Lex and Scar try to stop a war. One will suffer, but the other will feel great pain too.
I do not own AVP, just having some fun manipulating the characters.
When an enemy becomes a friend Chapter 10
Lex and Scar headed off in the direction of the muted sounds of weapons fire. They came upon several people who were off in many directions Others were holding spears and staffs, standing at alert.
"Scar, we can't just let them be slaughtered. They don't deserve that." Lex was desperately trying to come up with some sort of solution, before the Yautja warriors broke through the outer barrier.
"They killed our hunting parties," Scar said.
"Yes, but who came to attack whom?" Lex reminded him. "We came to their world, not the other way around,"
Proclus appeared in the corridor, and stopped Lex and Scar. "What are your people doing? You have to stop them!" he shouted, glaring at the Yautja hunter. "Their blood will be on your hands if you don't make them stop!"
Lex was confused. How could these people hope to defeat Scar's people with such primitive weapons? "What do you mean, their blood?"
Proclus ran his hand through his hair, obviously disturbed about something. "Lex, our people were once a warrior race, like your...friend there. We concerned ourselves with nothing but the next hunt, our prey, and the rewards to follow. Over time, we noticed that we had created nothing, invented nothing that didn't have to do with the hunt. Our culture was stagnating. We had to do something if we were to survive as anything more than killers." He stopped talking to listen for any indication that the Yautja had broken through the outer barriers. "Don't you see what's happening here? My people are ready to fight, to kill again. After years of that desire lying dormant within us, you've reawakened it. It has to stop!"
Lex tried to imagine these people who seemed so peaceful, and welcoming to her. "Proclus, how is it you said you could get me back to Earth?" This was something Lex wished she'd asked before this, now that there was going to be a war.
"We had a single ship, one that we kept up. We have lived on this planet for many generations."
Lex interrupted him. "You mean, you're not indigenous to this world?"
"No, we are not. We settled here, built this underground complex, and swore never to hunt again, outside of building up our food stores. Now, look at my people. See the bloodlust in their eyes. We were prepared to free you from these beings that hold you hostage to their ways. And this is what you do. Force us to kill again!"
Lex looked at Scar. "We have to stop them. We have to find them, and get them to leave these people alone. Look, Scar, the hunters only came in response to your call. You've found me, so we can go and make them all leave here." He seemed hesitant. "We have to try!"
Lex turned to Proclus. "Where's the entrance?"
"This way. Follow me." The trio ran the length of the corridor until they came upon the room that Scar had entered the complex before being knocked out. An explosion blew the rock-like material away, and a group of Yautja burst in. They saw Scar and Lex, and one said something to Scar, who pointed down the corridor. One of the hunters grabbed Proclus and the party headed back down the corridor, where the humanoids waited. Lex tried to talk to the leader of the hunters, who growled at Scar.
"Lex, you must be silent." He grabbed her by the arm and lowered his head to her level. "They will not listen."
Lex broke away, and ran down the long hall to the area she knew the others would be waiting. When she reached a group of armed men and women, she cried at them to find cover. "Don't fight them. I can't do anything if you fight them." She could see in their eyes the same anticipation the Yautja had just before a hunt. Proclus was right. The bloodlust was already there. And one side or the other would die fighting.
When the hunters made it to the rooms where many of Proclus' people waited , Lex watched helplessly as both sides engaged in battle. The humanoids were very efficient in their method of combat. They and the Yautja went down in blood, both red and bright green. Scar tried to reach Lex, but he was being distracted by attackers on all sides. The entire complex was one big combat zone, and there was nothing Lex could do to stop the slaughter. The humanoids natural instincts were keeping the hunters from claiming an easy victory. This surprised them, but it also spurred them on to more savage fighting.
Lex picked up the discarded combi-stick of a dead hunter, and tried to defend herself in the midst of the chaos. Scar made his way to her side, where both fought off attackers. Lex saw Proclus across the room, holding a spear-like weapon, hate burning in his eyes. He looked from her, then to Scar. Stepping forward, he cried out in a bloodcurdling scream, "You did this! You brought this on my people!" and let loose the spear right for Scar.
Lex saw the weapon flying towards them, and didn't know at whom it was being aimed at until the last moment. Without thinking, she threw herself in front of the Yautja who had been her savior, companion and recently, more. She felt fire in her body as the spear entered her flesh, and she fell to the floor. She saw Scar's face above her. But it was blurry, out of focus. Then everything went black.
Scar saw the spear headed for him, but couldn't stop Lex as she came between him and the weapon. He watched her take the spear in his stead. The battle that raged around him disappeared as he bent down, checking to see if Lex was still alive. He picked up her body, and cradling it gently in his arms, he moved behind some furniture. He lay her gently on the floor, where she would now be hidden to all eyes, and in a fury, picked up a combi-stick and flew at Proclus. Anger spurred him on as he fought the man who had killed Lex. He wanted the blood of her killer to coat his weapon. Then he would take his skull as his trophy.
They fought alone, locked in their own world. Scar was amazed at how well his opponent fought. He didn't expect it. What he'd heard had been true. These people had been great warriors long ago. Why had they forsaken their ways? He didn't understand any of it. But for now, he didn't care. He only wanted his opponent dead, for taking away the one person who meant anything to him.
Proclus, for his part, felt such an anger within him. These outworlders destroyed the peace of his community. He had seen how intense the battle was being waged. If they survived, how would his people ever go back to their ways, after having tasted battle and blood and victory? His opponent fought well, and it was all he could do to maintain his balance against the thrusts of the Yautja weapon wielded by the vengeful hunter. If he had not been so angered, he might have allowed some respect for his enemy. Now, he only wanted him to pay for his interference. It was too bad the female had stepped between him and his quarry, but she had made her choice.
Scar had to dodge as Proclus stepped back and swung his spear, the edge slicing into Scar's arm. But he felt no pain, even as his blood dripped from the wound. Scar lunged at Proclus, the tip of his combi-stick finding the softer flesh of the humanoid. Scar pushed against it, feeling give as the metal pierced his body. His prey groaned loudly, and fell to the floor. Scar stood over his opponent and roared in triumph. But it was a hollow victory as he thought of Lex. He should have protected her.
As his focus returned to the overall battle, he noticed that although some of his people had been killed, all of Proclus' people were lying about, dead, or mortally wounded. The yautja worked quickly, as they took their trophies. They left the dying humanoids behind, and exited the complex. Two warriors set their wrist bombs and left them inside, before following the others outside.
Scar had picked up Lex once more, and taken her outside. He waited for the others, seeing the transports there. All of the surviving hunters headed for the vessels, some carrying the dead, others holding on to their weapons for later memorials.
From the sky, they could see the entire area blown up by the bombs left behind. No one left behind would survive. The victory celebration for this conflict would be the biggest in a long while. But Scar could think of only one thing. Lex. She was barely breathing. Red blood oozed from her wound and she made no sound. Scar touched the wound gently, letting her blood spot his flesh. He rubbed his fingers together until it was absorbed into his own skin. Lex had to survive. Nothing else mattered to this great hunter who had just killed. But he had killed with no pleasure. He had taken no trophy. True, the combi-stick was covered with Proclus' blood, but it gave Scar no satisfaction. Lex might die, and that was Scar's only concern.
To be continued...
Author's Note: thanks to all those enjoying this story. I appreciate the support and encouragment.