Dark Space 49: Invasion

by G. K. Scott

  Emma found herself stopping in mid motion as the gun came in to view of her face. Oran smirked looking at her. “Now wasn’t that just stupid Wingates?” He pressed down on the trigger only to hear the wiring of both barrels. Emma slowly smiled. “Not as stupid as firing a gun that’s empty!” Oran growled aloud watching her spear move forwards. He slammed out his wrist blades only to hit the spear full force as it came down. Jeuki moved forward slamming his foot down on Oran’s shoulder as he tried to push Emma’s spear away with his wrist blades. He leaned down grabbing his disc. All he heard was an agonizing cry of pain followed by red blood spattering the wall as he yanked it free. Oran looked up only to feel the agony as the spear shot forward going right through his hand that held the gun. He watched as it fell to the floor only to be smashed at the barrel. As Jeuki slammed his clawed foot came down on it full force. He snarled looking the spear through his hand. His narrowed gaze slowly met Emma’s.

  He felt his grinded his teeth together. “Bitch!” Emma turned slamming her foot full force in to his face. She watched blood fly through his teeth with the force of the blow. Oran tried to rise only to feel Jeuki slam down his clawed foot again causing him to hit the floor painfully. Emma leaned down pulling her spear free. She leaned over grabbing Oran’s arm as he tried to hit her with his wrist blades. Oran grunted in pain feeling Emma’s grip tighten. “You shouldn’t kill me!” Emma eyed him. “Oh really and why not Oran?” She slammed her wrist blades in to his lower arm ignoring his cry of agony. Oran felt the blades move as they started to slice through his flesh. He looked up slightly. “Because of my lab on Callisto you became something!” He howled as the blades carried on slicing. “The very blood of a hunter that runs through your veins was made by me!” He felt the bone is his arm break as the blades went through. “I made you! I created you! I’m like a father to you!” Emma slammed her blades fully in to upper Oran’s arm watching it separate from his body.

  She snarled throwing the served arm on the floor before turning slicing her blades across his face ignoring his cries of pain. “My father died on Eros! He was ten times the man you’ll ever be!” Jeuki leaned down keeping the man pinned he flared his mandibles. “You didn’t make Emma! You didn’t train her look after her or come to love her like I do!” He pushed his foot down hearing one of Oran’s shoulder bones break with the pressure. “Filthy disgusting ooman how dare you even state that you made my mate!” You made nothing!” Oran looked at his bleeding stump. “I made the mess that brought you two together.” He pulled back as Jeuki roared full force as he leaned closer. Emma sneered looking at Oran. “Please stop trying to buy time! Your time is over!” Oran looked up feeling the blood running down his face. “Then kill me you cowardly bitch!” Emma looked at him. “Oh I bet you’d like that wouldn’t you? Just like Oni Jui you just want the quick way out like a true coward.” Jeuki laughed slightly.

  He looked down. “You’re going to get a punishment far worse than death ooman.” Oran looked up slightly. “You cut off my arm!” Emma leaned down picking up his served arm. “Yes that’s so we can give the Sirun proof of your death.” She watched Oran pull back in utter horror. “That’s right there going to think your dead, but for you death is never going to come!” She looked up watching as the elder hunter uncloaked behind them. She could see that he was carrying the only box from the draws. Which nether her or Jeuki had ever successfully opened. She could see a shining symbol on it, which glowed red. Jeuki turned as the two other young bloods uncloaked both holding Oni Jui whose arms were bound tight.

  8

  Marcus slowly eased the controls feeling the ship move forward. He turned slightly tapping the panel. “This the Ultra Sera could we please have a report on how we dock with the hunter vessel?” He pulled back as Eddy’s voice came through. “Under the drop ship is a locking mechanism. You have to turn upwards.” Marcus raised an eyebrow. “Upwards?” Eddy’s voice hit the air again. “Yes upwards turn the ship so it’s horizontal in space them move towards the door. The large one that opened in space. Then press the two levers on ether side of the panel, you should feel the large steel clamps lock against the door.” Lucy looked up slightly. She breathed in. “Eddy you make it sound easy.” Eddy’s voice came back through the panel. “It is very simple the ship does the automation for you once you pull the levers.” Marcus breathed in. “I assume we need to use the oxygen cans with mask to breathe once they open their door.” Eddy laughed slightly. “On there’s something far better.”

  Lucy leaned forward. “Which is?” Eddy’s voice came again. “Under both your seats is a breathing device similar to Emma’s. It’s not quite as good since she perfected the design but it’ll help you both breath in the hunter’s ships atmosphere.” Lucy raised an eyebrow. “They thought of everything on this damn ship.” Eddy laughed again. “Just put them on when you dock with them, but under no circumstances try to open their door or go inside the ship unless they let you in.” Marcus looked down slightly. “I understand, despite that Emma and Jeuki are our friends we don’t want to insult the hunters in any way, shape or form.”

  Lucy felt the ship move as the got closer to the hunter’s vessel. “This is an act of peace and respect from one race to another, we have no intention of screwing it up.” Eddy’s voice hit the air. “I’m not sure if you know this but Jeuki’s race wont harm unarmed people. So don’t take any weapons aboard and no medical syringes ether.” Marcus breathed in watching Lucy empty her lab pockets of syringes. “Ready?” Lucy sat back watching as the huge symbol of the hunters clan moved past as they got closer. Eddy’s voice hit the air again suddenly. “Oh and one other thing.” Lucy leaned forward. “What’s that?” Eddy laughed slightly. “Find out what’s become of Oran.”

  CHAPTER 27

  IN THE DARKNESS ALL YOU CAN DO IS SCREAM BUT YOU WILL NEVER BE HEARD

  Location somewhere in the galaxy, aboard our ship watching in silence as the dishonoured fall.

  It’s easy to say that death is quick, but then it’s easy to forget that it can go on forever. I was died for five minutes yet to me it seemed like forever. A forever were time has no meaning and no existence. There’s no clock to count away your moments in the after life, no one shouting that it’s over it’s just over. I don’t really know why some people want death so badly, I’ve never understood why people want to throw themselves of buildings or put music players in there tub. I understand there suffering I understand there want to end it, but it’s almost like quitting and giving up. Some would say it’s not being strong enough. Oni Jui and Oran aren’t strong they both want to die and take the easy way out of avoiding punishment. Saying this human beings have been trying to avoid punishment for centuries. Crimes committed be they big or small, people have gone to great lengths to flee from prison cells. Nothing seems to change in that respect.

  I’ve heard rumours that some of the worst prisoners who have been sent to penal colonies, have managed to escape and flee the galaxy. A part of me doesn’t like them because some are like Lexington. Murders and killers but another part of me understands why they flee. They get treated no better than animals. Forced to live out there days cleaning and scrubbing out ventilation fans, which can be faulty and could kill them. It’s true some are no better than animals but do you make them any better by treating them that way? Or do you just make them worse? If they could learn their wrongs in a better way would they learn to be a better person? There are some like Oran that time would never change though. If they could do it all over again in a heartbeat they would. Oran’s ten times worse than those penal colony criminals. Yet he sat above the system, my guess is if he was to be imprisoned by humanity he would never see light unlit the day he died.

  Sadly though it wouldn’t be enough being the man he is he’d find a way out and flee the colony. He’s strong in his own little way he’d find ways around the human system. I hate to say it but he’s good at covering up his lies and killing others if it means his freedom. There is no freedom here though, n
o way out and no secret door. Here on our ship there is only imprisonment the only way out is through the space door and that still leads to death. It’s odd how when I was pushed in side this vessel for the first time, I thought I was nothing but a prisoner. I feel guilty for thinking that now, I guess at the time I just felt like I had no way out. I was just afraid and scared. Scared of everything, scared to live, scared to die, and so unsure of everything including my place in life unsure if I was a trophy or a slave or just a prisoner of a tragic circumstance which I so desperately wanted to change. I’m guessing Oran feels that way right now, he has no idea of the future the waiting is probably driving him mad.

  I waited so long in the first three weeks aboard this ship for Jeuki to kill me or dispose of me. Part of me prayed he would so I could find peace from my nightmares. I should feel pity for Oran because he might have to live out a real nightmare like I did. I guess the problem is the part of me that’s become so much like Jeuki just doesn’t care. I know if other human beings were standing here they’d call my actions heartless. I call my actions honourable a live trophy caught, one whose final punishment will bring great honour to both Jeuki and my self. I’m still very curious as to what the punishment is. What can you do to someone like this to make them suffer? There are so many ways to suffer in the human world but what is suffering to a Yautja? It’s true that they can be dishonoured but what is the next step to this? I know I’m about to find out the elder hunter has brought through a box we both found in the draws. Jeuki and my self tried to hack in to it; we never succeeded in getting it open.

  I guess there’s a reason for that which I’m sure I’m about to find out. Emma turned slightly she breathed in pulling Lexington’s head and spine free of the wall and putting it back on to her armours back plating. It wasn’t really meant to be on the trophy wall anyway, it wasn’t clean yet it still needed buffing and shining. She’d put it in there after she moved past Oran with her cloak up before he’d entered the room. He’d not heard her putting up because he’d been talking to Oni Jui. She felt Jeuki’s clawed hand as it moved gently through her hair she looked at her bleeding arm. She’d need to clean this up and get the bullet out as soon as this was over. The bullets that had hit her armour plating despite causing no damage would still cause bruises. Her gaze turned to Jeuki who was tapping his upper left mandible slightly. She moved her hand up slowly moving it very gently across his lower mandibles. Jeuki turned slightly he moved his lower mandibles slightly so Emma could move her hand across them fully.

  He turned seeing the elders gaze fix on him, which caused them to stop. Emma slowly moved her good arm back down taking a standing poison with her spear. Erisoki turned watched as Adarmi and Idosoi threw Oni Jui to the floor full force. He ignored the whines of pain from Oni Jui who lay still not daring to move. He watched as Adarmi grabbed the fallen human harshly who was lying next to Oni Jui. The young blood tied up what was left of his right arm to his left arm. Oran could feel the bounds digging in to his arms he howled in pain as he thrown to the floor landing directly opposite Oni Jui. He found himself staring in to the yellow eyes, which were full of fear. Erisoki eased up the box in his hand, he was so glad this was still here. On every elder ship a box like this was kept, it could not be opened by any one except elders or Arbitrators. Kept for the worst punishment of all called the Un-Life reserved for the worst and most traitorous of bad bloods and dishonourable prey.

  He slowly put a clawed hand on the symbol turning it in a full circle. He watched as a scanning beam slowly came out of the centre moving across his lower over grown tusk. This was done to check his age his tusk it was a method of checking. Since like all teeth its inner rings could be scanned to prove age. He pulled back as it stopped. His gaze turned as it the symbol began to turn on its own he watched as it pulled itself out of the box on its mini lever before clicking down sharply. The boxes outer symbols slowly came to life, as it opened out like a med kit revealing a set of six syringes piped full of thick glowing purple liquid. Erisoki slowly eased one out before handing the box to Jeuki. Emma turned seeing that Jeuki was cringing slightly as he looked at the needles in the box. “What is that?” Jeuki looked down before turning slightly. “There for the punishment for Un-Life or No Life to some.” He stopped watching as Erisoki leaned down grabbing Oni Jui by his dreadlocks while driving his knee in to his back as he raised the needle.

  Emma blinked seeing Oni Jui sudden terror as the needle was raised to his neck. “Un-Life?” Jeuki turned slowly. “Imagine that your genetic material is altered slightly. It’s altered so you become a wonderful host to a hard meat offspring, but because of the mutation the hard meat offspring becomes altered with in you.” He breathed in deeply. His gaze turned as he looked at the needles. “The alteration to you is that once its inside you, your ribs and insides start to mutate. They grow solid plates of bone to stop this hard meat offspring ever breaking out and killing you.” He lowered his head. “It feeds of your body for the rest of your life because it can’t break free and being altered it can do this. It can not grow ether it just remains inside your body.” He looked up slightly. “You slowly die, with the pain and the agony. Forever looked after by the hives droves and soldiers. Your death takes years to come but even when you do finally die this hard meat offspring brings your dead body back to life. Your different though not living not dieing. The Un-Life a walking carcass that is still mentally alive.

  A caress that can take years to rot away due to the mutation you’re controlled by this offspring until the day comes when you’re nothing but bones and a little flesh and some brain. The offspring finally squirms free of your body seeing freedom but will die as soon as it gets out since it can’t live with out a host. Then you’ll finally die after centuries of suffering.” Emma felt her self shiver, she wanted to say something but nothing came. The whole punishment sounded terrible even to her. The next moments caused her to cringe as she watched the syringe end slam in to Oni Jui’s neck slowly pumping in the thick horrible liquid. Oni Jui’s eyes went wide as he roared in agony. Jeuki watched as the empty syringe was viciously yanked free and put back in its place in side the box. He pulled back as another full syringe was forced free from one of the sides. His gaze turned as he watched Oni Jui’s body spasm in pain, due to liquid being forced through his system. Emma turned seeing Oran’s face show fear as the elder leaned over him.

  Oran tried to move desperately, the next moment caused pain as the elder slammed his foot down on his back. He tried to move away only to feel a huge clawed hand grab his hair pulling his head back. He could see the huge syringe full of liquid he found himself whimpering in fear. Emma watched in silence as the syringe hit Oran’s neck. All she could hear was his screaming as it hit the air, it seemed like one long endless scream mixed with Oni Jui’s roaring of pain. Jeuki felt Erisoki pull the box free from his hands. He watched the elder place the now empty syringe back. Erisoki moved his hand up turning the symbol, he watched as the boxes sides pulled back in wards clamping tight. He eyed Oni Jui who was circled up in a ball whining in pain, the ooman next to him was having some sort of fit. He flared his mandibles in anger there would nothing but pain for them from here on in! This was only the start of things to come! This pain was purely due the mutations starting to take place inside their bodies.

  It would heal their wounds while preparing them for the impregnation of the hard meat off spring. He grunted aloud, leaning over them both ignoring the fear in the young bloods faces. Normally young bloods did not witness this punishment only higher ranking hunters. This day though, that could not be helped. He could see Jeuki’s unnerved expression and his mate’s look was something similar. Although it was harder for him to tell her races expressions from one to the other. He breathed in ignoring the ooman male’s painful cries along with Oni Jui’s howling. The ice planet of Eduiji with it sixteen hard meat hives wasn’t far from here. It had been used for centuries to dish out punishment on the dishonourable. Its five huge ships guarded it, ea
ch full of warriors. Who had had sworn to keep it under Yautja rule and would fight to the death if necessary to stop any none Yautja ship landing on it. It was a great honour to protect this ice prison.

  He tapped his lower mandibles turning to look at the two young bloods. “Tie them both to the pillars of this trophy room!” He narrowed his gaze as the two young bloods sped in to action. His gaze turned to Jeuki and Emma who where still standing quietly. Emma turned slowly to Jeuki. “What happens to them now?” Jeuki turned slightly. “We take them to Eduiji the ice prison planet, the elder knows the way I’m sure.” Emma was about to say something when she felt the floor vibrate under her feet. It was followed by a heavy clamping sound that shook the ships walls. Emma found herself snarling in anger. “What the hell!” Jeuki found himself running out of the trophy room. He watched Emma grab Oran’s severed arm as she ran after him. He came to a hard stop bringing his fist down slammed it in to the control panels main power button causing it to come to life. Emma flung the served arm in Oran’s in to the escape pod. She looked up as Jeuki brought up the hologram image he moved it back slightly. Emma leaned forward looking at the image in disbelief there was a drop ship attached to their ships side like a limpet! It had somehow managed to dock over the top of their space door. Jeuki looked at the ship locked on to their side he turned slightly. “How in the hell did that ooman ship do that?” Emma leaned closer. “Drop ships do not do this!”

  8

  Lucy turned sharply. “You know we are trying to lock with their ship, not smash it!” Marcus turned sharply. “You know this isn’t easy Lucy!” He turned grabbing both levers on the panel. He pushed them down forcefully he turned hearing the clamps slam in to the sides of the space door locking them in to place. He looked down wards this was so wrong on so many levels, drops ship really weren’t meant to do this. It was disorientating trying to turn the ship so it was angled vertically. He’d also managed to smash in to the Yautja ship on his first attempt. Which who ever was in side would have no doubt felt through the walls and floor. He pulled his hands away from the levers feeling the ship go still. “There I think I’ve got it.” Lucy shook her head. “I hope so, otherwise we’ll end up died because our heads will implode in spaces vacuum.” She turned pulling the breathing collar out from under her seat. She pulled it up feeling it clamp painfully around her neck.