by G. K. Scott
He pulled out his sword slicing a hard meat in half this was what it was to be a leader! To fight with the bravest of warriors for an honour and glory that would be written in stone forever! To see history unfold before his eyes in a way he could only dream off. This was what warriors of his kind spent decades searching for but few ever found. He roared slicing another soldier down the middle watching as limps flew around him as both shoulder cannons and plasma gun’s fire. Only made better by the roar of the ooman cannon, which fired off again followed by the sounds of the guns fire he roared watching in what felt like slow motion as the glory of battle carried on around him. Jeuki turned slicing through another hard meat head, he turned noticing something the lines were starting to pull back. He watched in surprise as hundreds of hard meat began to flee all at once. There numbers had been cut down to half. Although he doubted they were the whole hive army probably a strong unit of it.
He growled as they flooded back through corridors, leaving the main mess hall that they’d managed to fight there was in to barren. Emma looked up slowly watching acid eat through the floor. Something wasn’t right here hard meat didn’t retreat with out good reason. Her gaze narrowed as one of marines turned pointing his gun at her. He snarled aloud. “Stand down! Or I’ll shoot you!” Emma felt her grip around her spear tighten the marine growled pulling the gun up higher. “I said stand down!” Emma slowly narrowed her gaze raising her shoulder cannon. The marine pulled up his weapon higher. “You stand down now Wingates! My orders are to arrest you!” Jeuki raised his weapon only to feel Emma stop him. She moved forward slightly grabbing her trophy of her back pulling it forward. “I believe the general who gave you those orders is dead! Want to join him?” She watched as the marine pulled back in horror as he recognised the face. She watched him slowly step back then break in to a run.
She growled as the others did the same following their captain not daring to look back. Emma sighed aloud putting her trophy back in place. She watched the elder back away as part of floor fell through followed by hard meat bodies. She slowly moved back this whole mess hall floor was going to fall through if this carried on. Erisoki watched another part of the floor fall through; it wasn’t safe here any longer. The ooman hall was falling apart! He pulled up his hands watching as his hunters backed away quickly as more of the floor fell through with a crash. Thousands of hard meat carcass’s where burning holes then crashing in to the level bellow. He watched as the little ooman jumped over a carcass’s near him then sped in to a run towards the double doors. He watched as Jeuki followed her, he slammed his sandaled feet in to the ground following. Right now he was thankful for his metal sandals which where acid proof. He turned seeing the two young bloods run after him as another huge part of the floor gave way.
Emma turned as another part of floor behind them crashed through. She turned seeing the panel as the double doors came in to view. She grunted as she began to type quickly. Jeuki turned as part of floor smashed through to the side of them. It was a miracle none of them had suffered acid burns considering how much acid blood has flew through air during the battle. Emma typed faster watching as the position the marines had held crashed in to the level bellow. This was not good! She turned back typing faster watching the panel beep as it rejected hack code. She looked at the doors trying again only to have the panel beep rejecting her hack again. She pulled back in anger.
She watched her wrist blades fly out as she slammed them in to the panel. Ripping it clean off the wall she didn’t have time for this! She looked up as the doors suddenly swung open. She leaped through watching as the others followed only to turn as the rest of the floor smashed through behind them no longer able to with stand the acidic blood. Jeuki turned looking around him they were in another huge room but he could see windows on the far side. These windows didn’t lead out towards space but more inside. Emma looked around seeing the over turned chairs and bloodstains they had to be close. Really close this was probably a docking room where people who’d just come off ships relaxed. Although there was nothing left of that relaxation only over turned chairs tables and blood stained floors. Something really wasn’t right about this, why had those hard meat retreated? She shook her head shrugging the thought off. Jeuki breathed in deeply. “How far to the dock?” Emma turned slightly. “I think it’s through those windows.”
8
Lucy turned slightly watching as Marcus opened the door to the drop ship. She eased up her gun, hearing only silence. Something was telling her in her gut that this just wasn’t right. It was to quite far too quite she was no marine but she couldn’t help but think silence like this was wrong. Marcus typed calmly in to the ship watching as it came to life. He turned as Lucy moved in side pulling the door shut and locking it. He breathed sitting him self in the pilot seat, placing his gun close by. “Okay this isn’t what I’m used to but I’m sure I can fly it.” Lucy turned sitting herself down. “You know now is not a good time to tell me that you can’t pilot this thing.” Marcus grunted aloud. “I can pilot it!” He breathed in deeply. “I’ve only done it in theory not in practice.” Lucy pulled her belt across. “Oh I get it you researched it, but you never stepped in side the real thing.” Marcus took the controls. “Something like that, yes.” Lucy rolled her eyes in annoyance. “Look just get as out of here! I can’t stand another minute of being in this place.”
Marcus breathed in closing his eyes. “I’m on it.” He leaned forward eyeing the ship’s controls. “Well this babies a little different to the normal model.” Lucy picked up her gun eyeing him. “It’s probably a modification since it has a hyper drive. So it’s fully space worthy and can withstand hyper speed.” Marcus began to press the panels. “Probably.” He felt the creak as the left the dock. “Okay this is easy I can do this.” Lucy raised an eyebrow. “Yes Marcus you can do this.” Marcus pulled back roughly on the controls feeling the ship jerk back, which caused Lucy to be shoved back in to her chair. “Sorry about that.” Lucy breathed out feeling the air move through her lungs again. “Don’t do that again.” Marcus breathed in again. “I had no idea there was so much power behind this.” He suddenly grinned holding the steering tighter. “I’m going to enjoy this.” Lucy turned looking at him. “Marcus, for the love of god please don’t do what I think your going to do.” Marcus grin widened. “Sit back and enjoy the ride Lucy.”
Lucy turned, as they pulled further away from the dock. “Marcus!” Marcus smirked. “Have you ever been in any high speed vehicles? I’m guessing you haven’t but your going to love this.” He turned his gaze suddenly widening as all around the ship black Knopf’s crawled up in to the dock hissing at them. Lucy looked at him. “Fly! Fly now!” Marcus swung the ship around throwing Lucy back in the chair again. “I’m on it!” He grabbed the steering pulling it back full force hearing the engines roar as they flew forward full force. He turned sharply watching as one jumped landing on one of the high sides of the ship just with in view. Marcus snarled aloud swerving full force. The hybrid Knopf hissed clinging to the ship as it moved in line with the docks opening. He roared aloud pulling back full force feeling the force as they moved forward full speed. He could still see the black animal was attached to the side although its legs and tail were flaying outwards. He growled turning the drop ship sideways.
He found himself laughing as he swerved it up again going in to a full loop, which caused the Knopf soldier to fly off. He laughed as it hit a power loader below causing a crash. He pulled back as the forces hit full this was excellent! This better than any stupid simulation or stupid ship test! This was living and breathing it! He turned the ship looping it again as they sped towards the already opened bay. He pulled the controls forward slicing through opening ignoring the other civilian and worker ships. Who where speeding through trying to get away like them. He grinned as the blackness of space came in to view he couldn’t help but spin the ship again just for the fun of it. He slowly pulled the controls forward slowing down as he turned watching as the side of the Iron
Year came in to view. “Now that’s what I call flying!” He turned looking at Lucy who was leaning back in the chair. Her face had gone white as a sheet. Lucy breathed in deeply not that it was helping how ill she felt, she eyed Marcus. “I don’t feel so good.”
Marcus brought the ship to a slow stop closer to the Sirun. “Please don’t tell me this is the first time you’ve been in a ship like this?” Lucy pulled her belt free she leaned forward throwing up. Marcus pulled himself of the seat easing her up. “You’ve got turbulence sickness. You get it when you’ve never been in a fast ship before.” Lucy looked up slightly. “I need to pass out.” Marcus leaned forward. “Don’t you dare pass out!” Lucy raised an eyebrow. “Don’t tell me what to do! If I want to pass out I’ll pass out!” Marcus rolled his eyes. “Look if you have this form of space sickness you should try to stay awake.” He grunted aloud. “I thought you’d done the simulation like everyone else.” Lucy looked out of the window. “No I got pulled from doing it…they said it wasn’t necessary.” Marcus breathed in deeply. “Because you do cell science right?” Lucy leaned back breathing in deeply. “Something like that…I wanted to do it so badly but they never let me.” Marcus breathed in deeply. “You’ll be fine this normally only happens the first time.” Lucy closed her eyes. “That’s good to know.” Marcus smiled at her. “You’ll be okay in a little while plus I doubt we’ll have to fly like that again anytime soon.” Lucy looked down slightly. “Sorry about throwing up.” Marcus smiled patting her arm. “Don’t worry about it, it’s not that bigger deal. I’m more concerned about you then the ship.”
8
Oran watched as the one of the lights went out in his office. He growled in anger pulling him self up. Were where Luther and Neil ? He pulled himself up fully, moving towards his offices back. It was a pointless waiting any longer! Something was seriously wrong he couldn’t get any reply from any where on the ship no matter how hard he tried. He turned typing in to his panel watching as a long gun to a prototype shoulder cannon slowly came up. He smiled grabbing it. This was an all-new prototype, which he could put to good use. It had two pulse cannons unlike the hunter’s version. It fired rapid, bursts instead of one. The double cannons would fire when you told them to though. He pulled the sight lens over his eye; this was what aimed the gun for you. The upper cannon would fire its first rapid pulse then would turn to let the other fire while it cooled. The whole device was extremely light, He had originally made this to go with Lexington the marine general who’d had undergone the cyborg experiment.
Frankly once this cannons had been made he hadn’t wanted to get rid off it. He grinned typing the panel watching as another device came up it long metal blades coming in to view. A beautiful prototype of the wrist blade weapon used by the hunters made from the same steel as Lexington’s metal areas on his skeleton. He grinned he still had one more item to put on. He turned watching part of the wall behind him opened He smiled as the armour came in to view which was shining in the low light. He’d had it made similar to the hunters, but the guns extra weapons were normal marine types. The whole thing made him in to god! No marine, hunter or alien could touch him. He turned putting on the plates, feeling his grin widen. He’d go to his ship and see if Luther and Neil had gone down there. Then he’d end their miserable lives for there incompetence! It would be a great way to test out his new prototype weapons, which would mark the end of Weyland industries. Who’d want androids when you could have cyborg’s and superior fire power?
He turned watching as his armoured suit and cannon came to life along with his wrist blades. People wanted change and Weyland wouldn’t lead the way to change. Unlike Oran Corp who would make things better for everyone. He was grateful though that Weyland had lent him their Android designs. It had made his research easer. He breathed in watching the cannon move, what ever was out there he’d have no problem in dealing with it. Plus if it was bad he could just go to ship and free. His enhanced hunter hyper drive would get him away with little issue. Even if his experiments had gone to pot he could just start over again. He was Oran a rich powerful man anything was with in his grasp.
8
Emma turned looking through the plate of glass. The huge dock was below them; she could see dock nine with there ship lying quietly in the dockyard. There were ships flying past it though. She could see them moving as fast as possible hundreds of civilian marine and worker vessels flying through the tunnel. None even stopping to turn as they moved with what seemed like a terrified need, some of the ships were battered and broken but that didn’t stop them at all. There need for freedom driving them towards the main bay doors for all they where worth. Her gaze turned she could see burning ships lying bellow in the tunnel. Those who hadn’t made it or had crashed now lay in the burning fires. Her gaze moved as one of the marine drop ships veered off course. Jeuki pulled back as the ship came flying in to dock nine, he watched as the others did the same. It was coming right at them! The ship didn’t stop as it carried on coming in its huge wing coming apart as it smashed the upper walls.
Jeuki grabbed Emma before she could move back further. He watched the other hunters leap out of the way as the glass shattered around them, he leaped away taking his mate with him shielding her as the fire of wrecked ship blasted around them. He hit the ground covering her so she was fully shielded. He felt the slight burn in his armour, but no more. He turned seeing that his shoulder cannon back plate was on fire. The ooman ships whole upper half was buried in the now shattered windows. Blood was plastered across the smashed windscreen. He could see one dead pilot laying still in the cockpit. The other pilot had been put through the other windscreen and was lying on the floor. He was still alive surprisingly; although he wouldn’t be for long his blood was soaking the ground. He turned seeing Erisoki come out of hiding followed by the young bloods all were unhurt. Emma pulled herself up feeling Jeuki move off her she turned noticing his shoulder cannons back plate was burning. She looked around her seeing a fallen carbon dioxide fire extinguisher.
Jeuki was probably not going to like this, but it was for his own good. Jeuki turned seeing Emma pull up a weird device pointing it at his back. He watched as some form of white powder hit him, he found himself howling because of how freezing cold it was. Emma pulled back seeing the other hunter’s utter confusion over what she was doing. Jeuki turned grabbing the device out of Emma’s hand. “That’s cold!” Emma watched him throw the fire extinguisher at the wall. “It was for your own good you were on fire!” Jeuki growled aloud. “I was fine I didn’t need that cold stuff on me!” Emma folded her arms. “What so you’d have rather have fire burn your hair and flesh?” Jeuki pulled up a clawed hand. “The fire wouldn’t have burnt through my armour plating.” Emma pulled out her hands. “It might have.” Jeuki turned in annoyance. “You could’ve told me it was that cold!” Emma sighed aloud. “Were I come from you don’t bother telling someone how cold the iced water will be if there on fire, you put them out.”
Jeuki turned sharply he was about to say something when he stopped. She’d just been trying to help him she probably had no idea that, that stuff felt far colder to his race than it did hers. He slowly brought up a clawed hand running it down her face. “That frozen water feels really cold, please just say something first.” Emma leaned up running her hand along his mask. “I’m sorry I just didn’t want you to get hurt.” Jeuki turned slightly looking at the wreckage again. He ran a hand gently down her back it wasn’t worth continuing this argument it was a foolish argument anyway. Emma looked at the mess somehow she was glad the other hunters were okay. They could have all been killed she watched as the dieing marine who was lying on the floor opened his eyes before leaning over coughing up blood. He really didn’t have long at all. She slowly moved away from Jeuki kneeling down next to him. He coughed slightly looking at her. “Emma Wingates…how annoying I get to see you…”
He paused coughing up more blood. “I get to see you…at the end.” Emma pulled his helmet back on fully. “Would yo
u like me to help you end the pain?” The marine looked at her in anger only to stop seeing her look of sympathy and sadness. He watched as the four huge hunters gathered around watching them both. He found himself coughing up blood again feeling the realization of what this woman was truly saying. She wasn’t trying to kill him outright she was trying to end his suffering before he died. He looked at her closing his eyes. “Do it.” Emma pulled up her wrist blades. “I hope that you meet your god on the other side.” Emma eased up the marine’s pulse rifle putting it back in his hand. She watched as he gripped his weapon tightly. She found herself breathing deeply before turning slamming her blades directly in to his chest she watched in silence as he made a few painful grunts, before going completely still as death finally took hold.
She eased her wrist blades free looking at the dead marine who still held his gun tightly. “Find peace in your afterlife.” Jeuki leaned down looking at the dead ooman warrior. “He died a good death.” Emma breathed in pulling herself to her feet. Her gaze turned to the shattered windows. “I guess we won’t have trouble getting in to the dock now.” Erisoki looked at the windows his gaze turned to Jeuki. “We have to go down there?” Jeuki turned slightly. “Yes the climb isn’t far, we should make it easy enough.” Erisoki turned only to stop as something began to rumble bellow him. He turned eyeing the double doors watching the room shake. Was this the ooman ship or was it something else? Jeuki looked up taking hold of Emma’s arm. He found himself pulling back as a huge black mouth appeared through the broken floor. Its four huge mandibles flared. Erisoki pulled back in horror that was why the hard meat had retreated! So there queen could get through, the others had sacrificed themselves on purpose so they could burn a hole big enough for her to crawl up!
