by G. K. Scott
CHAPTER 15
NOTHING WILL KEEP ME FROM YOUR TOUCH
Location somewhere in the galaxy, moving through the tunnel that leads to level ninety on board the Iron Year science vessel.
If my father were alive he’d be so proud of me now. He always said that you should follow your feelings and dreams even if those dreams my cost you there your dreams. No one can take them away from you, and no one should ever have to right to. I never knew my dreams would lead me here but I don’t regret a thing. I never knew I’d become a hunter but it’s become my only wish. I never knew I’d fall in love with Jeuki who’s from another species. I don’t regret that ether. I love him. The only reason that I’ve come to feel that I have self worth and am not a miserable coward is because of his teachings and compassion. He trained me; he gave me goals and ambitions that I could never dream off. He always stood by my side and was always there when I needed him through the good on the bad. When ever I was depressed or having a temper tantrum he’d be there. He’s the best friend I’ve ever had in my life. He’s more loyal than any human being I’ve ever met. I never had to question him because I knew his wouldn’t lie.
I’m going to get him out of those dirty scientists hands! What did they think that I wouldn’t come after them! Did they arrogantly believe that I would give up! Hell no! One thing hunting has taught me is that you never quit! Even if the obstacles you face seem impossible! Nothing is impossible! They’re going to learn that! I hope Leo and Julia are down there waiting like morons. They probably sent that dishonourable hunter after me! No doubt believing he’d kill me, well guess what! I’m not dead yet! I swear though they are going to be when I’m through! I never thought I’d say this but a part of me is really looking forward to hunting them.
I want to see the fear in there eyes when they see that I’ve survived! Right before I slice off both their heads pull out there backbones! Oran should’ve let us go! Arrogant son of bitch! Well at least now I’m going to see with my own eyes what he has stashed down there! I bet there’s more than just another predator ship! Emma winced as she jumped over another pipe. Her gaze narrowed as she carried on running for all she was worth through the tunnel. She pressed her wrist feeling her wrists blades come out to full. She turned leaping another pipe ignoring the pain in her clawed leg as she landed. Her gaze narrowed as she caught site of a turning up ahead.
8
Jeuki looked through the glass letting his clawed finger trail down it. Erisoki walked up to him slowly. “You truly believe that this female ooman called Emma will come for you don’t you?” Jeuki tapped his upper felt mandible in frustration. “She will come for me if she’s alive.” Erisoki put a hand on his bone necklace the only thing the oomans had left on his body. “You say your ooman is like as.” He looked through the glass watching as the scientists walked by. “Tell me because I’m curious, what makes this ooman female Emma different to those oomans outside?” Jeuki watched as another scientist walked by. “I believe her soul is like ours and not like there’s.” He cocked his head to one side. “The flesh is the vessel but the soul defines who we are.” He ran his claws down the glass. “I’d even be brave enough to say that she was born in to the wrong vessel.” Erisoki tapped his lower mandibles. “I can see in your eyes that you believe in that statement.” He nodded slightly. “Your show the teaching of the older elders well Jeuki.” Idosoi flared his mandibles in anger. “An ooman is still an ooman!”
Idosoi made a clawed fist. “No ooman is of warrior soul!” Erisoki turned flaring his mandibles. “You will silence your self young one!” Idosoi growled aloud. “Oomans put as in here! There is no such thing as a warrior soul being in an ooman!” Erisoki moved forward. “I said silence! You will respect Jeuki’s words! He speaks with wise words, words you have yet to understand! Adarmi folded his arms watching his companion flare his mandibles again. “He’s older than as what if it is true?” Idosoi grunted aloud. “As if the words of ooman loving hunter means anything I can’t believe you’d pump out musk over one of there species!” Jeuki turned his roar of anger hitting the air. Idosoi took a step back as the bigger hunter came forward. Jeuki narrowed his gaze. “How dare you insult me! You indignant little pup!” He flared his mandibles. “I was killing my first prey when you were playing with tiny training weapons on the home world!” Erisoki grunted aloud looking at the young hunter who suddenly didn’t look so brave. “Foolish young one you’re going to learn a painful lesson this day.”
Jeuki slammed out his fist watching as a spray of blood flew from the mouth of the young blood, who hit the floor hard. He moved sideways avoiding a kick from the young one who got up to his knees roaring in anger. Jeuki moved back as the young hunter tried to punch him. He ignored the ooman scientists who lowered the shield slightly to see what was going on. He dodged as the young blood tried to strike him again. He slammed his head down full force making contact with wider crest. The young blood pulled back half in a daze. He slammed out his hand grabbing the young bloods throat before he could react. Idosoi howled as he was lifted off the floor his clawed feet moving through the air. Jeuki narrowed his gaze fully looking at the young blood. He flared his lower mandibles seeing the fear in the young bloods eyes. The young hunter knew perfectly well he could kill him now if he wanted and he would have the right to since he was older and of higher rank. He slowly brought the young hunter down close to his gaze.
He watched the young one go quite not daring to speak. “You have a lot to learn Idosoi!” He flared his mandibles. “I don’t believe your death would accomplish anything. I also believe in being just and firm in my ways. Which is why I’m not going to kill you. Mark my words though, if you ever insult me again, I will kill you!” He tossed the young blood full force across the pen watching as he hit the wall on the opposite side. He turned his gaze to Erisoki who calmly nodded. Then tapped Adarmi shoulder pointing to his fallen companion Adarmi moved quickly over to his companion, helping him as he tried to get up. Erisoki tapped his fingers on his necklace. “His wounds will heal, I doubt he’ll be rude again to you.”
Jeuki sat himself down watching as Erisoki did the same. “I was that young and foolish once.” He watched as Adarmi sat Idosoi down and began to check for broken bones. Even here the traditions of his clan were valued highly. That being that the loser despite their dishonour was still tended to he met Erisoki’s gaze. “Just like him.” Erisoki laughed slightly. “Weren’t we all, I can still remember myself at his age.” Jeuki put a hand under his chin. “I guess everyone makes these mistakes.” Erisoki nodded. “You did the right thing I believe the young one has learnt his lesson.” Jeuki put his hand against the glass. “Emma will come and he will see what I see, it’s only a matter of time.”
8
Carlos folded his arms watching as a number of scientists undid the queens arms clamps. He watched as her arms slowly fell to her side. His gaze narrowed as the huge clamps holding her feet where pulled up, ready to be unchained. Julia turned angrily. “Leave those clamps on!” Carlos turned sharply. “What has gotten in to you?!” He slowly met Julia’s gaze. “This ugly bitch is harmless! She’s under mind control.” Julia eased up a hand. “I don’t care! I think your taking to bigger a risk! I mean what if you’re wrong? Do you have any idea what could happen I mean its Callisto all over again!” Carlos growled aloud. “Since when did you gain a conscious?” He looked at the scientists who’d stopped and were waiting for further orders. “Callisto is not what will happen here! You know why it won’t happen Julia? It’s because I’m a genius and I’ve taken Utro’s design and made it better!” He growled in anger. “My design is flawless!” He turned sharply. “Unlock those sodding clamps! Now!”
8
Emma slowly pulled back looked at the opening, which was on the floor at the end of the corridor. It was bigger than her no doubt it had been made for that other hunter to go in and out off. She eased up her wrist armour typing in slowly. She wasn’t sure that her cloak would work. Since her hair w
as still damp. She watched it spark up for a second only to dim. She rolled her eyes her body was still to damp she turned the cloak off. It didn’t matter she was a hunter she could get around this. She tensed her wrist watching her wrist blades fly out fully. She just had to get around these scientists without being spotted. They wouldn’t be looking out for her anyway. Since they’d no doubt believe there hunter had already killed her. She breathed in deeply closing her eyes. She just had to stay focused. She slowly opened her eyes before jumping through the hole. Her feet made contact with the metal planking bellow. She crouched down slowly seeing that the scientists weren’t paying attention to her in the slightest. They just carried with their tests. While talking, in the huge room filled with human sized glass cases.
She grabbed the rope that was hanging from the planking moving her self down it quickly. She hit the floor behind one of glass cases. She heard one of them say something about noise only to have the others laugh at him. She turned slightly what was in these cases anyway? She slowly looked up at the one above her. She found herself almost crying out in horror. As the dead white coloured eyes of a Yautja stared back at her. His opened mandibles were motionless in the liquid. While his upper body, which was, the only part inside the cases was unmoving. Emma turned back keeping a hand on her mouth this was horrible! Those disgusting assholes! She could feel her hand shaking in anger she grabbed it quickly. She knew the reflex action could end up causing her wrist blades to click back in. She looked at the dead face again. She had no idea who he was, but she knew he deserved a death far more honourable than this! He deserved to die with honour!
She felt her teeth grinding together as she started to move forward in her half crouching position. She could see parts of Yautja in the other cases, legs arms. In one a number of heads while in two others insides were floating around. In the final case stood a full Yautja skeleton floating in the liquid it was like some horrible nightmare one she wished she wasn’t seeing. Jeuki wasn’t here though she could tell from seeing the faces and the fact the skeleton was to big Jeuki was smaller. She moved forward she had to keep going! Her gaze moved as she slipped in the next room, which was full of small tall cases. She could see the scientists doing tests. She crawled slowly forward noticing a jug of Jeuki’s race’s water above her. She slipped her hand up taking it while gently pulling it out of site since she was behind the testing bays no one would notice. She looked at the glowing liquid. It was so long since she’d drunk it she missed the taste. She slowly began to drink it down savouring the taste before pushing the empty jug back on the bay.
Her gaze wandered as she carried on moving towards the next two massive rooms. She’d worked in rooms like this once. The far room was full of Yautja armour. Her gaze moved as she slipped through. She found herself almost stopping in horror as a sight hit her that she prayed she never see again. Her gaze turned slowly to the cases in the room. Watching as the hard meat face huggers moved inside them. Her body felt numb as the huge unbound hard meat queen met her gaze. The huge controlling device on her head was strapped down solid. Carlos stood under her arguing with Julia. She ducked behind the bay as one of them turned in her direction. How could they do this! After what had happened on the Callisto colony? Utro’s design was flawed! She’d told them that! She’d told them that it didn’t work! She watched the queen tilt her head slightly. She had to get out of this place! She had to find Jeuki quickly! If this was what Oran was trying to accomplish then, he was truly out of his mind! The same thing would happen again and she running out of time!
She turned hearing Leo’s voice hit the air as he walked in from the other room. Leo grabbed one of the face hugger cases. He grinned looking at Julia who was watching the final clamp come free on the Knopf Queen. “Hey not to interrupt but do we need those predators in the pen? I mean there’s no more use for them.” He grinned slightly. “Emma Wingates is dead so shouldn’t we kill the rest of them including Jeuki?” Carlos snarled aloud. “Leo put that down!” Leo smirked pulling up the case watching the face hugger move in the liquid. “Look Oni Jui’s killed her and we don’t need those hunters. There’s enough dead flesh of them to test on anyway.” Julia waved a hand. “Look just kill one if you want! Right now I need you to get out of our sight! This conversation’s more important than you are!” Carlos growled aloud watching as Leo moved towards the pens in the opposite room. His gaze turned as one of the other scientists put their head around the door. “Hey who took the hunters water the one I was about to test on?” Julia stamped her foot down eyeing the young man. “Probably Oni Jui he was no doubt thirsty! Now get out of my sight!” The scientist pulled back then raised his hand. “Oni Jui doesn’t drink the glowing blue water. He drinks the orange stuff, I should know. I’ve watched him drink it a thousand times.” Carlos turned sharply. “Go away! We are running important tests here!”
8
Leo tapped the panel watching as the shield went down slightly. He grinned meeting Jeuki’s gaze. “Hello there ugly.” He watched as Jeuki got up slightly before roaring at him. The elder hunter behind him flared his mandibles while the other two came closer. Jeuki looked at the little male ooman. It was Leo he recognized the face. He growled feelings his knuckles crack. “You disgust me you filthy little ooman male!” Leo laughed at his remark, which was in English. “Not to be to blunt but you disgust me Jeuki. What was it Emma saw in you? I mean you’re an ugly git!” He laughed at his own remark. “I bet the only reason she liked you was for your dick.” Jeuki roared flaring his mandibles fully. “A pitiful little ooman male like you would never understand.” Leo pulled up the face hugger watching as the younger hunters faces showed horror. Jeuki gazed at the moving hard meat offspring. “Interesting maybe you should take it out and put it on your self dishonourable ooman. It would be a death worthy of someone like your self.”
Erisoki started to laugh, despite that he didn’t understand all off what Jeuki was saying in ooman. He understood most of it. Jeuki narrowed his gaze. “I wouldn’t even put your head on my wall as a trophy ooman!” Leo grunted in annoyance. “How’s about I just put this in your pen ugly! Then we’ll see who’s laughing!” He tapped the panel watching the side panel open, he pulled up the case. “Yeah how’s about I just do it anyway I can’t wait to watch you die!” The next moment caught him by surprise. As from nowhere a plasma bolt shot through the air smashing the case in his hands. He felt the pain as his fingers were burnt. He cried out dropping the smashed case. It hit the floor near his feet it’s dead face hugger, which was in two pieces falling out. All he could hear was screaming and commotion. He turned only to see a net fly towards him. It hit his body pinning him to the wall opposite to the pen. He tried to struggle only to feel the netting tighten cutting in to his body like razor blades.
He watching in horror as a pair of piecing green eyes came in to view. Emma grinned looking at Leo she kicked the contents of the smashed case out of the way. She couldn’t help smiling as the net cut further as Leo who carried on struggling. She eased up her site lens then smiled looking at the netted prey. “That’s it Leo you asshole keep struggling.” She pulled out her spear pressing it so it went to her height. “Trust me you won’t get out.” She pointed her wrist blades at the nearest scientist. “Open the pens! Now!” She turned the shoulder gun on the others again. “Get me all these hunters armour as well!” She pulled her wrist blades away. Watching as the scientist started to type the panel in panic. She narrowed her gaze as the shield shut down fully causing Jeuki and three other hunters to come forward. She watched as there mandibles opened in an expression of surprise and joy. Jeuki kneeled down putting his clawed hand against the glass. She slowly eased up hers clicking her wrists blades back so she put her palm against the glass.
She looked up slightly as an older hunter with white hair gazed at her. She grinned watching his Jeuki’s amber eyes widened. “I’m going to get you out! Just sit tight!” She watched the other scientists drop all the armour plating near her feet, then move away
in panic. The huge glass slowly began to move back as the main pen was opened. She turned noticing her breathing device hanging from a hook next to Leo she turned grabbing it. Then turned it on before tossed it in to the open pen at Jeuki’s feet. She watched him pick it up clamping it around his throat. The three other huge hunters jumped out of the pen all grabbing their masks. As well as there armour. Jeuki jumped out grabbing his under garment quickly putting them on. He coughed as the breathing device started to work. He turned quickly meeting Emma’s gaze. “I knew you’d come.” He slowly put a clawed hand on her face. Emma slowly put her hand on his. “You know I wouldn’t leave you…I care about you.”
Jeuki pulled back surprised by those words. Emma picked up his armour chest plate. “Come on put these on we have to get out of here.” She watched as the elder hunter moved forward looking at her then at the Leo then back at her. The two younger hunters just seemed to stare at her as they put on there final armour. Jeuki cocked his head to one side ignoring the red blood that was now dripping from the netting. He looked Leo the ooman was going to die. One more attempt to struggle and the netting would cut through him fully. He pulled on his wrist armour before turning on the little ooman who was starting to panic. “This is why I like Emma because she can hunt as good as my own kind!” He started to laugh watching as Leo struggled only to cry out in agony as the netting tightened fully killing him. Emma grabbed his arm. “We have to leave! You remember Callisto. Well they have a hard meat queen here!” Jeuki turned slightly. “Hard meat queen?” Emma turned slightly. “In the room next door, they’re trying to control it.”
