Alien vs. Predator
The Human Element.
Chapter 1
The world was starting to lose hope...
In the 12 months that followed Cutter's sacrifice, the remaining humans moved over the seas, gathering together in Dover to form a strong hold for the upcoming 'Last Stand as many had dubbed it and while it seemed to be little use fighting, news was spreading that most of the Xenomorphs in Antarctica were starting to make structures of some kind, as were the Xenomorphs in Manhattan as, if they were preparing for something, there was also a lot of Xenomorph activity in Paris and London, many believed it was a fourth Queen making her nest, but reports stated it was more like the Xenomorphs were digging.
Jackal continued to work on his small project while Shara divided her time between supply runs, training herself and cleaning Cutter's weapons, after the bomb went off in the Queen's nest, his wrist blades and his Plasma Caster were recovered and Jackal had set them in Cutter's room.
Shara hadn't come out of her room for almost a week after that, but everyone heard her crying.
Almost a year had passed since then and now at the age of 16, Shara was still plagued by nightmares and her use of her left arm was still limited, she was starting to learn more of the Yautja language, Jackal had often caught her at night using mirrors to reflect light and make targets like Cutter had and training herself.
It became common to see Shara carrying Cutter's mask with her at all times, sometimes even looking at the mask and lost in deep thought.
"Shara?" she looked up as Mark stood by the door holding a pair large bags and a set of keys. "Ready to go?" he asked.
Shara nodded. "Who's with us?" she asked slipping her helmet on to her head and put Cutter's mask on her side and then slid on her armour and weapons.
"Dutch, Marco, Sonia, Matthew and Ken." Mark said.
"Mei'hsweis and Mei-jadhis! Hear me!" a loud, echoing voice roared and every Yautja, unblooded, blooded, elite, male and female, young and old stopped what they were doing, be it aiding in prepping ships, weaponry training, listening to the elders speak of hunts past or simply passing and looked up.
High atop the central structure, stood an old and powerful looking Yautja, and upon seeing him, everyone bowed down. "All Unblooded, Blooded and Elite sain'jas shall gather for the ka'rik'na! Gathering," the voice demanded and instantly there was a fury of movement as the requested Yautja moved into the complex, gathering in the large open area filled with crafted tables and elegantly made clothes, robes and throws.
At the far end of the chamber were five older Yautja, three of them female, two dressed in heavy plate armour and wire mesh over the top to keep their smaller trophies and weapons in place, while the remaining female was dressed in light robes and bejewelled in beautiful stones, chains and silvers, she was not the Clan leader's mate, but the Clan's High priestess.
Almost immediately the warriors began to click at each other, to see the high priestess here was a sign of something big.
The remaining two Yautja were male, also heavily plated armours with wire mesh, however one appeared to be younger than the other, standing at 8 foot 3 with a long scar over his forehead.
The oldest male was a towering 10 foot 5, with long dull black dread locks and amber eyes set deep into his face, his mandibles clicked as he looked over the gather warriors of his clan, when everyone was silent he stepped forwards and every head bowed down.
"Our blood has been spilled by the kiande amedha, hard meat on the planet of the Ooman, Human and now, one of our elders is inviting us to this kv'var, hunt" the old Yautja explained. "Oomans have learned to use out technology and now, there is an alliance with the Oomans, formed by Jha'kle and his crew."
There were a few moments of clicks and growls exchanged before everyone fell silent again, until a young Yautja spoke up. "What has happen on the Ooman planet?"
The elder looked around and then when he couldn't see who had spoken he tapped his staff in to the ground activating a holographic map, the image showing earth and multiple small red dots.
"This was a scan of the planet before Jha'kle's ship crashed," the elder said and then the image changed from the calming blue and green gem into a dull black, blue and a small area of green with four large red marks seeming to pulsate. "And this is now."
The High Priestess snarled, it was common knowledge that the High Priestess liked Earth for its beauty.
"How?" An Elite Yautja asked, keeping his head down and eyes lowered.
"Jha'kle's ship was carrying a Queen to a new planet, one of the last three Queens to leave, but the Oomans have been tampering with stolen technology, trying to mix it with their own, it damaged Jha'kle's ship and caused it to crash, freeing the Queen, at the same time other Oomans had uncovered another Hunting complex, this one housing the First Queen we placed there."
"An Empress?" another Yautja asked looking at the images shown.
"And three young Queens." The old Yautja said. "And so I call out to you, the sain'jas of the Dark Blade Clan, those of you who wish to earn your Marks, those of you who wish to add new trophies to your rooms, gather your weapons your best awu'asa, armour and prepare to leave."
The chamber began to empty as the Yautja left the room to prepare, the High Priestess absently reached out and seemed to hold the earth in her claws hand. "Such a beautiful jewel... a shame it can't be placed in a necklace..."
"It would be safer that way." The old Yautja said and then turned to the open gap that was the window. "But then we would have one less a planet to kv'var on."
The female Yautja sighed and then turned to the elders. "I have only one request of you. Bring me to this beautiful planet... something there is calling to me and I wish to see what..." she said as she began to leave, flanked by her guards.
"We shall do as you ask..." the old Yautja said before bowing to her as she left, once she was gone, he sighed deeply. "Days grow long and this kv'var grows into a war..."
"Sei-i," the other male sighed. "But we are going to win and when we do, the Ooman will be left to remake their homes..."
"And what of those that have been marked? Those that are Apprentice to our people? They cannot be left unchecked." The elder sighed.
The elder sighed, clicking his mandibles together. "We shall see what is best when we get there."
The ship was dark, almost as if flying on auto pilot, while he watched the footage sent by other ships on earth, S.O.S signals and footage fo what was happening, likely his home world was seeing this too and others were soon to arrive.
This Hunt would be something even he would be challenged in, if the footage was accurate and his own scans were correct.
The lights began to flicker on and came on to show reading from the planet, an some kind of alert began to bleep on a screen, waking the ship's captain from his meditation, while being sat in his trophy room.
His mandibles clicked as he passed one of his ships escape pods before checking his readings and began to guild the ship towards the earth, only to have his ship start to shake as the barrier caused his systems to short out.
Growling he placed his bio mask on and handed a basic selection of hunting weapons to the Unblooded female Yautja stow away in the second escape pod and hit the eject pad before she could ask what was happening.
He then began to throw all his weapons into his own escape pod, before leaving his ship.
Bottled water, fizzy drinks, energy drinks, alcohol, energy bars, cereal bars, chocolate, frozen foods, potatoes, fish, pies, pork joints, chickens, beef burgers, stakes...
Almost everything they would need to feed the base for at least six months.
"Bag everything we can, right?" Marco asked and Shara nodded. "Fill your bags and pockets." He added as they began to put items of ever shape, size and colour into the bags.
This was the nineteenth warehouse they'd found that day with food in side, and so far the tanks they'd brought with them were stacked full to last almost two years. Medication, ammo, food, drink, bedding, toiletries, spare parts for their vehicals and other items and supplies they needed.
This was the last run for the day and then they could go home and come back tomorrow for more if they needed it.
Shara had just finished zipping her bag shut when a chill up her back made her stiffen and seconds later the lights started to flicker and the ground vibrated. "Mark?" she asked over the radio as the tell-tale Xenomorph hissing and screaming sounds began to fill the air. "What's happening?"
~"A Yautja ship just slammed into central London! Xenomorphs are going wild! Get back here NOW!"~
Marco nodded. "Everyone Move!"
Shara didn't even need to be told, she was already running, using her mask to keep an eye out of Xenomorphs as she ran, jumped, clambered over ruins, webbing and slime.
A Xenomorph Runner charged them from the left and began spitting acid at them, catching Ken and Dutch in the legs as they took cover behind a broken wall, with a growl, Shara stood and unloaded a few rounds into the Runner before it finally fell, however she couldn't save Dutch or Ken as two Drone Xenomorphs dragged them off.
"We're surrounded!" Sonia cried over the hissing of the Xenomorphs.
"So we clear a path!" Marco snarled firing a borrowed Plasma caster and scattering Xenomorphs everywhere. "Run!" Shara grabbed Sonia's hand and yanked to along as they ran, Sonia was slower then Marco and her because she was carrying the heavier supplies, but Shara was not about to leave her behind as a decoy.
"Mark get that tanker ready to roll!" She screamed into the radio as Marco fired again, clearing them another path.
Sonia screamed in pain and dropped to her knees as a Xenomorph tail spike sliced through her right leg, Shara stopped turning to unload a bullet into a Xenomorph's tail as it tried to stab Sonia again. "Hang on, Sonia." She yelled and used her spear to knock the Xenomorph away from Sonia.
"Leave me!" Sonia cried as she was half dragged into the building remains where Marco was waiting. "I'll only slow you down!"
"Shut up and hold on!" Shara said heaving Sonia's arm up over her shoulder. "I'm not leaving you here to die."
~"Guys you gotta move! I can't get to you from here!"~ Mark yelled over the radio. ~"The ships caused huge tremors, the whole of London's like an earthquake!"~
The ground vibrated again and this time it caused cracked in the ground and separated everyone. Sonia and Shara lost their grip on each other and Marco was snatched by a Xenomorph, once the ground stopped falling apart, Sonia and Shara were trapped by rubble and surrounded by Xenomorph warriors.
Shara growled and opened fire with her 45s, aiming for the heads and mouths of the Xenomorphs while Sonia fired rapid shots off from her Automatic Rifle, the second they had a chance they both reloaded and Shara began to move closer to Sonia.
A second quake forced the Xenomorphs to retreat and gave the two girls the chance they needed to move, they managed to reach a stable looking shelter before a Xenomorph Runner began to try and dig its way into her, spitting on the rubble to try and get to them faster.
Shara hissed and clutched her left arm tightly to her side as pain began to ripple through her side, the sensation of something trickling down her back made her realize she'd over worked her left side and caused one of her scars to reopen somewhat. "Damn..."
Sonia fired on it, only to have acid spat on her gun. "Shit!" she cursed tossing the gun to the ground as it melted away, "Shara? What's wrong?"
"My arm..." Shara hissed, only to scream as the ground under her gave way and she fell into a pit and landing in a puddle of shallow cold water. "Sonia?!"
"Shara? Are you alright!?" she called down.
"Behind you!" Shara screamed only her warning came too late and Sonia was dragged off by a Xenomorph. "Sonia?! Sonia!"
When no answer came, Shara grabbed her bags and Sonia's, all four stuffed full and heavy with supplies and pressed Sonia's bags against her left side, at least the added pressure would slow the bleeding.
Slowly she climbed out of the hole she'd fallen into and looked around, no sighed of any of the other member of her team, only Marco's bag. She picked it up and began to move again, heading towards the sound of gun shots she recognized from the Tanker.
~"Shara? where the Hell... Shara?!"~
"Mark?" Shara asked as the radio was filled with static. "Mark!?"
~"God damnit... If anyone hears me... Make your way... pickup point. I pick you up from there."~ Mark said as the radio spluttered.
"Ok..." Shara said and then heard something behind her and started running, not daring to glance back knowing if she did there was a chance she'd trip.
He scanned around and located a heat signature running away from him, being chased by Xenomorphs and moved towards it.
~"Jackal...? Big... Dart? Tracker? Can anyone hear me?"~
"What is it Mark?" Dart asked as the signal cleared up.
~"A Yautja ship crashed in London! I can't get a signal to anyone!"~ Mark explained and Jackal focused on the radio. ~"Xenomorphs are going wild and I can't reach Shara!"~
Before anyone could stop him, Jackal was gone.
Shara backed herself as far against the wall as she could as the Xenomorphs tried to dig her out of the small and narrow hiding hole she as in, every time one got close, she fired a shot and that Xenomorph was replaced by another, she'd lost count of how many there were.
She heard them hiss and scream as she fired on them, trying desperately to stay out of their reach.
Another Xenomorph fell and Shara listened.
Nothing...
Gulping down air, she did a scan through the mask and when she found nothing, she slowly began to push her way out of her hiding place.
His thermal imaging scan showed movement, too small to be Yautja and the wrong shape and movement to be Xenomorph, he moved closer silently, watching as the human he'd found stood, surrounded by dead Xenomorphs.
Shara looked around and then placed her 45s into their holsters and tried her radio again. "Mark? Mark can you hear me?"
~"Shara?! God damn it girl you scared the shit out of me! Where are you?!"~ Mark demanded.
/"I'm... umm... somewhere... near... baker street... I think..."\
She sounded unsure... couldn't she see the sign in front of her? He watched as she lifted her helmet up and then relief filled her voice.
/"No, I'm near St. James's Park... I know where to go."\
~"Good girl, head to the pickup point in Soho Square, I'll wait for you there."~ Mark answered.
Shara sighed deeply and put her radio away before turning to leave the park and walked right into something she couldn't see, the impact making her mask fall down again.
"What the-?" She asked lifting her mask up again, then saw a shimmer of movement. "Cut... Cutter?" The shimmer began to fade away revealing a 7 foot 11 Yautja, with large muscles and a much stockier build then Cutter had been.
A bright flash of red before the cloak faded away completely made Shara realize that this Yautja wasn't Cutter.
She tilted her head to one side and then her mask fell down again. "Oh for the love of-!" she growled lifting her mask back up.
The Yautja clicked behind his own mask, scanning the human female he blinked and tilted his own head to one side as her mask fell down. Was it not secure?
Looking at this girl, he could see Xenomorph skulls being used as shields on her hands, human clothing and Yautja armour to protect the rest of her body and she looked be carrying both Human and Yautja style weapons.
Was she an Apprentice?
He then caught sight of something on her side and growled as he recognized it, the marking on the helmet a match to his own, deciding to test his theory, he stepped closer to the girl and pushed her right shoulder with his left hand, causing her to stumble.
Shara immediately dropped her head and eyes to the ground, the Yautja had just challenged her and she had no desire to fight, not with near no ammo and her left side already in pain.
"Cuh'tor." The Yautja clicked at her and then pointed at her right side, where Cutter's mask was securly situated. Understanding what he wanted Shara removed the mask and held it out to the waiting Yautja.
The mask was taken and Shara's mask dropped down as the Yautja removed his mask and placed Cutter's on to his face.
{"I give my life not for all the Oomans upon this planet, but for the people I have come to see as my mei'hsweis and mei-jadhis of this world."
"Cutter?"
"When other Yautja come in their ships, if they have the same mark on their armour as mine, or if they know Jackal, show them my mask." His brother explained. "Can you do that?" he asked as the full image of Shara flashed across the visor.
"How will I know them?" Shara asked as tears began to fall from her eyes. "How do I know they are the right Yautja...?"
"You will know them, Shara Kelly," Cutter said and then the feed began to break up in to static. "N'dhi-ja."}
"Cuh'tor..."
"Jha'kle's second in command." Shara said using Yautja to say Jackal's name as she struggled to keep her mask up. "I still can't pronounce all Jackal's crew names right in your language yet."
The Yautja noticed she was still struggling with her mask and reached down, crushing the mask into a better shape so it wouldn't fall, then changed his mask and stood watching her.
Shara stood still, waiting for him to hand her back Cutter's mask, only to have him point at the mark on the mask then at her, realizing what he meant after a short time, she took the Xenomorph skull off her left hand and held it up so he could see the mark Cutter had given her.
Looking at the mark, he clicked his mandibles then turned to walk away. "Where are you going?" Shara asked. "The base is that way," she explained pointing back towards Dover.
The Yautja turned and aimed his Plasma casters shooting down two Xenomorphs that jumped out at Shara, he then pointed back the way Shara had come.
"I can't go to base alone," Shara said and showed him her weapons and lack of ammo. "I'll never survive if the Xenomorphs follow me."
The Yautja growled as if annoyed then turned walking away from Shara, pausing after a few steps and looked back, Shara took a second to understand but then she rushed to keep up.
Jackal stopped just outside the unseen ship before him and then turned to see a new Yautja arrive, Shara close behind him.
"You're ship?" Shara asked as the Yautja went inside and left Shara outside on her own. "Hey!"
Growling, Jackal stepped forwards and decloaked, letting Shara see him, instantly she was at his side and hugging him out of relief to see someone she knew and trusted and after quickly checking to make sure she was unharmed Jackal turned to the ship.
"He has Cutter's mask... Jackal who is he?" Shara asked.
"One of Cutter's brothers, Srit'ore." Jackal explained.
Shara blinked and cocked her head to one side. "Sounds like Striker."
"That is the translation." Jackal said. "Mark is on his way, wait for him." he added as the now named Yautja stepped out of the ship.
Shara nodded and moved out of the way, then blinked as Jackal snatched Cutter's mask from Striker's side and tossed it back to her, when Striker growled and took a step towards Shara, Jackal got in the way and shoved Striker's right shoulder with his left hand.
Shara then understood why the mask had been given to her, if they were going to fight, there was a chance Cutter's mask would get damage and that would have upset her, so Jackal had given her the mask back to keep it safe and to make sure she didn't lose her mentor's gift to her.
Striker snarled and both he and Jackal roared at each other before charging.
Big Guns and Tracker stopped as they heard a powerful deep roar echo over the radio. They'd met up with mark after receiving word from Dart that Shara was alone and Jackal had raced off.
"That didn't sound good." Mark said.
"It's not... that was Srit'ore's roar," Big Guns stated. "Full Speed would be advisable."
"Got it." Mark said and slammed the driving controls forwards as far as they would go.
She paused and looked up from her nest, searching the air and 'seeing' the movements of air to show her what was happening around her, her guards also paused so as not to interfere with her search.
Her tail lashed as a familiar presence came to her... a young one... the same young one that had survived her claws... She screamed and her guards scattered, allowing their larger siblings into the nest as they looked upon her, waiting for her command.
When it was given they scattered, racing over the webbing they had made to carry out their mission.
Jackal roared in agony as he hit the ground, his entire right side now exposed and his still healing wounds reopening, but still he didn't back down and forced himself to stand even as Striker came at him again and they began to roll on the web covered ground.
Shara had backed herself against Striker's ship, watching as the two fought, clutching Cutter's mask tightly as if doing so would make Cutter reappear and stop the fighting.
The sound of bones breaking and weapons meting made her whole body tremble, she hated watching others fight like this, but she knew she had no place to step in and stop them.
Jackal roared in agony again and Shara turned in time to see him fall, clutching his now gushing right arm, Striker stood over him with his Plasma Casters aimed at Jackal's head.
Unable to stop herself any longer, Shara moved.
Bright lights flooded the area and Striker turned to see Big Guns and Tracker stood ready to charge him, both growing and clicking their mandibles at him, turning back to Jackal, he found Shara stood between them, arms spread to protect Jackal, Cutter's mask held tightly at her side.
"Hate to break up your reunion," Mark called, "But we have Xenomorphs everywhere and coming in fast," he added as Shara helped Jackal back to his feet and into the Tanker.
"Where's Matthew?" Shara asked.
"Xenomorph got him." Mark growled as he watched the new Yautja get in the Tanker and Big Guns slammed the doors shut. "Hang on!"
She hissed and lashed her tail furiously.
The young one was leaving and she wasn't hurt.
She would have to change that.
Xenomorphs began to ram and attack the Tanker and during the return to the base, one of them had managed to cut through the tanker and catch Shara's back the strike was shallow, but enough to reopen another one of Shara's scars, leaving her in agony before they'd pulled back.
Once back at the Dover base, Big Guns all but ripped the door off as Jackal rushed past Jessica and Bull Dog, closely followed by Mark and Dart, carrying Shara on a stretcher.
Striker tagged along, watching as Shara's armour, weapons, shirts and helmet were removed, then as her bloody vest was cut and gently pulled off her back to reveal the reopened scars and four others. Striker paused in shock as he realized there was only one Xenomorph that could have given her those scars.
"This is gonna hurt, isn't it?" Shara asked as she saw Jackal take up a med-kit she had seen once before when she had first been introduced to Yautja medication.
"I'm afraid so." Jackal said. "Bull Dog, hold her still." He then added and Shara felt Bull Dog large hands, rough and hard skinned, close around her arms, not enough to hurt her, but tight enough to stop her moving.
Striker watched as Jackal applied the cauterizing jell, watching as Shara tightly gripped the edge of the bed she was on and bit her lip to try and hold in the scream as her skin burned.
"There." Jackal said at last and Bull Dog let go of Shara's wrist, handing her a clean vest and let her redress. "No mission for you until that is fully healed."
"Yes Jackal." Shara said wincing as she got off the bed.
Striker watcher her leave then turned to Jackal. "What has happened?" he asked.
Jackal sighed. "Many things... many things that we all have had to adapt to," He said as Bull Dog helped him to reach the deep wounds on his back. "Come, I shall explain everything." He assured.
While touring the base, Jackal explained what had happened on earth from their crash to the supply run that day, all the while Striker made notes and memories everyone on the base, Human and Yautja.
Shara ducked into a room ahead of them, carrying a cloth and a bowl of liquid.
"What is she doing?" Striker asked.
"Likely, cleaning Cutter's weapons." Jackal answered, "A habbit she fell into after he gave her the mask, a way of coping on her part." He added as they paused by Cutter's old room and true to his words, Shara was sat on Cutter's bed, carefully wiping and checking the weapons she cleaned before carefully setting them into their places on the weapon wall.
Striker noticed that she cleaned the same way a Yautja would, indicating that Cutter had taught her how to live and survive as a Yautja.
As the days slowly passed, Striker began to notice just how much Shara knew of the Yautja culture, she was learning from Jackal about their language while Bull Dog and Big Guns taught her about the weapons, Dart and Tracker aided her with basic training and sparring partners while she was recovering from her injuries.
Often however he heard her cry out at night and discovered she suffered terrible nightmares of an incident some years ago concerning her father, usually after such a nightmare, he would catch her in the training room with make sift spear, using lights and mirrors to make targets as she trained herself, using moves and strikes Cutter had taught her.
He didn't miss the signs of pain in her left side nor did he miss the medication she was taking for her arm, he was however surprised to see how much she pushed herself despite the clear pain she was in.
It confused him, even after all Jackal had told him he couldn't understand why she pushed herself to such pains and limits, clearly she had earned the mark from Cutter, and the respect of the other Yautja there...
So why?
Jackal watched as Shara threw herself up from her sleep, gasping as she held her chest, panting heavily as sweat dripped from her chin...
Another nightmare.
He didn't de-cloak and instead watched as she wrapped herself in her father's old coat and went to the sink, getting a glass of water and then washed her face, all the while her hands were shaking badly and her body seemed to be giving off an unusual amount of heat.
"Shara?" Jackal glanced up as Jessica came in, dressed in a warm woolly coat. "Are you ok?"
"Yea... just a nightmare..." Shara said, finishing her glass of water before glancing in the mirror and dropping the glass with a terrified gasp.
"Shara?!" Jessica gasped coming over, Shara had turned white in the face and her body was frozen in place as she looked at the mirror. "What's wrong."
"Didn't you...? I swear she was... I saw... she..." Shara tried to say.
Jackal de-cloaked and gently put his hand over her shoulder. "What did you see Shara?" he asked firmly but softly and slowly Shara's face regained some colour, she turned away from the mirror and clung to Jackal's armour.
"I saw her... she was stood... right behind me... I swear I saw her..." Shara said in fear and Jackal looked at the mirror, "From the tunnel... she was there..."
"The London Xenomorph Queen?" Jessica asked. "How...?"
"I don't know... but I swear she was there..." Shara insisted. "Jackal...?"
"I shall call the other Yautja... see what we can find out... you may not be the only one to see her in reflective surfaces." He said and gently led her out of the room. "Now, back to bed with you, it is far too early for you to be up."
Shara nodded snuggling under the warmth her new sleeping bag offered, clutching her father's dog tags and the rings on her chain.
Jackal sighed softly and then moved into the hall way, entering his room; he sighed again and began to send a message to every Yautja he knew on earth, praying he was wrong.
The waves crashed against the shore and cliffs as he watched the sky, his scanners at full range to try and pick up on any incoming ships he might find. He paused and listened to his communicator before picking up his weapons and turning to walk towards Dover.
He knew now his fears of a larger problem were true, he'd seen it rampaging in ruined cities and his trip to the ice lands and large city, he knew there would be more trouble if this creature was not stopped soon.
He just hoped that more Yautja were on the way with supplies and weapons, or everyone would start to realize just how desperate this situation was becoming.
Shara tiredly staggered into the breakfast hall that morning and almost fell over her own feet, Big Guns managed to catch her, only to find she looked as if she hadn't slept at all in a week.
In truth, it have been three weeks since she'd started to have terrible nightmares of the Queen destroying everything around her, and even while she was awake she would have a terrible fright in every reflective surface.
It wasn't helping her training...
"You need to rest Shara... you're barely able to walk..." Dart said as she sat and began to devour her breakfast.
"Hungry..." Shara said as she swallowed down half a glass of juice.
Jackal came in, shaking his head when he caught sight of Shara, he'd caught her up last night in the training room, covered in sweat and shivering as she cut down unseen targets with the basic weapons Cutter had shown her how to make. He'd had to carry her back to her room she'd been too scared, tired and exhorted to leave on her own.
Striker came in and watched as Shara finished her food then winced and rubbed her head. "My head hurts..."
"You've hardly slept, Shara, you'll pass out if this keeps up." Jessica said.
"I know that, Jessica it's just... I can't sleep." Shara said and Jackal glanced at the door way. "I don't know what's wrong with me."
"Perhaps something calming might help you relax a little."
All eyes turned to the door as Martha came in carrying several large and small plastic hoops, several large bags of feathers and beads and large box of wool and thread.
"What's all that for?" Ben asked.
"Dream catchers." Martha said. "I know they don't sound worth the time of day, but making them is good for clearing the mind, might help you relax a little and rest better," she said.
Much to everyone's surprise, Shara took a small hoop and several threads of different colours, tying them off on the hoop and began to weave, threading beads, feathers and other items on to the threads. In a matter of minutes she was finished and smiled.
"Where did you learn to do that?" Jessica asked as Mark came in and smiled.
"Mark taught me," Shara said making a loop at the top of the dream catcher with the last bit of thread and then hung it off her finger. "Thanks Martha."
"You are welcome."
Striker watched with his head to one side as Shara took another hood and more thread, making another dream catcher and slowly, she began to relax, her shoulders lowered her brain waves eased and her heart seemed to slow down a little.
"Cuh'tor use to stand there and watch her like that for hours." Striker looked to his right to find Dart sat on a crate mask down as he scanned her. "He and Jha'kle would talk for hours about her, how they wished it were possible to accept her to return back with us... in fact your old man was mentioned."
"Oh? And why was that?" Striker asked.
Dart gave him a look, not visible through the mask but felt. "Didn't you notice the flux in your scans? Or the fact she's able to perform moves and endure more than the other Oomans here? The way she's acting lately?" he asked. "She's different from the others and different from us but at the same time she has a likeness to us all."
"Get to the point Dha-ta." Striker said.
Dart sighed. "Scan her using the thermal, then use EM." He said.
Striker did as he said and then did it again. "It's not... that can't be right."
"It is." Jackal said as he moved closer. "Shara Kelly's body shows up as Human and kiande amedha it is why Cuh'tor sought to train her."
"She's a trophy." Striker said. "Any other Yautja that sees this will see her as a target."
"Not so long as I have say." Jackal stated.
Later that same day, Striker, Bull Dog, Shara and Ben were out on the beaches, reinforcing the barricades and traps that had been set up to keep Xenomorphs away from their base.
While Ben and Bull Dog held the structures still and steady, Shara repaired damage and reinforced weaknesses, Striker kept an eye out for trouble. Shara had just finished fixing a hole in one of the barricades when the ocean erupted with a Xeno-whale.
Ben watched the whale sink back to the depths then looked at Shara. "You ok?" he asked.
"Yea... just... a little scared." She said.
"Incoming!" Bull Dog suddenly roared and Shara froze as the tell tale trails in the ocean appeared, close to twenty at least, there was movement behind them and Ben had just enough time to duck as a Xenomorph jumped at him.
"We're surrounded!" Shara stated as she drew out her 45s and slammed her mask down.
Striker and Bull Dog roared loudly at the Xenomorphs as Ben cracked his knuckles. "You got enough Ammo in those 45s to make a run Shara?" he asked.
"I'm not leaving you three out here Ben. Cutter wouldn't run and neither will I." Shara said and Striker felt a small pang of something in his chest. "I have my spear so if the bullets run out I'm not struggling."
"Jackal will have my head if you get hurt." Ben pointed out.
"So don't get sloppy." Bull Dog stated as the swimming Xenomorphs erupted from the water, one of them was a Predalien and instantly Bull Dog and Ben engaged it while Striker and Shara were left to deal with the Xenomorphs.
Striker watched Shara out of the corner of his eyes, over and over he saw moved and stances only Cutter could have shown her, strikes and blocks his brother had long ago mastered were being replayed with almost the same results, Shara was still in need of training for some of the moves but she had clearly been pushed hard to learn all she had.
"Shara behind you!" Ben yelled as a Xenomorph tail wrapped tightly around her arms and flung her into the cliff face. "Shara!?"
Shara growled, tightly grabbing her spear before a Xenomorph could attack her and whacked its head to the side and looked around as she heard a loud hiss.
Something grabbed her by the shoulders and waist tightly, and began to drag her away, the sound of wings made her panic and twist to try and see what was holding her.
Ben, Striker and Bull Dog heard Shara scream and managed to see why, attempting to take flight was a large Xenomorph with leathery wings sprouting from its back, there was no tail, but the spikes on the back and on the ends of the wings looked deadly enough.
"Shara!"
"Cover your eyes!" A voice boomed and Shara closed her eyes tightly as something impacted the Xenomorph carrying her, forcing it to let go and scream as it was impaled into the cliff face.
Plasma shots rained down from the cliff as Shara clung to a ledge with the very end of her fingers. "Hang on Shara!" Jackal called down as he and Mark worked to drop a line down to her.
"I'm trying..." Shara hissed, feeling her fingers burn as she tried to hold on, the sound of hissed and shots being fired made her turn to see Dart and Tracker bringing down more flying Xenomorphs while Jessica and Martha manned the rapid fire machine guns on the Tanker.
Shara felt stone slide down her arms and then fall and looked up to see the ledge was starting to crumble and crack under her fingers. Before she could fall however an unseen hand grabbed her wrists and a deep clicking sound made her focus on the bright flash of green above her.
"You and I really must stop meeting in such strange ways, Yeyinde. Brave one." The Yautja said as he pulled her up on to his shoulders. "Hold tight," he added and he began to climb up the cliffs.
"Wonderer..." Shara sighed in relief, he was the only Yautja that called her by a Yautja name, it was a little odd, but every time he spoke to her, Jackal and Cutter had smiled in their way. "When did you get here?"
"Right after you screamed." The Wonderer said. "Not that I blame you, those flying kiande amedha are indeed frightening." He stated as Jackal and Mark reached down and helped them both up onto the safe surface of the cliff.
Ben, Striker and Bull Dog heard the bone chilling roar of the Predalien and then the Xenomorphs began to race away, scattering and returning to the waters, the Predalien however lingered and looked up to the cliffs.
Shara hissed as her head began to hurt, so much so that her knees gave out and for a second she could see images and hear the screams of people around her, then it was over and she felt the pain fade away. Looking down she saw the Predalien was gone.
"Shara? Are you alright?" Mark asked as he gently touched her shoulders and helped her stand back up.
"I think so... my head just felt..."
"As if it were going to burst?" the Wonderer guessed and when Shara nodded he sighed. "I see... it would seem you and I need to have a long talk, Yeyinde."
...