Chapter 1 (Prologue)
Disclaimer: I do not own Alien/Predator series or any characters and may not follow all customs and cultures found in Alien/Predator movies.
The quietness of the planet settled into the soft grass and ruffled each leaf of the trees. The jungle was alive, filled with swarms of creatures. From the tiniest insect to the largest of the herds filled with herbivores, everything lived in a cycle. Life and death carried on as if nothing could bother it.
But all that changed one day.
Something moved through the vines that dressed the trees and connected them to others like bridges. The small creature stayed close to the floor, crawling on all fours and moving silently. It stopped for a moment and inhaled deeply into the air. Its four mandibles stretched, catching a tasty scent. It inhaled again until its dreadlocks stood up a little, finally sensing a trail it could follow. With determination, it scurries faster to find it.
After jumping, crawling, and scoundering around the wet floor, it finally saw what was the source of the scent.
There was a carcass of a ram-like creature lying across a clearing. Its purple blood was spilling out, flowing over the area around it. The creature sniffed once more. Its stomach growled in anticipation. It crawled closer to the carcass but as soon as it got through the cover of the bushes, it stiffened in its spot.
There was another creature feasting on the carcass. Another one like itself. It was engorging on a hunk of flesh that it ripped out of the stomach. The creature debated on whether to get any closer and risk getting into a fight.
Another growl from its stomach gave it its answer.
It ran across and jumped over to get a piece. By the time it bit into the carcass, the other creature growled and roared, snapping its mandibles. It roared back. Both arched their backs as they began to circle. Their minds no longer on the carcass but on the competition and their dreadlocks rising from the anger inside. The tension broke when one almost tripped on a rock and the other lunged for the throat. A battle ensued for dominance. Each giving the other deep scratches and bite marks. They were no more than ravaging beasts.
They broke from each other, huffing for air and feeling the stinging pain all over their bodies. Still, they were ready for another round. They growled and hissed, snapping at the other a few times for intimidation. They were about to fight yet again when something from the sky grabbed their attention.
A bright light blocked their sights for a moment until they could see enough that it was a meteorite falling from the sky. Several more followed suit and decorated the orange sky The two creatures clicked and sniffed, thinking it might be food but getting nothing. As the meteorites came closer, it began to take shape. It wasn't a meteorite or anything else of the sort.
It was a fleet of ships.
One crashed unto the planet, shaking the ground with brute force. A cloud of smoke emerged and turned the sky almost black. Curious, the two creatures followed the closest one. They ran on all fours as fast as they could, too fast that they tripped over roots and fallen branches until they reached the edge of a crater.
It was the size of half the forest with the ship buried in the middle of it. At first, the creatures were terrified. The instinct to turn and run was high in their minds until one was brave enough to look at it. It carefully held the side of the crater but slipped as the ground was loose and uneven. It rolled and tumbled until it crashed to the bottom, letting out a shriek of pain. Its shoulder was bruised badly. The other creature stayed on the top, watching as the other got back on its feet, still keen on seeing what the ship was.
It inched closer and closer until it was only inches from the ship, adorned with writing that it couldn't understand. It raised a hand to check it out but stiffened when a hiss of air exploded from the crack. The creature growled and hissed, swiping at the ship but left no dent. Nothing happened and it confused it all the more.
The other one decided to join and came to the ship. They clicked their mandibles, curious as to never have seen such an object.
But then, the ship began to glow with a red light that etched into the cracks and writing. The creatures moved back, keeping their guard up and a ship began to create an opening. A ramp extended from the back and let out more hisses of air that covered the area with a thick fog. The creatures moved back even more as they could see huge shadows coming through.
They were insect-like creatures as tall as 7 or 8 feet and covered in dark brown color like mud. They stood up on two long, hind legs and their arms were as long as them, each with four fingers with claws sharpened like knives. Their bodies were made with exoskeletons like iron bars, wrapping around their torso like ribcages. Their necks and heads were elongated like a horse with mouths that were vicious to the eye. The worst was the two yellow eyes that stared down at the creatures, sending a shiver of fear in them.
The insect creatures tilted their head, observing the creatures as they stood there in fear. One of the insects chirped.
"What kind of creatures are these?" Their voices were high pitched, sounding like a snake.
"They look filthy."
"Are they intelligent?"
"Look at them."
The small creatures couldn't move as one insect came closer. One of the creatures, fearful of this new being, snapped at the insect and got a bite on one of its digits. The insect hissed, pulling back while holding onto its finger.
"They're nothing more than beasts. This planet is worthless for the continuation of the Amengi."
"Not entirely."
Another insect pulls away and moves the injured one out of the way. The two creatures growled again. The insect sees something in them and thrills in amusement. "They might not be worthless. With so many resources to dig up, we'll need someone to do the dirty work."
The insect chirped, turning around to point at another. "Get the rest to land here."
The others bowed and went back inside the ship while one stayed behind. The creatures growled again as they inched closer. They didn't like the look on the lead one as it began to smile.
"We'll find a use for your kind yet."
He takes something from its hip and pulls out a metal object with a long nose. The insect points to the creatures. They had enough and roared, charging at the insects with blind rage. The insect merely chuckled right as they lunged for him.
"You're ours now."
The insect pulls the trigger and a blue light engulfs them . . . and everything around them.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Kaail opened his eyes. Another nightmare he was having. And I thought I was over it.
He turned his head and saw that morning had come. The light slipping through the wooden blinds that covered the window to his room. It wasn't much but at least he had a bed with fur blankets and a place with a roof over his head. A privilege that not many of his kind would receive.
But then again, his occupation was a dangerous one.
He stretched his sore muscles, letting his arms and legs spread as far as they could go. He grunted when some of his bones popped. Still feeling the burn from the last fight, huh? He growled and got himself off the bed, going for a quick shower to start the day.
Washed up and dried, he put on his loincloth and the fur backing that came with it. He went to the shelving that held his armor and weapons. He'd forgotten to clean them of the blood from his opponents last time but wasn't in the mood to do it yet. He grunted and proceeded to get his white dreadlocks presented, using the leather bindings to tie up bunches neatly.
As soon as he finished and was finally in the mood to clean his armor, an alarm from the metal panel in the stone wall went off. He growled, spreading his mandibles with disgust. He stomps over and presses on the green button to answer.
"What is it!?"
He heard a quiver of a voice. They're afraid. Pathetic.
"My Lord . . . Master Thu'at would like to speak to you about today's itinerary. It's urgent."
"Tell him that I'll come when I want to come!" He smashes the red button next to it and the alarm goes off.
His blood boiled in his veins. Do this and do that . . . Can't they take a break!? Despite his protests, he knows the consequences if he doesn't come. His master would already have a punishment on his mind that he's already endured. Does it matter?
Kaail groans before heading to his armor and putting it on, not paying any mind to the dried stains of mixed blood on it. When he was finished getting them strapped on him and the gauntlets on his arms, he headed outside to start another day of misery.
His living quarters were settled at the top of a stone building as high as the mountain that stood nearby, looking down at the settlement of different districts. Kaail could hear the bustling sounds of beings, running from one area to another. An awful sound.
Kaail couldn't help but look from the balcony, watching the daily life his people and others were forced to live. This wasn't their world anymore.
It belonged to the Amengi now . . . and the Hish . . . their people . . . were their slaves.
Hi everyone!
I hope you love the first chapter. It won't be as long as my other stories but I hope to like it just the same. The story is in dedication to the new Alpha Predator released by NECA to commemorate the 100th release of the predator figures. I hope you like it and follow/review it.
It has just begun . . . :)
Happy Hunting to all!