The sounds and scents of wildlife filled her senses. Moisture from the air clung to her skin and hair. Nina could only stare wide-eyed at the scenery before her.
Everything seemed to have been dyed their hues of dark, shaded colors. All of the vegetation, save for the near illuminating jungle flowers, was a dark green, just enough so that photosynthesis could take place and no more. The bark of trees came in multiple tones of sinister looking charcoals, withering browns, and occasional, rare streaks of maroon. The sky was a magnificent blue-violet, and the sister worlds in this system cast off rays of light from their own unique lands and oceans. The stars from further away also helped make the landscape more visible. It was only in the late afternoon on this world; however, it seemed it was content with staying in the comforts of darkness, as if it was nightfall. Even during the middle of its cycle, daytime was only marginally brighter than night.
Given the planet's place in this system, the way the land appeared, and its small size in comparison to those worlds around it, the Yautja called this planet Ikthya-de Luar-ke. Translated into the human language of English, this world was known as Umbra Moon.
Nina took another brief glance around, this time to make it seem that she was checking that the coast was clear. She didn't want to appear as some tourist, but as someone serious of this hunt. There was now a small, recording device built into her mask, no doubt currently sending a transmission to all who were watching the progress of this Chiva; keeping track of her life signs, seeing where her position was, and watching what happened as if through her eyes.
At least someone would know exactly what happened should she die.
She heard a sharp whistling sound to her right and quickly turned, only to find Ehawee standing there, looking at level-headed as ever. She pointed off in some direction behind Nina. "My wrist computer says Liwanu's pod landed about fifteen noks in that direction. Let's move." A nok was a Yautja unit of measurement equivalent to thirteen inches. Nina nodded in agreement and followed her to where she said Liwanu was.
They found him already out of his pod and up into the nearest tree, cloaked, the only things giving away his position being the fuzzy outline of his near invisibility and Nina's six-sense. Ehawee gave a sharp whistle to him as well, but he only looked at her for a moment before pointing forward and speeding off. They knew where he was going; toward the temple where their Chiva would begin. They cloaked as well and followed at a brisk, silent pace, and pausing only when they thought they had heard something. Finally, the trio found themselves walking through a deep valley, surrounded by stone, and with the temple just ahead.
Nina activated her wrist computer and a red holographic image appeared of the temple. Already, beings that were indicated by small, yellowish figures roamed around inside, toward where the bait had been placed. These beings were called Su'vis. They were semi-sentient creatures native to this world, with short, shining black fur and well-muscled bodies. They were similar to what humans would call werewolves; but the comparisons stop after their wolf-like appearances. Su'vis were known for their amazing height- which bordered nine to ten feet, their twin deep, solid violet eyes, and their tongues that could stretch out like a reptiles and ensnare around their prey like a constrictor. The four long claws on each of their front and back paws could tear through skin easily, the force behind such an attack enough to break bones. However, though a single Su'vi was definitely a threat, they weren't overly intelligent. Their stomachs and need to populate and protect their territory controlled their thoughts.
Their pelts were prized by the Yautja. Makya even had one in his home and wasn't at all afraid to boast about the scar and story behind the voyage it took to obtain it.
The bait had been placed in a chamber that would lock them inside once the Chiva was to begin. Then Kiande Amedha eggs would be lifted inside on waist-high platforms. They wouldn't need to wait all too long for the Facehuggers inside to impregnate the Su'vi and then for the Serpents to fully mature. Once a queen was captured, some kind of solution was injected into their body to speed up the growth of any eggs she laid and of any embryos inside in the Facehuggers.
Like most basic Chiva temples, their first desired location was at the enclosure several meters beneath the chamber. There, they would collect the weapons they had long been awaiting to acquire; plasma casters. Once all three had been taken from the vault, the temple would immediately begin to shift- locking them inside until the next time it had again. This change in the temple would occur many times to challenge those inside. A small shaft connecting to the chamber above would allow them to hear when the Chestbursters had broken free of their hosts and had grown to adulthood.
Once all living participants of the Chiva had claimed the first of their trophies, they would contact the ship to notify that it was over and that the rest of the Yautja may come to join in hunting the remaining Serpents and, if the queen had escaped from her chains- which more than often she did, would share the battle of detaining her as well. This queen was still young enough to be of use, and would be refrozen into hibernation for another century until the next Chiva in this temple. Until the ship had made its descent and the others had joined, the trio would fend off against the Xenomorphs themselves, making certain they didn't break free of the temple. If allowed to do so, then Umbra Moon would be claimed a hostile, Kiande Amedha infested planet like so many others that were born from that mistake. That could not be allowed to happen at all costs.
"The way to our destination seems clear of any obstacles," said Nina, "Any Su'vis nearby seem to either be far enough away not to be a burden or already reaching the chamber as we speak. We better move quickly before they are finished with the bait and seek a way out."
Liwanu gave a grunt and purposely, gruffly shoved her against the shoulder with his own as he passed. She stared daggers at him behind her mask in turn, but didn't say anything, even though it bordered declaring a challenge and being just plain obnoxious. She and Ehawee ran towards the temple as well.
"Do not mind Liwanu all too much," Ehawee said in a hushed voice to Nina, "He is just a foolish, young male with too much pride and not enough sense. You don't have to know him as I do to understand that. He's just upset that an Ooman was trusted with warrior tasks and rank before even taking a Chiva. However, should he try such disrespect again, it would be best if you made clear your standing against such behavior. If not, others may see that as a weakness and make you a target."
"Thanks, I'll keep that in mind," she responding before adding, "How do you Yautja females manage to keep them in line anyway? I mean, I know you're stronger and all, but these are men we're taking about."
She chuckled a bit, "True, but we make sure to prove our point and power. Right to last broken tusk if need be."
They made their way up the steps, through the high arch of the entrance, and past the well-crafted statues and hieroglyphs of the halls. They told the history of the struggles between Serpent and Yautja, the various battles and legendary hunters that had long since fought and died before this temple had been built.
Through the shaft, the trio could hear the sounds of the Su'vis tearing at the raw meat left as bait. Rather than waiting for the other two, Liwanu rushed to the vault and began turning the dials, obviously more than eager to fight. This brought a shake of the head from both Ehawee and Nina as the vault hissed open, billowing the room with smoke as it unpressurized and revealed its contents. Liwanu grabbed the first plasma caster he saw through the smoke.
"Hurry up; it's time for the long awaited hunt to begin. Get your plasma casters and lock them on before the Su'vis have a chance to run out of the chamber."
"Yeah, because it sounds just like they'll be finished any second now," said Nina sarcastically. Liwanu huffed at her words and crossed his arms over his chest. Soon, he began tapping his foot with impatience. Nina snorted at this, finding it a little funny, "Don't get your tendrils in a twist. We're just taking time to make sure they're on right. Hate to wind up blowing ourselves up by doing something careless. They'll be plenty of Serpents around by the time this room reopens." Nina could already hear the growls of suspicion and anger from above as the doors in both enclosures sealed not even a minute after she had removed the last plasma caster from the vault and had lifted it to fit it on the locking mechanism on her shoulder. The training allowed her to tolerate and counteract the off-balance feeling of the extra weight on one side.
Ehawee stifled back a laugh as she saw Liwanu turn an even deeper shade of jungle green from embarrassment. She hadn't spoken to Dto-Raija very often in their quarters expect when trading strategies and moves after the few spars they shared with one another and their times spent together while bathing. Her training master had been at the drinking hole on Yautja Prima when Dto-Raija had stood up for herself against a more than annoying Youngblood from another clan, however, and had informed her of the event. Ehawee had to admit; although their human companion wasn't much to look at, at first glance, she certainly wasn't some creature that anyone needed to take for granted. Plus, it was hilarious when it came to watching her smart mouth and back talk people who treated her like some mindless being, with her small, graceful frame in comparison to a Yautja, and then watch the baffled expressions of those that had made that exact claim.
Dto-Raija was a very…interesting person to get to know. But she had that ability that made her grow on you pretty quickly. Ehawee had a good feeling that if she ever needed an ally during a hunt such as this, Dto-Raija would be one of the best to choose. Not just for her skill and confidence, but her devotion to her teammates as well.
Liwanu sputtered at Nina's comment for a minute before speaking up defiantly, "I do not need to be told to be patient like some kind of over-eccentric pup, Ooman Dto-Raija!"
"Whatever you say," she shrugged back casually, knowing she was pushing him to a boiling point.
He hmphed and growled in rising irritation, "Just be sure to stand out of my way when the next door opens. I'm going to face those Kiande Amedhas head on."
"Oh we will; that way when you run head on into trouble, we'll be prepared to save your hide from getting ripped apart," Nina replied. Ehawee's snickering went up a notch. Liwanu plopped himself on top of the vault, looking sour and positively stewing even with his mask on to hide his expressions.
No more was said, so they stood in silence as they listened for any sign of pain coming from above to indicate that the Chestbusters were breaking out of the Su'vis, or for the noises of shifting stone that meant the temple was reconfiguring. For a short while, nothing could be heard save for the even, restful breathing of the Su'vi and the occasional shifting of some being. Finally, a slab on the far right wall lifted upward, revealing a decently long, straight hallway. With her current vision mode, Nina couldn't see what it led to, just darkness the farther it went in.
The three of them had walked through it good ways before the first piercing howl of torment from a Su'vi echoed form behind them off of the walls, then soon joined in chorus with the shriek of a newborn Xenomorph. There would be more in just a little while longer. Nina went ahead and switched her mask's vision so it would easily pick the Xenomorphs out of the darkness, illuminating them as fluorescent green figures out of the shadows of which they so loved to hide. Should anything go wrong with it, however, and she would be forced to rely on her ears alone.
They reached the end of the hall without any trouble. At first, there was some confusion, because all that could be seen from a distance was a dead end. However, once they reached it, they noticed the path then led upward, not horizontally. It led to an upper level that a Yautja could easily jump to. For a human, however…
"I'll throw you up there," Liwanu offered simply, all hints of anger gone. This caused Nina to frown, and she didn't doubt that if he threw her it wouldn't end well on her part.
Ehawee offered to carry her up as Liwanu went on ahead, but Nina shook her head. This was the kind of challenge she would have to face on her own if she wanted to gain anyone's respect. And she certainly wouldn't get it by riding piggy-back. Besides, she had the strangest feeling this was a test solely meant for her; there had to be an easy solution.
"You both go on. I'll join you as soon as I can. I'll find my way," she stated. Of course, she would have to wait a few more minutes before that could happen. There hadn't been any other sign of an exit, just this hall that lead to here and then the vault.
Understandingly, Ehawee jumped up to the next level and called down, "Find us first, before you engage the Serpents. We are still a team on this." She turned and followed Liwanu deeper into the temple, readying her weapons.
Nina folded her arms over her chest and leaned back against one wall. She desired action and all of her senses were tuned in for any disturbance to the never ending silence. She passed the time by going over some of the new words Sain'ja had taught her to read in Yautja by examining the hieroglyphs.
The floor rumbled beneath her as the temple shifted once more. Her sixth sense rang like a bell in her mind. She squinted back toward the direction she had come in. Had she just seen movement? It could be a Xenomorph, but it was unlikely, too early for them to have matured to their full potential.
Yes; now she was certain she was seeing movement. And whatever it was was getting closer. Taking a few steps forward and peering further at it, she saw that it was of the hallway's opposing walls closing together as they neared her. Once they reached this point, she would be flattened to death. A pile of crushed organs, shattered bones, and blood-soaked skin would be all that was left to tell of her existence if that happened.
Panic weld up inside of her for a brief moment at the thought. That and nothing was changing around her. She shoved her fear aside and grinded her teeth together, biting the inside of her lip enough for her to taste her own metallic flavored blood. She would need to time this right or start praying for a miracle. Her hands tightened into fists as she stood ready to move.
The next to last section of the stone walls had just clashed in front of her when she activated her Combistick and jumped, holding it above her so its tips would catch upon the grooves of some of the wall carvings in the tunnel above. She swiftly wrapped herself around the Combistick, holding on tightly, and was more than thankful that the weapon held her weight as the last stone quickly slid into the place she had just been standing, barely hitting the end of her foot as she had moved. Her hold only lasted a second, however, as the Combistick moved out of place. She managed to land on both of her bare feet.
A small passageway opened on her left and she squeezed into the space before there was another attempt to crush her in the tunnel. She turned to see where this way would lie, but what choice did she have anyway? There hadn't been another option giving to her.
Snapping her Combistick to her belt once more and given it an appreciative pat, she activated her wristblades and moved through the passageway, bending her knees and leaning forward in order to fit through without resorting herself to the less defensive maneuver of crawling.