Chapter 26
We'll be the worst of best friends
Four-year old Katja was awoken by the sounds of shouting. Pushing her covers away, she slid out of her bed tummy-side down and tiptoed nearer to the kitchen, where the argument was happening. Hiding around the corner, she listened.
Karik was talking, and he sounded really mad. Her brother was usually happy.
"I'm not going without her."
Papa thumped his fist on the counter. "Have you lost your mind, son? You can't take a toddler with you to army basic training. You are only nineteen years old. What will you do, keep her in your footlocker?"
"Well, I'll figure something out. But I'm not leaving Katja here! I know mother hits her when no one's around!"
Katja wiggled her toes inside her footed pajamas. Mama did sometimes yell and slap her, and it was scary and it hurt. But it was because Katja did bad things, like not picking up her toys or making the bed right, and it made Mama mad. At least, that's what Papa told her.
Mama sputtered, then wailed, "How could you think something so horrible about your own mother?"
"Because sometimes Katja flinches when I go to pick her up. I won't leave her by herself with you two. Even if I have to keep my job at the grocery store and forget about the army."
Katja could feel her heart doing the big booms. Karik was leaving home? And he wanted to take her with him? What if Papa didn't let him? Karik read her all the books she wanted, and washed her clothes, and cleaned her up without being angry if she wet the bed, and combed her hair and gave her pretty braids. What would she do if he was gone?
Now, Papa was yelling really loud. "You are being disrespectful and immature. How dare you insinuate we don't take good care of Jekaterina? You're going to march to the recruiters tomorrow and enlist, and give up this ridiculous idea."
"No, I'm not." Karik wasn't yelling anymore. He just sounded like he didn't want to listen to Papa.
Papa and Mama didn't say anything for a long time, and Katja waited in fear to know what would happen next.
"What if we compromised?" Karik asked. "There's an elite school, military-geared, right next to the base. Not too far from here, either. I've researched it. They have dormitories for kids as young as six. She'll learn English, and have access to the best education in the country. And I'll be right there to check in and spend time with her. Every day, if I wanted. I'll keep working at the store for two more years, and when she's old enough to enroll, then I'll enlist."
"Oh?" said Mama. She didn't sound like she was being nice. "What makes you think she's smart enough to compete at this 'elite' military school'? Besides, she's so small and skinny. She couldn't possibly keep up with the other kids. And who is going to pay for this, hmm?"
"Katja's already almost reading. She's brilliant. You're the fool for not seeing it. And strength isn't always about muscles. As for the cost, I've been saving almost all the money I've gotten from my job. Haven't you noticed I don't go out drinking and partying with my friends? And I'll get more money once I enlist. You don't need to worry about it, mother," said Karik. "Father, can you agree to this?"
Katja again waited nervously. She didn't know if she wanted to go to a school. What did elite mean? Was it bad? Mama seemed to think so. But if she got to see Karik every day, she would go.
"Very well," said Papa tiredly. "I think you're insane, but you're clearly determined. I agree. Maybe it will do some good for the child. She's too soft."
"She's four," Katja heard Karik say as she padded back to her bedroom before she could get caught.
Katja awoke, her vision blurry, the sun pouring in. Was she at her parents' house? Vaguely, she could see body shapes gathered around a… table? Father, mother, and her brother.
She felt so sick, so frighteningly removed from reality, she wanted to die. "Mother…" Katja groaned, wishing someone heard her – or would put her out of her misery. It's not like she'd be missed.
"Oh, Mother…" she cried again. But her mother didn't want her. She never had, much as Katja had always wanted to be loved by Olga. Did anyone even hear her? She thought she heard Mishka purring before falling back into the abyss of fever nightmares.
Vai'dqouulth snuck around the abandoned building. That dishonorable scum had finally cornered himself after many earth days had passed.
He had decided to assist the arbitrators when a bad blood had slipped through them. It wasn't uncommon for an elite to lend a hand. Arbitrators were spread thin as it was.
Not to mention the glorious trophy that came with legally hunting one of the most dangerous species in the universe.
Perhaps when he was finished here, he'd take a victory celebration and collect some Earth trophies to compliment his new bad blood skull.
His scans were dead, meaning this blight was hidden well. No matter. He'd spring the trap and kill him swiftly.
Below, he could hear the bustling earth city as humans went about their lives, unaware that this planet harbored a criminal of the Ravagers bad blood clan. Easily the most powerful of the bad blood clans out there. And most elusive.
He reached another floor of the unfinished building. A grand view of the city greeted him, to be sure, but he was still in infrared mode and cared very little about the scenery.
And then, he felt the attack come from above, the bad blood pinning him to the ground. A pathetic display, really. Vai'dqouulth managed to turn around and block an incoming stab from his wrist blades. Low quality ones, at that.
"Unworthy to even lick the dirt off the feet of this planet's inhabitants!" Vai'dqouulth insulted.
The bad blood was weak, unskilled, and Vai'dqouulth was easily able to turn the tides of the battle against him.
Just as he pressed his plasmacaster to the criminal's chest, something distracted him. "Hello?" a human voice called out.
The bad blood took advantage and pushed the plasmacaster aside before landing a blow on Vai'dqouulth. The reflexive response to the surprise attack was to fire. He watched the astray shot hit the human center-mass, just as it had peeked around the doorway leading to the stairs.
Vai'dqouulth finished the bad blood quickly, and ran to check on the collateral kill. He prayed it had been at least armed.
The body was lying at the flat base transition of the stairwell levels. Its back had a gaping, cauterized hole in it, from where the shot had hit it in the chest.
He didn't even need a scan to know he had killed it.
The scan did show some interesting results; none of them good, however. It was female, so his chances of killing a warrior were already abysmal. And she was an adolescent. With no weapon. Only a bag full of bound leather scribes, it appeared.
By the gods, he had practically killed a human pup. He suddenly felt a weight, and dropped to sit on a step, his shoulders feeling heavy.
No question, this had been a dishonorable kill. He was now no better than the bad blood he had just terminated.
The only honorable thing to do was to take his own life.
Vai'dqouulth stopped. No, he still had to report this back to the elders and arbitrators, and then he'd request to take his life in reclamation of what little honor he could salvage.
Or, he'd request they do it. But he would not be excommunicated and spend his days on the run in dishonor, nor would he try to cowardly hide behind his royal title, asking his sire – the king – for assistance. No; one way or another, death was inevitable.
Going back up, he made for the bad blood's body, but found he had no desire to take a trophy anymore. What was the point, really? But he needed the proof, so he did. After, he dissolved the body and went back to do the same with the female's body.
He knew it was unwise, but he switched over to a mode that allowed him to see features rather than heat signatures and rolled the body over.
That face…
Vai'dqouulth awoke by the sound of sharp inhaled breathing. Adrien was awake and spoke one word aloud.
"Sepsis."
"How is he, doc?" Adrien asked as he walked into the medical field tent.
"Septicemia is no laughing matter, but he'll live," the doctor answered. Adrien walked over to Sgt. Daniel Addams, who was currently unconscious.
"Septicemia? Isn't that like blood poisoning? How did he get that?" Adrien asked.
"Blood poisoning is not the official medical term, but yes, they are one and the same," the doctor explained, going over to a collapsible disposal bin and removing her gloves.
"How did he get it? I mean, he just complained about flu-like symptoms, then suddenly he's not waking up," Adrien questioned uneasily. Addams wasn't the type to be careless with his health or cleanliness.
"My guess is that open wound of his got submerged in that river water. Locals like to use it as a bathroom. Bacteria entered, and began working its way through him," the doctor answered solemnly.
"What did you treat it with?" Adrien pushed further.
"A powerful antibiotic – Levofloxacin; Levaquin as it's called by pharmacies. He should be back on his feet in a few days," the doctor said as she began cleaning up.
"Good to know," Adrien said before returning to his squad mate. "Hang in there Danny-Boy."
Adrien snapped awake with a sharp intake of air. The noise woke the hunter, who popped up too. Adrien couldn't care less.
"Sepsis," he stated to no one in particular.
He grabbed his hikers and fumbled, getting them on as he opened the tent and immediately face-planting into the snow, much to Alexei's amusement. He would make the kid pay later; but right now, a life was on the line.
"You ok there, Pierce?" Petrov asked.
"Septicemia," Adrien stated in response.
"Sepsis? What of it?" Petrov furrowed his brows in confusion. Blue apparently wanted in on this conversation, because he emerged from the tent a moment later.
"The train chunk. I think the bacteria from it got into her bloodstream, and it's poisoning her. Septicemia," Adrien sputtered out quickly.
"How can you be sure? Are you a doctor?" Petrov asked.
"Because one of my sergeants got it in Afghanistan. It started off as flu-like symptoms and then he couldn't even move the next morning." Adrien spoke rapidly now. They were wasting time.
"Ok, ok, how do we treat it?" Petrov asked. That question made Adrien take a mental step back. They were dead in the water anyway; where the hell would they find powerful antibiotics out here?
"Wait, Pierce, how do we treat it?" Petrov pressed when he didn't get a reply. "If we're not quick, her organs are going to shut down, and she'll die."
"Antibiotics. Not your run-of-the-mill amoxicillin, either. It has to be powerful," Adrien answered dishearteningly.
Silence descended upon them, until Katja's voice cried out. "Maht!"
"What is that?" Adrien asked.
"Maht!" Katja cried again.
"She's calling for her mother." Petrov said quietly. Blue made for her, and nobody stopped him. A few seconds later, he was back. Whatever he did, she was asleep again.
That broke Adrien's heart. He could no longer professionally detach himself from this. It was like Afghanistan all over again. Viper all over again. He couldn't help them, and he couldn't help Katja. Unless…
"The FOB would have the meds, right? It was set up around a hospital," Adrien ventured.
"That's like four or five kilometers away! Not to mention it's infested with serpents!" Petrov pointed out tersely. "She doesn't have that kind of time!"
"Better get going, then," Adrien stated as he began donning gear.
"Ok, I'm coming with you," Petrov jumped up.
"Nope, someone has to watch Katja," Adrien ordered.
"Then take Alexei," Petrov said. "If nothing else, you can use him as bait."
The kid screeched, offended, and got backhanded into the snow by Blue for his comeuppance.
"I need actual help, not a liability," Adrien said.
"Well, who does that leave, then?" Petrov seethed in frustration. Adrien looked over to Blue, and Blue looked straight back.
"You'll watch my back, right?" Adrien asked the big alien. The creature didn't even hesitate, and gave a sharp nod.
"Wait, wait, Captain. I must protest," Petrov stated.
"Petrov, we both know this is the best option. Now take a breath and relax. We will be back with the meds, and we will be on time," Adrien assured. "I wouldn't let her die. Neither will Blue."
"What about the bottles? They'll all be in Russian. You won't know what to get," Petrov pointed out.
"Commercial-use meds like that have to be bilingual with English, I believe. And even if they aren't, I'm willing to bet Blue can read Russian," Adrien replied. The hunter gave a confirming grunt, backing up Adrien's statement.
"Then it's settled. Petrov, give her fluids, if at all possible. She should really have an IV, but that's obviously not happening."
The Lieutenant immediately began digging in his vest for a water bottle.
"Careful out there," Petrov told Adrien in farewell.
To Blue, Adrien asked, "Know any shortcuts?" The alien nodded. "Ok, set the pace." He motioned on.
Vai'dqouulth knew he was setting a brutal pace for the human, though it wasn't nearly that harsh to a Yautja.
Adrien was panting and perspiring, but the human didn't ask to slow or stop. It could be one of a few things: The human knew how far to push himself; he was more worried about the time factor, and willed himself on; or it was a point of pride to keep up with a superior species.
Vai'dqouulth really didn't think it was that last one given the circumstances.
There hadn't even been a delay of thought when Adrien requested his help to get the medicine. Without Katja, they would devolve back into enemies; it was to everyone's benefit that she live. Sepsis, however, wasn't a word Vai'dqouulth regularly used; but somehow, he had remembered the definition.
Blood poisoning was a completely foreign concept to him. This could never happen to Yautja blood; and that wasn't him boasting, it was just a biological fact. Regardless, hearing the human female Katja beg for her bearer pathetically like a dying young blood at their Chiva was… difficult to ignore. His dream last night was likely contributing to his feelings, as well.
Powerless to help, he had tried to soothe her with the same treatment he'd used in the cave.
"Ok, ok, I need to slow," Adrien finally panted out. The veteran refused to stop entirely and slowed to a walk instead.
"I've been thinking," Adrien began, taking a gulp of air. Vai'dqouulth resisted an insulting remark. Not that he'd understand it anyway. "There's clearly going to be a communication problem between us. I thought maybe I could teach you some of our universal military hand signals."
A sound judgment, certainly. It would perhaps be useful in the future to know human warrior hand signals, as well. So, he gave Adrien an approving grunt to continue.
As they walked, Vai'dqouulth committed Adrien's teachings to memory. The human quizzed him at the end, and as stupid as it was, Vai'dqouulth was proud to have gotten them all correct, which prompted some mandible wriggling within his biomask.
They stopped only long enough to rehydrate. Last thing he wanted was to have to carry Adrien back to the camp. As Adrien was placing his container of water away, Vai'dqouulth took notice of the blue, shield-shaped fabric attached to the human's grey outer covering. It had white… stars, he believed that shape was called, and a shape he didn't recognize. But more importantly, it had a human skull on it.
He tapped the fabric and Adrien turned his shoulder over. "What? My patch?" he questioned. Vai'dqouulth tapped the 'patch' again, hoping to not be completely open about which part was of interest. It was confusing because humans generally got distraught over their own getting beheaded as a trophy.
"Oh, I see, the skull," Adrien deduced with a chortling noise. Vai'dqouulth mentally cringed. Was it that obvious?
"I am a marine," Adrien began. An amphibious human? Were there subspecies of humans he was unaware of? "In simple terms, it means I am a military unit who deploys from a ship," he continued, as if sensing Vai'dqouulth's confusion.
By that definition, Most Yautja warriors could be considered 'marines' as they deployed from ships as well.
"I'm an elite fighter. I handle missions and complete objectives that the regular grunts can't. For lack of a better explanation," Adrien continued.
An elite warrior, like himself. No wonder the hunter that went up against him had failed. He likely didn't know what he was up against.
"Anyway, the patch is the symbol used to identify that I am an elite marine," Adrien finished.
So, it was a sort of mark to identify as being blooded? He wondered how human warriors decided they were 'blooded' – or what types of trials they endured. Had Katja also participated in one of these tests?
"You can have it if you want," the human's voice cut in. Vai'dqouulth looked over and saw the human was offering the piece of fabric. "I'm not feeling a lot of loyalty to my country after they betrayed me, anyway."
His clan betrayed him? Interesting. Yautja – bad bloods, specifically – betrayed clans on occasion. But he'd never heard of a clan betraying a Yautja.
Admittedly, Vai'dqouulth did want the patch now, knowing what it symbolized; but it would feel like an unearned trophy. Plus, if Adrien had earned his blooded symbol, he should wear it proudly. Still, it seemed more than skulls could be potential trophies with regards to humans.
Vai'dqouulth waved it off and pointed to his own clan symbol, then thumped his chest. "Huh, I suppose it could be compared to that, yeah. But I'm fairly certain yours was harder to earn than mine," Adrien chuckled again.
How would he know how this was earned?
"One of your pyramids was found beneath Antarctica years ago. Long story short, your kind let the one surviving human go. That's why we know," Adrien explained. It seemed he was good at discerning when Vai'dqouulth was confused.
Antarctica… Earth's southern polar region. There hadn't been a Chiva conducted there since… oh. Those little shits. He supposed the young hunters sent there couldn't fully be faulted for the Isolation Clan's poor decontamination and quarantine protocols.
He wasn't aware of a human survivor, however. The elder that was asked to recount events must have omitted that. Perhaps he would ask the old Yautja about it when he got back.
Needless to say, the Isolation Clan had been made an example of. Especially since it almost resulted in the extinction of life on Earth. And the death of a very prestigious specialist hunter.
Strange coincidence that history was somewhat repeating itself here and now.
"Katja is also an elite fighter for her country. We are both the rank of captain. You see, I was sent here to retrieve her at her father's request. The thing is, our two countries don't really get along, so I had to sneak in," Adrien began explaining.
It was interesting how talkative the 'marine' warrior was now. Vai'dqouulth felt it was perhaps nervousness and a way to distract himself, but keeping focused at the same time.
He had rituals that did the same thing, though he couldn't remember a time he had been nervous. Only excited.
But several questions were arising from this new information. Adrien and Katja were part of rival clans. Perhaps warring clans. By extension, Alexei and Petrov were part of her clan, and she was graciously allowing Adrien to stay. She was also being gracious to Vai'dqouulth, as they could technically be considered enemies as well.
'Captain' – as he'd suspected earlier when Katja had mentioned the word in the cave – was a prestigious rank in both clans for these elite fighters. But it was interesting that Katja, a life-bearer, was a high ranked elite warrior.
Yautja females never had to prove anything, being life givers; and he didn't begrudge them at all for that. They could still achieve ranks, acquire trophies and the like, the same as the males. They just generally didn't, and if they did, they didn't flaunt it like the males were expected to. To hear Katja was a proven elite warrior like Adrien was… alluring, to say the least. He didn't think he'd even met an elite warrior female of his kind, ever. A few distinguished huntresses certainly, plenty more skilled than him, but not what Adrien was describing. Katja was an actual warrior carrying an elite title. Human standards or not.
Surely, she must be highly desirable to her kind, then. If he could knowingly choose a female with a warrior's title, let alone with an elite title, then he would. Whatever the cost.
"In exchange, her father was going to give us one of the serpent specimens. I was so caught up worrying about running into one of you again, I never really stopped to question if I should bring it back," Adrien cut into his musings.
So, Katja's sire wanted to trade her clan title for Adrien's clan title. Was Adrien's more desirable, somehow? And serpent specimens. It seemed clan Weyland wasn't the only one who wanted them.
"I forgot to mention, I work – or did work – for a section of my government dedicated to hunting down extraterrestrials of any kind. I got betrayed because at least one of my people was… is… illegally working for Weyland, and I could be a witness to that," the veteran said, adding background details to his story.
So, his assumption was correct. The clan had turned on Adrien. Was he working for a human bad blood clan? Was it perhaps hard to tell? Adrien struck him as an honorable warrior. Unpleasant to socialize with, yes. But certainly no bad blood.
But it was disconcerting to learn that there was a group of humans actively hunting Yautja. It would be laughable, but even primitive human weapons were capable of taking Yautja down if there were enough of them. And it seemed human governments were aware of their existence. Something he'd have to report to the empire itself. Maybe he could persuade Adrien to disclose more on this matter later.
Not too concerning as they regularly purged records of themselves from humanity and stayed in the shadows. All the same, it seemed they were due for a cleanup.
"I don't know where I was going with this. Sorry. Didn't mean to be so chatty. Know we're on the clock. Just needed a little external reflection," Adrien finished.
Vai'dqouulth waved his concern away. If anything, the information had been enlightening.
"Honestly, I'm kind of surprised you agreed to go with me. Seems like this would be a waste of time for you."
Pausing, Vai'dqouulth lowered a claw and quickly scrawled in the snow. Need Warriors. We are few, our enemies many.
"Huh. You do write. Well, that's as good of a reason as any," Adrien said, though he didn't sound very convinced in Vai'dqouulth's opinion. "Come on. I'm ready to run again."
Adrien and the alien ran for a short distance until Blue held up a fist. Military signal to hold. So, the overgrown lizard had learned something.
The alien then gave the signal to get low and crawl forward. Unpleasant proposition, given the snow; but this creature probably sensed something he couldn't.
They crested a snowbank and looked down. It was a small camp, with three humans milling around a fire in their yellow attire, scratching themselves and yawning as they passed around thermoses.
Weyland.
Adrien turned around and rested his back against the bank. Blue joined and waited for him patiently while he contemplated.
"What do you think?" he finally asked in a whisper. He only saw the three, but that didn't mean there weren't more of them hidden about, like cockroaches in floorboards.
Blue tilted his head, then began spelling in the snow.
Perhaps they have the needed medication. We kill them. No damage can be done doing so. We slow the spread and less to kill later.
To the point and morbid. Frankly, Adrien couldn't argue the simple logic. He decided to split up their fire, so they could cover one another if more mercenaries showed up.
"Ok, I'm gonna go down that way and sneak around from behind the tent. You use your fancy alien tech and maneuver into those trees. I'll give the signal, and we'll take them out together.
Blue nodded, and Adrien began a silent belly slide down the hill. When he looked back, the alien was gone… or invisible.
Coming up behind the tent, Adrien searched the trees. There was a flash of disembodied eyes to signal him that his new friend was in position.
What was that eye thing, anyway? He had seen it when he had been hunted, and so had others who encountered these things. Perhaps a visor refresh? Changing vision modes? Knowing these beasts, it was probably nothing more than a taunting tactic.
Shaking himself from his thoughts, Adrien readied his weapon. He took aim at the head of the most isolated one so Blue knew who he wanted.
Adrien saw a triangle laser land on a different one. That was as good of a signal as any. The marine fired, dropping the first merc.
He expected Blue to kill the next, but nothing happened. The other Weyland men dropped their coffees and fumbled with their weapons.
"Shit!" Adrien spat as he spun on his knee and quickly dropped the other two before they could get a bead on him.
With all tangos down, Adrien moved in, scanning for threats. A moment later, an invisible Blue dropped to the ground.
"What the hell?! Where were you on that?!" Adrien demanded frostily.
"What is all the ruckus?" cut in a sultry but familiar voice. Both marine and hunter turned, their weapons trained on the figure emerging from the tent.
"Hold," Adrien advised Blue.
Jade. The female counterpart of Hornet. Her hair was half straight and half curly, as though she'd been in the middle of styling it. Maybe with a budget like Weyland's, they could afford to use their generator power on a hair iron.
"Oh, I didn't know you'd be back. I would've dressed up a little more," Jade stated seductively, batting her generous eyelashes. "Hey, handsome."
Case rested. She was Hornet. Good thing they'd never met.
"Stay there, no closer," Adrien ordered, tired of her tricks. He was starting to think she was like a praying mantis. Kills and eats the man after luring them in for sex.
"Of course," Jade smiled innocently, putting up her hands. "Anything for you."
"Blue, watch her. Gonna check for weapons. She moves, you kill her," Adrien ordered. The scaly bastard gave him a chirp to confirm. Only time would tell if he'd follow through, or flake like last time.
"If you wanted me to strip, all you had to do is ask. And who is your friend? Can he or she come out to play?" Jade bit her nail.
Blue decided to materialize, and snarled at her. Jade's façade finally broke, and she jumped a mile, going pale.
"Not a great playmate," Adrien told her as he patted her down for weapons.
"I respectfully disagree!" Jade recovered almost immediately, pushing Adrien away. She was on Blue in a second, running a hand down his chest. The hunter gave her a steady warning growl.
"As a matter of fact, he's being a really bad friend," Adrien more mumbled to himself, quickly going to her side again before Blue decided to take her apart limb by limb. Entertaining as that would be to watch.
"That's too bad. Maybe we can all three do something to make up," Jade mused with suggestive noises.
Oh, nasty. Apparently Blue figured out what she was suggesting, because the growling stopped and he looked extremely confused, despite the mask. As a matter of fact, he seemed to be looking to Adrien for help.
"Maybe another time," Adrien spoke disinterestedly, pulling Jade off the alien and pushing her back. In a way, he had to give her credit. She'd successfully stymied the hunter, however briefly, without firing a shot.
'Course, Katja got him completely enslaved in less time than that.
Thankfully, having already been on the receiving end of Jade's nonsense once before, Adrien was more prepared.
"I need meds," he said before she could make more innuendos or advances.
"Crabs are the worst, did Red give them to you?" Jade asked sympathetically.
"What? No, she has sepsis. I need antibiotics," Adrien corrected with disgust.
"Fresh out," Jade began, then frowned. "Red is sick? Poor little cutie. No wonder you came all the way back here. Sepsis is not something you want to mess around with."
"Yes, well, we were going to the FOB to try and get some," Adrien answered. Jade just stayed silent. "We should be on our way. Don't shoot at us or radio anyone, and we'll let you live. Fair?"
"Wait, wait, I didn't say I wouldn't help." Jade stopped them. Adrien turned and waited. "You must know that's the nest, then. Weyland made a pitiful attempt to assault it and failed. Currently, they are reassessing, and left me to watch it until further notice."
"The graveyard of tanks wasn't a tip-off that you were outmatched? Are you gonna help, or tell me how incompetent Weyland is? Because I already knew you came woefully unprepared," Adrien cut in. "A hair iron isn't gonna stop the serpents."
"Be nice. You're acting like a young man, eager to start, quick to finish. Fine. My reconnaissance shows the nest is fully occupied during the day," Jade started.
How was this helpful? He already knew that they weren't out and about as much in the daytime. "I know that already, what's your point?" Adrien lashed out.
"My point is, they aren't just standing around waiting for cute marines and chiseled alien trophy hunters to show up. They actually go dormant," Jade said.
"Dormant?" Adrien repeated. He looked back at Blue, who nodded. "Sleep?" he asked.
"I don't know that'd I'd call it that; but similar, maybe. The main takeaway is, you might be able to just walk up and pluck the meds right out from under their… second set of teeth?" Jade explained.
"Huh, ok. That is useful, if true," Adrien ventured, checking with Blue, who again seemed to reinforce what she said.
"One last thing. Take my rifle," Jade offered, reaching into the tent to hand over her Mk18 personal defense weapon.
"Why? I've got a gun." Adrien hefted his own for emphasis. She surprised him by unfolding a screen of sorts that was mounted on the picatinny rail of hers and turned it on. A half-circle with grids running through it appeared as well as a digital ammo counter for the magazine. Tactical tacky.
"This is an extremely advanced heartbeat sensor Weyland has been testing. It's not accurate to precise location, but it'll at least let you know if one of them is within this five-meter radar," Jade explained. He swept it over her and a blip appeared, blinking on and off screen.
Then he swept it over Blue. Sure enough, the big guy did have at least one heart, apparently. If Katja were here, she would've said 'Of course he does,' or 'I told you so.'
It was a sort of motion tracker, or echolocation. Would be a useful tool for the government, but he was starting to wonder if it was wise for them to have things like this with the general shittiness of government 'alphabet agencies'… like the CIA who just burned him.
"Fifteen feet is awfully close," Adrien grumbled, knowing he shouldn't be complaining when she was trying to help.
"Sixteen, but who's counting? Anyway, it's better than nothing," Jade chided. "Be grateful, babe; next to my Olay night serum, that's my most valuable tool."
Biting his tongue on a 'tool' snark so as not to encourage her, Adrien asked a question instead. "Ok, what now?"
"Now I go back, report the camp was hit, and send Slater in the wrong direction," Jade said, almost gleefully. Adrien got the sense she wasn't a big fan of her boss.
"Hmm, how do I know you won't just send him back here and use us as bait? Or take Blue as a specimen?" Adrien interrogated, still a bit unsure.
"Oh, I am taking Blue as a specimen," Jade began, though the hunter didn't take too well to that and hissed at her. "But for my own personal pleasure at a later time. Right now, Red needs him more. After that, I can do all the 'studies' I want. No sense letting a fine piece of meat like that go to waste," she finished with a joke. Or at least, Adrien hoped it was a joke.
"Adrien," Jade cut into his thoughts. "I will throw Weyland off your scent. For Red's sake. She reminds me of my kid sister, a little bit. You can trust that if you can't take my word," she finished, her tone much more serious.
Blue looked to Adrien as if to say, 'your call'.
"Alright, let her go," Adrien ordered, and Blue lowered his wrist. Jade nodded and began jogging away.
Boy, he hoped he wasn't screwing this up. He was used to people being dependent on him. Not the other way around.
Just a reminder, we do accept criticism, though hopefully we are doing a good enough job not to warrant it.
You can also call out a specific writer in your comment if you want to address one of us in particular.
And some fun trivia:
Didn't know it at the time when I wrote Blue wanting Adrien's MARSOC patch, but Greyback from P2 has a United States 2nd Infantry Division patch wrapped around his gauntlet. Always nice when your thought process lines up with the creators.
Wanted to be sure to include a form of the motion tracker, So, I poached the Modern Warfare 2 heartbeat sensor. Hey, Lance Henriksen is in both!