A/N: Hey.
The data and scans kept pouring into the panel. Breaking down the region layer by layer, revealing its deep, shining light in the dark, and what could be hiding in it.
It is a slow process, however.
The scope of Dorne worked against the readings. Matters got worse when the surveillance satellite he deployed had also been damaged during the fall. It was functioning, just at acceptable levels. Add the fact that this world, whatever it had in it, caused a great interference in the signal, and his search was greatly affected.
For six rotations of the sun, Noc'ture sat in the control center for hours. Waiting. His anticipation building. Veins boiling for combat. Blades thirsting for the serpent's blood.
Many hours were spent in the training chambers because of them. He could not allow those emotions to get the better of him again like in the space pursuit.
Not against any foe. Not against the most dangerous of them all.
Even more so when he had no clear notion of the odds he would face.
The nest inside the ancient temple was of a considerable size. But if it wasn't the central point of the hive, there were high chances he would find one the biggest in his hunts.
And he was alone.
There would be no running away from the challenge. The elders, leaders, matriarchs, and ancients of all clans did not reach their heights by cowering. Some were known to have slayed entire hives single-handedly.
Still, they had prepared well and knew every outcome possible before engaging. Knew their enemy.
He had none of the two now.
The presence of that serpent complicated things as well.
Never before had Noc'ture seen anything like it in the species. Above the average drones and below the guardians in size. But having the strength of the latter, and the speed of the former. And it was not even one of the abominations.
Just what in Paya's name have the bad bloods and the humans created in there?
He shook his head. Thinking about it would only be a distraction at the moment.
He leaned back in his chair, now on the sun's peak in the seventh rotation. Stripped of his armor, leaving only his gauntlet. In a simple sleeveless decorated vest, and long black pants covering his legs. And with his helmet below at the chair's side. He turned repeatedly an object around in his hands while waiting for the latest batch of scans to start coming.
Right on time, the panel flicked, red shifting to a different screen, as the compilation of results was being rendered.
Stopping the motion of his hands, he went on to read it once completed.
Disappointment coursed through him by the end of it. His head moved downwards with a deep sigh.
Nothing.
Just dirt, rocks, and sand. Again.
Without new commands, the panel went automatically to display the satellite's screen, as a new reading on the region had begun. Leaving Noc'ture to his thoughts and frustrations.
Since the first cycle, he had repeated to himself perhaps tomorrow, but now he was growing tired of it. The longer it took, the higher were the chances of the infestation reaching a proportion not even he could stop. If it was not already at that stage. And this world would die a slow death for it.
It was his own fault for having those feelings. Others would see it as a natural progression. It was as fate and gods willed so. Once he had similar views, in younger years, a coldness towards the end of things. Towards death. A lifetime later, he could not even recognize who he was at those times. Holding shame, regret, and pity.
Here he was now after learning, a worrying fool.
Grunting, Noc'ture rose to his feet, tired of sitting. Tired of waiting and looking at a screen. He didn't feel like going back towards it for the rest of the day. Should the scans find the nest, he would know instantly even if far besides.
He walked down a ramp, heading around at the base towards the front, the ship's windows open, allowing the sun to shine through them. Looking outside, arms crossed, he took in the view. The clear skies and the constant movement of waves in the beach. A fine view. Ordinary for his traveled eyes. Nevertheless, welcoming.
A feeling held in plenty of sites in his home. The forests, the high mountains, the countless rivers.
Home…
Paya, how long has it been?
Two, maybe three years.
It felt longer, what should be but a blink of an eye to him.
The traitors had played the game well. Covering their tracks for the most part. Thus, dragging him further and further away. Curse them.
He thought of his family. His father, his brother, and his sister. Of their last transmission between each other. Noc'ture would like to believe that, in the silence, they would start searching for him. His brother probably was already, all by himself. So eager and near uncontrollable as he was, the idea amused him. His sister would follow suit, with an armada of hunters at her back. His father very much doing the same too.
Part of him felt unworthy of such, should it come to be the case. All this effort, for him of all.
At the same time, he also would welcome their aid, and their presence.
Noc'ture shook his head, before those thoughts took him to ones who were beyond reach. Besides, wishes left too much to chance. The remembrance of them also had the effect of lowering his spirits even further. He needed to stay in the present, find the answers to the bad blood's deeds in this world, and put an end to the serpents.
In his movement, the object in his hand shifted slightly. He jerked slightly to the side, when the sunlight reflected in it, creating a bright spot close to his eye.
Here he held a curiosity. Mundane in the grand scheme of his situation, but the forger inside spoke loud. Plus, it was an alternative activity to keep him busy.
At first glance, the dagger did not appear worth notice. It was sharp and well designed, sure, but it looked like a gift one would give their suckling when they first started their training. Close to a toy in Noc'ture's palm.
He ate his own words in one single examination.
What the dagger lacked in utility for him, it compensated in its metal.
Tests were made, to see its composition, endurance, and properties. All came out with impressive and resounding results. With them, Noc'ture saw that this world could be more than it seemed. And had his first positive surprise since arriving in it.
It was also the first discovery he made in many decades. The metal had no recording in any of his clan's databases. Leaving him to wreck his brain at the possibilities. It had similarities to the godmetal Vibranium. The sturdiness of Adamantium. However, its patterns and built? He could not make sense of it.
And the biggest aspect of them all was what he also found in the dagger when investigating it.
The serpent's blood.
Absorbed deep in it.
He could not believe it at first. This was unheard of. The best alloys could only ever withstand the acid. Let it wash against them like water against a rock. Never something like this.
Another discovery Noc'ture made was in its use. At the dagger's sides, one could run a bare finger in them, and nothing would happen. Yet, the edge now had a corrosive effect alongside its sharpness. He saw it first hand, cutting a single piece of fruit, watching as it melted moments after.
Naturally, he made recordings and cataloged every single finding with the dagger. This knowledge had to be stored and shared later.
Yet, in the end, Noc'ture found himself in a similar conundrum. He was nowhere close to figuring out any of it.
At least this one was not so dire, he reflected with a touch of humor, staring at the dagger's length.
He remained at the windows for some time, letting his thoughts wander. Until his body reminded him of its other needs. In the impotent air surrounding him now, preparing a meal could be of use.
Placing the dagger down, Noc'ture gave one last view outside before turning around, and heading to the pantry.
He had taken just a couple of steps when a warning came up in his gauntlet. There was a crack as he turned his head quickly, raising the device. Hope bloomed in his heart, believing the scans had found the nest. But it was not that. It came from a different chamber in the ship.
Disappointment did not have time to fester this time around. For a possible solution to parts of his situation had just arrived.
The load he had brought from the temple had finished his recovery.
And Noc'ture would have words with him.
"And what is your name?"
"I think there is an opportunity."
"Make good use of it."
"You swear to guard my family with your life?"
"This is Elia."
"It is a beautiful place, isn't it?"
"Take care of them, I ask that as a friend."
"Go…"
He jumped awake, a loud gasp tearing through his mouth. His throat was like sand. His heart close to burst out of his chest. The world was a swirling blur in his eyes. Made worse when his forehead collided against something solid. Groaning as the pain appeared, he meant to press a hand against it. But soon found his movements restrained and limited on both sides of his body.
Panic was gripping his very being. However, between all the confusion, the rational part of him found its voice. Acting so wildly would do nothing to his benefit. Brude had to calm himself.
He tried. Eyes closed, leaning fully in whatever was beneath him. With heavy intakes and exhales.
Again and again, he repeated the act.
It took time, but he only dared to open his eyes again when getting himself under control.
At last, he felt ready.
This time, there was no blur, no harsh reactions, and fear had left him.
However, it was not long before a new feeling planned to take over. Confusion.
What was this?
Where was he?
Looking around, taking in his current location, it only created more questions.
He was in a…box? Made of clean grey metal, from the light taps he made against the walls with his fingers. With a strange glass window over him, allowing visibility to the outside. An intricate ceiling, also made of metal. A pair of white lights spread over it.
What is this? He wondered once more.
Curious, Brude reached forward, laying his palm in it, and pushed. It did not even budge. Frowning deeply, he pushed again, both hands now. The results were the same.
Was he stuck in there?
Who put him there?
He did not plan on staying to find out.
With no other alternatives, he pulled his fists back as much as it was possible in such a tight space. Hoping that it would give away and open at any point.
A sudden high and short sound stopped those plans. Brude jerked back at it in surprise. And with a jet stream, the box separated like double doors, other parts of it following. He stayed still on his spot. Only when each seemed to stop their movements that he feel safe to rise. He did so with great caution. In it, he became aware of his state of undress, feeling a cold grasp at his skin. While he remained covered below the waist, his blouse, boots, and weapons were gone.
Defenseless, and at the mercy of whoever brought him there. Outstanding.
Without the box, he got a full view of the chamber. The walls followed the celling's patterns in a uniform design. Sections of them had red writings running along their length, in a language he was unfamiliar with. He spotted furnishings if they could even be called such, in bizarre shapes. In addition, all of them were made of some form of iron.
Brude would call making of such metalwork impressive, had it not been so ominous.
The lights above proved to be the only source of luminosity inside, casting most of the room in darkness. A layer of steam covered the floors. Abnormal sounds echoed around. It was akin to being in the belly of a beast them in a manmade structure. It set his nerves on edge. Getting out of the bed he was laying, ignoring the icy floors, he started looking for a door, or any passage out, finding none.
What he did see, a little ahead at the sidelines, was a mirror. Clean and large, more than any he had ever seen.
And got a first sight of his current state.
Approaching it, Brude's eyes went immediately to the prominent new detail in himself.
Scars.
Many of them.
Long lines traveled from his face all the way to the back of his head. And not just there. Turning slightly to the side, he saw his shoulders and back had their share. Along with other unidentifiable marks. It did not make sense to him, the reason for their existence, at first.
However, memories were like fire. All it takes is a spark.
Flashes ran through his mind.
An underground construction.
A well, filled with bodies.
Death.
Demons in the dark.
And the brutality and pain he endured at the hands of one.
Brude took a step back, close to losing his standing. He felt like when he woke up. With no control of his body, suffocating in his own breath as his heart threatened to overwork itself.
It was too much.
He did not stand for long, almost falling when moving to sit down.
How was he alive?
How long has it been?
Had someone been sent to rescue him?
What had happened?
Where were the creatures?
Where was Elia?
The questions kept coming and going. Near haunting him. So stayed there, trying to make sense. Time did not register by that point. However, as his eye-opener to escape the fog of his mind, the one question he could actually rationalize, was that of his whereabouts. This strange place, wherever it was, could not belong to Dorne, or some of the nearby regions. No, this was the doing of another.
He knew they could be near.
And maybe they could be of help.
After all, why bring him here for no reason? Instead of letting him die in the underground.
In the final moments, he allowed himself to gather his emotions, and Brude held on to this new objective as an anchor. To keep him focused.
However, it would mean nothing if he could not even find a way out of this dark room to begin with.
Knocking on each wall seemed foolish, so he took a gamble on another alternative.
"Hello?!" He shouted to the ceiling, his voice traveling across the space. "Is anyone there?! Can you hear me?!"
Waiting silently, his gaze went toward every direction, searching for a sign.
After some time with silence as a reply, Brude went to shout again.
Only for his actions to bring results.
The guard came close to jumping to his feet, when, at his right, a new sound blasted across the room, and a circular door opened from the ground up with a hiss, revealing a corridor at the other side.
Rightfully scared as he was for it, Brude at least got the confirmation his supposed rescuers were present. And it seemed they were open to see him at that moment.
Not to waste any time, he took a deep breath, hoped for the best, and walked out.
Right away, his curiosity grew.
Whereas the previous room was dark, the corridor was pristine bright silver. Yet, it did not lack in details and art from before, Brude thought he could consider it that. Even as the sounds continued, they did not feel as eerie. He imagined this would also be attributed to that place under the sands, had it not been one of the hells on earth.
The floor underneath clanged a little with each step he took. There were other doors along the way. He wondered what lay behind them when passing by. Yet this path was open to him for a reason, he intended to remain in it. For his own safety.
At the end, it led him to a breathtaking large circular chamber.
Brude stops at the entrance, attempting to absorb everything he was seeing. There is too much and it is all too strange. At the center, he saw a chair, circled by black and blinking rectangular objects. At the front, was a window. From his position, he could make out the sky and a great rock. Days must have gone by since he got there. When looking the light outside made a strangely large and rippling shape close to the objects. He could almost swear it moved, but counted it as a simple side effect of his adapting vision.
There was a thought of just making a run for it. To just get outside and leave this place behind. He shut it down quickly. It was not the time for harsh decisions.
At the same time, the rulers of this…he presumed it was a keep, were nowhere to be seen, nor were any staff, he noticed, finding it odd.
But his attention was quickly caught by something else.
A table.
And what was on top of it.
Brude would recognize that blade anywhere. And the clothes next to it.
Hesitating, believing it too good to be true, Brude first gave the chamber a check to see if it was truly clear. Seeing it was, he warily walked over the table. His wariness soon receded. It was his belongings all right. Picking the blouse up, he saw it was very clean, and repaired. Yes, at the back were stitch lines. No doubt from the claws of that dammed beast. Brude shivered, recalling the attack. Quickly, he put them back in his person, but left his dagger still sheathed in the table. Even in this situation, his feeling of safety could cause him more grief than aid.
Fully clothed again, his eyes fell in something he missed at first. A jar and a bowl. The latter filled with colored…
Are these fruit? He frowned.
Grabbing a yellow one, he brought it close, inspecting each of its sides. It was food, that he accepted, but it did not look like a fruit, or a vegetable. He gave it a squeeze. Solid, at least. A sniff. No smell, foul or pleasant. But it did seem to wake up his insides. Even if he was still apprehensive.
"Eat it." A deep and low voice spoke.
Brude's heart clenched.
He dropped the food. On instinct, his body moved on its own. He could not stop himself from grabbing the blade, even if he had chosen against it at first. Valyrian steel sung when freed from the sheath.
Brude turned at the voice's direction, and almost dropped the dagger.
There, just a few paces away from him on the floor, was a masked man, gaze focused on Brude. As strange as the room they were in.
He was crouched. Tan skin. Strong in figure barely hidden by a vest. With muscular arms over his knees. Hair in dreads, all tightened up together. Donning high-quality pieces of armor on his right shoulder, waist, forearms, and feet. Pants similar to those the Dornish had. The mask drew attention the most. Dark grey. A fierce visage that of some horned animal. Blood eyes. Symbols and damage marks.
Although the stranger did not show any signs, Brude still felt a lingering sense of danger. The other odd aspects of him were no help. Not to mention;
Where did he come from? Brude heard no steps, no movement, no nothing. It could not be as if he was there the entire time. Right? He hated that he could not even be sure of that at the moment.
The silence between them stretched, until the stranger tilted his head, a fist closing slowly.
"If it is combat you seek. Eat first. Recover your strength."
He knew a warning when he saw one. Said in such a calm manner did disturb Brude in a way. It also snaps him out of his defensive state.
"No, no, I…no." Brude struggled with his words at first. Taking the risk with his actions, he placed the dagger back, hands raised in peace. "Forgive me. I was merely taken by surprise."
The stranger responded with a sound, that Brude was sure no man could produce. Nevertheless, his display of calm had results. He pushed on to deflate whatever misunderstandings were left.
"I am Brude Nalor." In full formality, he introduced himself. "Are you the ruler of this keep?"
Again, not a complete response. The stranger gave a short but firm nod. Before surprising him by adding. "Noc'ture." He said simply.
Brude expected more than that or any other titles as it was with the lords and ladies of the realm. In addition, this one surely had an eccentric name. He repeated it, testing the pronunciation. Not of Westeros origin, most definetly. In addition, from how hard his words seemed to come out, definitely not his main language. From Essos, or beyond, Brude concluded.
"I…take it was you who brought me here from the underground, my lord?"
From the way the now-called Noc'ture reacted, the title came as a surprise. "Yes." Still, he confirmed.
"And the healing of my wounds?"
Another nod.
"I see. You have my sincere thanks." Brude gave a short bow in respect. "And, how long have I been here?"
"Seven suns."
Suns? As in days?
The number would have not taken him by surprise, if was not for the fact of his present health. Even a small cut from a sword would take much more time to heal itself fully. Yet, here he was, after being nearly torn apart by that beast. Not even a small tinge of red in his new scars. And walking like it never happened.
Either the man knew healing arts, more than any other did. Or he was a sorcerer.
Brude could think of those later. Someone else's well-being came to mind.
He hoped humility would get him far, before asking a dire request. "If you don't mind, my lord, I have a question, many actually, but this one is the most important."
He took Noc'ture's head tilt as a confirmation to proceed. He even dared to walk a few steps closer.
"There was a young woman, in there with me. She –"
"Safe." Noc'ture cut him off, bluntly, but not disrespectfully.
"You mean…"
"Showed her the way out."
Brude inhaled deeply. He leaned forward, bracing his hands against his knees. She was alive! His chest shook as his breath neared becoming lights sobs of relief. In his mind, gave the gods a thousand praises. Moreover, his respect for the lord of this strange place grew, as did his debt to him.
He looked up. "Thank you, my lord, thank you." His voice came almost soundless.
The mask's red eyes seemed to stare at his very soul for a moment. Noc'ture then pointed to him, asking. "Her sire?"
"Sire?…" Brude understood right after. "Oh! No." He shook his head. "I serve her family. I once protected her father. Until her mother tasked me to her."
"A guardian." Noc'ture stated.
"For many years now." Brude nodded.
There was a deep hum. Noc'ture brought an arm up, and pressed a fist to his chest. Brude took it as an indication of respect. He appreciated the gesture, yet his thoughts remained on Elia. Reflecting, he wondered out loud. "I hope she made it back to gardens, or Sun-spear."
"Home?"
"Her families, yes." Brude then asked. "Could you take me to it?" Depending on the distance, it could take days of walking. He had to return as soon as possible.
"After." Noc'ture stated, gesturing with his head to the table. "Eat. Drink. Then I will answer your questions. And you will mine." There was a tone of an order in his voice now. It concerned Brude. More so, for the fact he did not know yet the reason for the strange lord's presence in the land.
"Are they something of matter?"
Noc'ture grunted, pushing himself forward to stand. Brude already imagined the man would be of a great stature. His eyes nevertheless widened, head craning up, at the absolutely imposing giant that now stood before him. Shoulders and at least two heads taller than the Dornish was.
Dropping that dagger may have been the smartest decision he ever made.
That thought meant naught compared to Noc'ture's next words.
"More than you know."
The human, Brude, surprised him.
Noc'ture was familiar with the called, human-spirit. Their unwillingness to yield and admit defeat. Their clever minds. And at times, their strength. He saw those up close plenty. It was why his kind kept venturing into their colonies. All in hopes of finding the one who gives them a worthy challenge.
The one in front of him had the makings of such. It was an uncertain decision to bring the man back to the ship. The serpent came close to ending his life. And the condition of his body afterward…death would have been a mercy, and it would have been one with honor. Still, Noc'ture stayed his hand. That hesitation revealed now his will. He faced Cetanu at the end-battle, and escaped his grasp. Of course, his other feat could also not be overlooked.
This one was a warrior.
Noc'ture would speak of it. At the moment, standing opposite from him at the table, he waited until Brude was finished with the meal. Despite initial stubbornness over the food, he relented after reassurances that it would not bring him any harm or sickness. Soon, as expected, after taking a first bite, the bowl was left with only husks and discarded pieces. And the jar of water emptied.
With his hunger satisfied, came his curiosity.
Noc'ture answered. Who he was. What he was doing in these lands. Putting away any notion that he wielded magic as the human first believed. That there was to see were hand-made constructs made by brilliant minds, and hard workers. There was still some convincing to be made on that matter. However, from such a primitive world, he should have known. In addition, what had transpired that night. Omitting details that he did not need to know. Those he could hide at least. On and on they went, with the sun sinking in the sky. He had not used their dialect in many years, but the hunter would admit, that talking with the man came easy. He attributed it to their similar mentalities. An understanding built from their life's professions.
So much so, it became more of a conversation instead of a question on both ends. And for a moment, it was almost as if no danger was on the horizon.
The casual atmosphere created cracked with a comment, however.
"While I understand it was a great loss for your people, my lord." Brude politely said in relation to Noc'ture's actions in the old temple. He had to remind the man there was no need for such a title, only his father would be suited for it. "At least you killed them all."
Brude had listened with great attention to Noc'ture's accounts. Seemly realizing why the serpents making a nest of it was such a disgrace.
Pride was a strong trait for the Yautja. Even if profaned it was the ancestor's work, part of their history, it deserved respect. Such was present in his voice as he spoke of it, and others he visited before.
For it, there was a sting within him when hearing the man's incorrect conclusion. The temple was lost. But his work was far from over.
"Not all." He stated with a growl. Seeing the man's heart rate grow through his visor, Noc'ture knew it was time. Wordlessly, he jerked his head to the side, not giving Brude time to form a reply. "Follow." He ordered, walking off without waiting.
Not even turning around when listening to the hurried steps at his back, he sent commands for the room of his desire.
"Wait! Wait!" Brude called out, catching up to walk by his side, two strides to make up for one of his. "What do you mean, not all ?!"
"There were many." Noc'ture revealed. "Too many. One allowed them to escape. Great tunnels."
"Gods. Elia talked about it." He heard Brude whisper after he faltered for a moment, a dose of despair in his voice. "An-And you know how to find them?"
"Trying."
Whatever the man was going to add died in his tongue. They had arrived.
The cargo room.
As he had seen before, Noc'ture imagined the technology and workings of his ship marveled Brude, even in his distress. Leaving him to it, he went forward to the walls at the right. The hunter's selected storage came to life. Upon detecting his presence, the access was granted, and it unlocked with a small release of nitrogen gas.
Grasping the handle, Noc'ture drew it forward. He looked down at the contents inside. Covered, just as he left them.
It seemed Brude was done with his gazing.
"Why are we here?" He asked.
Noc'ture opted to show than tell.
The storage was pulled completely from its slot in the walls. Noc'ture slowly laid it on the floor, giving Brude a view inside. Before he could say anything, Noc'ture took the cover off.
It was a somber affair. The hunter stepped away in silence. Watching Brude's shoulders fall, surprise in his eyes melt into grief. A deep intake of breath as he knelt, laying a hand inside.
It wasn't just Brude that was brought in.
Noc'ture did not know the other human's name. They must have been close, brothers in arms. Ready to fight and die together. And they had a triumph. Short-lived as it may have been.
Only Brude had the good fortune of surviving.
Noc'ture had cleaned the other's wound, placing his body in preservation. He deserved a suitable resting place. Not being ashes with the temple.
"His name was Darius." The hunter's gaze moved slightly when Brude spoke. "We met at when I came into service. Both of us were new in our roles, trying to find our way, and do our duty to the royal family. Those were complicated days. But we made a promise to keep an eye on each other, no matter what…Gods he almost drove me mad many times." His body shook. "He and Farid…" He looked over his shoulder, pleading in his expression. "Farid…Is he here too? Did you find his body?"
"…No." Noc'ture said. It must have been in another, more distant part of the temple.
Brude nodded, lamenting as a tear fell from his eye, but did not seem to hold any blame over him.
"I should have never brought us out that night." He said next.
Guilt. A dark companion. One that still walked alongside Noc'ture at times.
"You did not know. Could not."
"I understand that, I do. Still, I…"
It could not replace what had been lost, but Noc'ture at least could give the man some closure. The least he deserved.
Walking on the other side of the storage, he reached further back. Pulling out two bags from inside. One the put it on the floor. The other, he drew Brude's attention towards it. Grabbing hold at an edge, the hunter hoisted out what was inside. It went about as he expected.
Brude's eyes enlarged, instinctively backing away. Coming face to face with his would be killer again. Even if just the head.
"A blood debt paid." Noc'ture stated, holding his trophy.
And there was that look on the man's face. The fire.
Rancor, disgust, contentment. Each interlocked with one another. And the one which stood above all.
The sense of Retribution. Of true justice.
Already, Noc'ture saw his choice gaining more results. An ally was made.
He made a request. "I would ask something of you, son of Nalor."
"I'm listening." No hesitation. Good.
"The leader of this land. Do you know them? Can you talk to them?"
"Quite easily." Brude replied. "You desire a meeting, don't you?"
Perceptive. "Yes."
"Take me back and consider it done."
It was settled.
Picking up the other sack, Noc'ture passed it to Brude.
"Yours. By right." The hunter said as he opened it to peek inside. "A worthy kill. A worthy prize." He added, seeing the doubt form on Brude's face. Small as that specimen was, a few humans could boast of killing of the serpents without the aid of technology and firepower. It would be a wrongdoing in the laws to deny the trophy.
"…Should I do anything with it?"
"Carry it with pride." Noc'ture put it to him. The meaning of such a reward was naturally lost. Those aspects were not touched upon. "Show it to your leader. Tell them what you saw."
"Hah! Elia may already have done it." Brude pointed out.
Noc'ture would happily take this boon. "A final proof then." He determined, gesturing shortly to the sack.
Brude nodded in full agreement, pausing after, a pondering air growing around him.
"Be honest with me, my lord." He asked when a moment of silence between them passed. "How in danger are we? With those things free?"
Maybe he expected it to be a controlled crisis. That chance could be in their favor. However, this one made wars feel like a better alternative. And Noc'ture was anything but a liar. Therefore, he put the situation as it was.
"Your life and those of all who live in this world depend on what happens next."
(END)
Before we go on, 2 things first.
1 – Alien Romulus was…amazing. No notes, chef kiss.
2 - Did you guys hear that the new Predator movie will be the first that has a Yautja as the main protagonists?!
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!
I dreamed of this day for so long!
And with Elle Fanning too?!
Peak cinema is back in the menu people. HAHA!
Anyway, more of a buildup chapter. The next one will follow in it. I know the action is the steak, but it needs time to cook. Besides, nice to put the cast in more familiar grounds with our dear hunter and all of his weird little manners. And also to delve a bit deeper in his mind and past.
Anyway, hope you guys enjoy reading it.
See ya next time.
Stay safe.
Peace.