Seasons

Observation from afar combined with a few scans and very educated guesses had led him to the source. He could either attempt to gather information on the process involved in the chemical's manufacture, or simply confiscate a round and dissect it for its secrets on his own. He could derive a counter from its contents, he was sure of that. Either way, he was positive that he could prove that his new solution could work. The thought pleased him more than it really should have and he knew it as he watched from the shadows of the foliage. This wasn't something that his kind generally aspired to. Unlike the humans standing guard at the back entrance to this establishment, it wasn't considered an admirable thing to look forward to becoming a scientist, lawyer, doctor or business man. Where he came from, everything revolved around hunting and everyone's rank was determined by how skilled a warrior they were. Whether or not they were considered exceptionally intelligent was overlooked by an inability to hunt successfully. You could make your weapons from scratch and have the ability to construct an entire vessel on your own, but if you were a terrible hunter, then it was almost better not to even exist. He knew from watching the ways of his society that those unlucky few that fell into those categories needed no cloaking devices to hide. To society, they were practically invisible anyway. To be forsaken, cast-out, rejected and humiliated for all of eternity...that was all one who could not hunt could ever expect from his fellow kind.

Those with the almost divine combination of power and knowledge were the ones who were praised to the point of being not only highly respected, but idolized.

The inventors, the sick and the weak- To the clans, they were all the same.

Tzukra became eeriely calm as the shadow the moon cast of him disappeared, body hidden by the technology of the clever camouflauge, the advantage greater now that night had fallen. It was rather disconcerting to think that K'tch had personally ranked him on the border between the two. He would eventually prove him and everyone else wrong- He just had to. He glanced around quickly once more before setting his sights on the building in front of him. Well, it was now or never...

___________


Something was definitely wrong. He'd gone through great lengths to find out the results of a thorough physical scan just to be certain. There was a possibility that he could have been infected with a strange organism while in contact with the female. He was almost positive that they'd categorized everything even remotely important about the strange blue planet. A planet where...he scoffed mentally at a memory, feelings tended to rule more often than common sense.

The strong lived and the weak perished. What did a desire matter if you weren't strong enough to contain it. He was almost convinced that his dubious new thoughts toward Sharon had been unnaturally induced, that is, until the scanner proved him clean, perfectly healthy and free from any biological anomaly. He could bet almost anything that Tzukra already knew the answers to his questions. He almost wished the young warrior hadn't gone to the surface. Despite his knowledge, Tzukra was no computer and would not spout incontrovertible facts. What he needed right now was the young warrior's questioning nature. He needed a good argument.

The results that flashed across the small screen made the older warrior sigh. There was no arguing with the computer and he was sure that it was correct. Taking his newfound knowledge into account, it was proper to conclude that the problem was entirely in his thoughts, not his physical form. Nevertheless, with the shorter warrior gone, he had to take measures immediately and on his own in order to distance himself from Sharon before he began thinking like her kind, her inferior species- something, he refused to even imagine.

____________


Agent Warren smiled down at the little folder of files that was tucked neatly into a dark leather binder. She'd been excrutiatingly thorough in her examination as well as the briefing of the dossier concerning Subject A. It was just her luck that this apparent extraterrestrial had escaped. She frowned as she arranged a few things on the smooth dark desk she'd retired to. It had not only escaped, but had manged to take out a crucial Weyland lab and add the trophy head of a very well-respected F.B.I agent to its collection.

Poor Jones...she sighed as she shook her head. Unfortunately for the creature, its track record didn't look too good. She lifted her gaze from her desk and to the bright moon that shone through the window to her left. There was only one way to deal with anyone or anything with a record like that... Of course, Jones had always been the softer one, the one who held back the most. She smiled. -And where did that land him? If he believed in any deity, than most likely it had only earned him a spot in hell...

-But this time...This time, it would be her way or the highway. Jones wouldn't be here to stop her or interrupt her crude and questionable methods of information retrieval. Now that she was in charge of this operation, no one could stop her. Her gaze jerked toward the sleek black cell before her as the vibration demanded her attention and she reached for it quickly, pausing to listen.

It was Agent Corriano. She recognized the rough voice immediately, his introduction confirming the obvious.

"It's back," was all he needed to say as her eyes widened.

"I'm coming. I want you to follow it but do not take action. That's my job.." her low voice declared as she closed the device and then shoved it into a pocket on the right side of her dark slacks. She then opened the drawer to the right, reaching in and slowly pulling out a silver hand-gun, sliding the magazine open just to gaze at the blue liquid-filled rounds inside. With a disturbing amount of satisfaction, she closed it, releasing the safety lock. The creeps always did come out at night, at least the ones native to this planet did anyway. She'd been on the assignment for only one night- One night and two days and already it was back. The thought sent a wave of pleasure through her. She could accomplish what the operations of the past had not; what Jones could not; what all of his associates could not. She could truly catch this thing. She could catch it and subdue it. Once she'd gotten all she wanted to know from it, then she could let Weyland's scientists have their damn way with it.

She was only interested in its secrets, nothing more...

__________


Agent Corriano nearly held his breath as he simply watched the humanoid. He'd quietly radioed for any untrained personnel to discreetly evacuate before the creature crossed their paths. After suiting up, he'd gone in and caught up with it, heart beating fiercely the duration of the silent chase. He'd been on its trail for close to twenty five minutes, several of which it had spent examining the contents of a test tube that had been recently transported to the lower level labs. Whatever it was doing, it appeared frighteningly specific in its motive. It reached into the folds of armor attatched to its right hip, pulling forth a small gadget and dipping it into the contents of the flask before inserting it into a tiny space in the device attached to its left arm. The mini computer beeped twice and it lifted a flap, index pressing in a pattern over a set of small buttons; typing he assumed.

Corriano watched in quiet fascination. It was definitely intelligent.

His gaze then floated to the chemicals it seemed so interested in. He swallowed as he recognized the liquid in the flasks. It was the improved formula to the tranquilizer.

So...

It had knowingly snuck into this specific building, crept into the lab and searched several treys. All for the tranquilizer? The dark-haired agent wondered what it was trying to do with as he peered from over a set of tubes nestled vertically into support rings. The humanoid continued to type, pausing every so often to communicate- With who or what the man dreaded to think about... Its gaze darted in all directions, keeping a tab on its surroundings, the action startling the man watching from the corner. He ducked back down, eyes widening to his horror as a pen set near the end of the table trembled with the slight vibration before rolling inevitably toward the edge and out of his reach.

The sound of the plastic clanking softly on the tile floor was like the crash of cymbals in the perfect quiet and he immediately reached for his gun, jaw dropping as the creature camouflaged, eyes flashing before it began to head straight for him. He stood with a nervous exclamation as he jumped out the way, a small yelp escaping him.

It was nearly upon him when it suddenly halted, becoming visible. It stood frozen, head thrown back, arms up at its sides in surprise for two seconds before suddenly collapsing face forward onto the floor. Agent Corriano blinked twice as he stared down at the unconscious creature, gaze going to the figure standing behind it, weapon lowering.

For once, he was genuinely happy to see her.

"Y'know, for an agent, you sure scream like a pussy..." the stern voice announced.

He chuckled in spite of his earlier terror.
"Agent Warren?" he questioned. "How the hell did you get here so fast.."

The woman in the dark suit tucked a few auburn strands back. "You know me...Always itching for the next assignment..."

"Ha... Especially this one," he stated as he picked himself off of the floor and walked closer to the thing thats approach had sent his life flashing before his eyes.

The stern woman quickly locked the gun's saftey once more, right foot inching forward as she nudged the motionless thing lying face down on the floor before them, its dark presence seeming to defile the prestine white lab floor. It remained still. Satisfied, she tucked the gun back into the holster on her side, retrieving the radio on her left and giving her team the okay to enter and contain. She watched the man standing before her as she put it away.

"Now that I've managed to capture it... like I said I would... how 'bout we take a coffee break?"

The older agent averted his gaze as he cleared his throat.

Jane was definitely not your typical woman... Perhaps that was the reason he'd fallen for her the first time. He shook his head, dismissing the past. He had already convinced himself that there wouldn't be second...

__________


It was just hours later when Arug'rak had marched down to K'tch's quarters, looking every bit amused. Sharon had awakened immediately at the larger warriors loud approach, K'tch standing quickly to see what was so important. The oldest warrior hardly ever told anyone anything to their face unless he felt it was of some importance. The thought that he'd actively tracked him to his room required his undivided attention.

Despite bearing news of the highest degree of urgency, Arug'rak's movements were still annoyingly lackadaisical as he raised one large mandible, mouth barely even opening as he spoke.

"K'tch..."

The troubled warrior acknowledged him quickly and answered in their language. Sharon watched them cautiously, anxious to know what had happened.

K'tch cocked his head at his superior's instructions, mind immediately taking inventory.

This was just great. Just fucking great. He'd always known that having a scientist in the blood-line would be a problem. Ugh...They were always way more absorbed with numbers and figures when their minds should have been on the hunt...

Such a stupid lot really, ironic as it sounded...

It was now his job to take care of this...

They had been going back and forth, gesturing so intricately that it was almost as effective as sign language. It was no wonder her presence was utterly forgotten during their conversation. Sharon stepped closer, curiosity and her hatred for being ignored encouraging her to speak.

"Hey? 'Scuse me?" the young woman interrupted. "What's going on? Why is everyone so serious?"

K'tch shook his head, turning to her. He was damn sure that Arug'rak wouldn't even bother to look at the woman, leaving it up to him to translate the situation. With a deep breath he took a step toward his prisoner.

"Tzukra...caught."

Immediately her eyes widened.

"What? Are you serious?" she looked for a moment, clearly surprised. They'd actually managed to nab the quick, young warrior? "Well, what does that mean?"

He made a fist, nudging it in the center of his chest first for emphasis as he spoke.

"I...will get him...Soon."

The testy woman raised a brow.

"Oh really?"

He grunted. What was her problem? She didn't think he could do it or something?

"Mmm...mmm...mmm" she shook her head. "I don't understand. I definitely don't understand you guys. You never gave a damn about him before."

His eyes widened slightly for just a moment before returning to their narrow gaze as she continued.

"From what I've seen and heard you're always looking down on him. Now all of the sudden you care? I mean you actually care? This is so strange... Weren't you just beating the hell out of him the day before?"

K'tch growled threateningly, Sharon crossing her arms in response. He could growl at her all he wanted. It was true.

"I don't believe this. I don't freakin' believe this. One minute you're jealous, the next you hate him, the next you're ready to risk your life to save him. That doesn't make any sense. Just what is he to you? Hm? Tell me why you let him get away with stuff. I know if I'd spit in your face you'd have probably done more. So, why do you care so damn much, huh? Why is Tzukra so special?"

The tall creature grunted, lowering his head at her inquiry. The only way she would understand would be if he swallowed his pride and verbally gave her the truth. Rare as the situation was, it might do her good to know. Reluctantly his mandibles spread, mouth opening as he spoke.

"He's... my brother..."