet away its mouth hanging open, its body convulsed then fell lifeless to the floor.
The last drone left was in a fight with Ke'varde. This one being cut up piece by piece by the hunters shurikens. Already it was missing its arm and lower jaw. The Predator ran at the hard meat with a shuriken in each hand the drone meeting him half way. Raising its tail it aimed for his head striking repeatedly once getting lucky and grazing his helmet. Ke'varde crouched low avoiding the tail swinging his arm in an arc above his head he severed almost half of it. With the other he severed both of the drones legs in one fell swoop. Rising from his position he watched the thing thrash on the ground. As he was turning from the drone to move past it he almost stepped in the path of an arrow whizzing past him into the drones head. "Pauk!" Growling he turned to Cat hearing her mutter "Oops! Sorry!" ducking her head and avoiding looking at him.
The Queen feeling the connection severed with her young was enraged beyond measure, throwing back her head she let loose a shrill wail so loud it shook the walls of the chamber. Detaching from her egg sack she moved forward with force not caring if the last chains chocked her. Yanking twice more the last two chains holding her at bay were broken. Flinging her tail she charged at one of the hunters with a screech!
Hul'sin dove rolling away from her pounding feet and snapping inner mouth, jumping up he snapped his whip wrapping it around her lower leg almost getting dragged behind her. Planting his feet he held fast. The queen stopped in her tracks, turning and swiped at him. Three dots focused on her chest followed by arrow after arrow from Cat. Ek'tan threw his spear into her side roaring. At the same time Ke'varde threw both his shurikens slicing the back of her crown and a few of her spikes clean off.
The queen stood up to her full height, hissing she swiveled around knocking her huge spiked tail into the hunter holding her a bay with his whip throwing him into the one that threw the disks both of which flew across the room and into a wall making a hole through it. Feeling another sting she turned to the smallest being, watching it let loose another arrow. Running at it she almost caught it but the being took off into the tunnel it came from with the hunters.
The black beast tried clawing into the tunnel Cat was in, desperately trying to reach her. Cat scrambled back out of her grasp in panic; firing another arrow at it she followed up by swiping her claws with her razor sharp bow cutting two of them off. "That's for my friends you black bitch!"
The beast distracted by the ooman was Ek'tans opportunity. Doing a running jump he landed on the hard meats back with his wristblades extended, thrusting them in as deeply as he could. The hard meat reared up trying to shake him off; when that didn't work she slammed herself against the nearest wall. Ek'tan roared in pain at the impact he could feel the bone in his right leg break in at least two places. The queen still feeling him on her back slammed herself again, this time the hunter heard his wrist bones snapping. Not being able to hold on any longer he was thrown off completely when she reared again. Slamming his head into the wall he slid down unconscious probably with a cracked scull.
Hearing a faint growling from behind the broken wall where two of her friends unwillingly busted through and seeing that the beast was distracted, Cat tried making a run past her for Hul'sin and Ke'vardes location. Not being fast enough she was noticed by the queen who swung her good claws at her catching her in the side. Screaming in agony Cat was thrown almost the length of the chamber. Slamming on her side into the stone floor rolling she could feel some of her ribs cracking maybe even braking. Trying to get up the pain was so intense she blacked out instantly.
Getting up painfully Ke'varde saw the ooman being thrown, roaring enraged he could see only red. Charging at the beast he jumped at her extending his combistick stabbing it through the queens neck. The beast howled swiping him to the ground and pinning him underneath her claws two of which were stabbed through his shoulders. Feeling this was his end he was surprised when another roar rent the deafening silence. Turning his head to the side he saw Hul'sin bleeding from the open wound on his back running to Cats bow, the hunter severed the wire making the razor sharp rods point straight out. Running at the hard meat Hul'sin jumped at the last possible moment stabbing the rod into the top of her scull using his weight to pull it down towards her mouth almost cleaving her head in half. The queen felt her death was imminent in her last act of defiance to the hunters she used her tail and stabbed her razor tip into the Yautjas back. The same place he was stabbed before. Hul'sin didn't even roar in pain just growled in anger "Pauk-de hard meat! Die!" using his last ounce of strength to put his wristblade through her mouth to her brain.
Both remained motionless for a few seconds in this position. Ke'varde would remember it for the rest of his days. Both hunter and prey fell to the floor unmoving. The hunt was finished…at the cost of a great warrior.
Removing the dead queens claws from his shoulders with a pained roar he moved to Hul'sins side. Though he was saddened by his friend's death it was one worthy of him "Paya will embrace you in this glory my honored friend" Kneeling down he took his friends wrist bomb in his hands setting the timer and removing a chip. Laying it down between the hard meat and Hul'sins body he opened the queens mouth ripping out her inner one. He would give it to the Elder in honor of his friend. Getting up he moved to the ooman. Checking from his visor she had a few broken ribs and three deep slashes in her side. Picking her up he positioned her over his shoulder gripping her legs. Hearing a groan on the other side of the chamber he moved toward it.
Ek'tan was in pain but he would survive "Cjit this hurts" Looking around everything was swimming but he did see the queen was dead, beside her his fellow hunter lay motionless "What happened? Is he?" Seeing Ke'varde nod he was proud of his seniors accomplishment, sad that he was gone and also irritated that he missed all the action, that the kill wasn't his. Getting up was a bit difficult but he managed with Ke'vardes help. The hunter growled "We need to get going I already set the timer" Glancing back one last time they departed for the main exit.
Reaching the cruiser they landed in, Ke'varde strapped in the ooman first putting an oxygen mask over her nose and mouth so she could breathe. Turning he then helped Ek'tan into his seat. Taking his place behind the controls he started the silent engines sending the message that they were on their way back to the Elders ship asking that the healer be ready to receive them. Taking off, after a minute he could see the blue flash of the whristbomb exploding behind them in a ten mile radius. It would erase any and all traces of his kind or the hard meats ever being there. The forest would grow back in time; it will be as if nothing ever happened, untouched, pristine.
Nearing the ship he received the signal that the docking bay was open and ready. Landing a bit roughly he waited for the docking bay doors to close before he opened the hatch and jumped out. The Elder was waiting for them with the healer at his side. Motioning to Ek'tan two younger warriors helped him out. Reaching into the cruiser Ke'varde lifted Cat into his arms, taking a deep breath he turned to the Elder and healer.
Seeing an unconscious ooman female in the hunters arms the Elder was speechless for a minute not sure if he was seeing things in his old age. Snapping out of his shock he growled "What in Paya's name is an ooman doing aboard my ship!"