Rivers Run Deep

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Disclaimer: I do not own the concept of the Predator. whatever you don't recognize, is mine however.




Authors Notes: Full Disclaimer at the begining of the first chapter.



Author: Charlotte (jemstone5)

Email: jemstone5

Feedback: Please, yes lots.

Forward to others: would be flattered if you did.

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Rivers Run Deep



Chapter 45



Ver’On stood motionless next to M’Pa, their gazes never left the vestige of stars streaking by them outside the ship. Hardly three words had passed between the two sense they left the Lara-Kree. M’Pa wanted to wait till Ver’On was ready, while Ver’On felt too ashamed to speak.


Around them where the males of Ver’On’s family, all apparently younger than he. Some by only two years. It wasn’t until he saw them filling aboard the cruiser for the hunt, that he realized the extend of the damage caused by the bad blood; Kire’Baa. Once his family numbered close to a thousand males, he was sure, but between the murders, hunts gone wrong, natural deaths, deaths from challenges, and those who left the clan, his family shrank to just over 37 adults, mostly males. Once this hunt was over, he’d have to insist on all males taking on another, maybe even two more, female mated, just to increase their numbers over time.


As he thought on that, he glanced to M’Pa, moving only his eyes, not his head. M’Pa confirmed some readings from one of the substations, and ordered a course correction, before returning to his once stoic stance. He thought once more of elevating M’Pa’s position, but if El didn’t like it, she most assuredly wouldn’t’ like him taking another female, or two, to his bed with her. he grumbled before walking from the bridge, saying he was hungry, when certainly he was not. M’Pa remained, for a while longer, before departing for a lav, ordering the pilot to keep him posted of any changes in their path.


His business finished, he found Ver’On pacing around one of the smaller lounge rooms, hastily converted for sparing. M’Pa grunted in greeting, then closed the door, after being waved inside. M’Pa stood quietly waiting for Ver’On to calm down. “You’re sure she’s alright?” he asked, not stopping, as he braced his legs for a practice kick.


M’Pa took two staffs from the wall, tossing one to Ver’On, before bowing as his opponent. “She’s fine. Sound asleep when I laid her in your bed.”


Ver’On parried a few blows to him, testing his speed and strength. He’d never spared with M’Pa before, this would prove interesting. “She wasn’t angry?”


“No,” M’Pa stated, as he quickly ducked a jab, and made a sweep of his staff to Ver’On’s legs. Ver’On stomped on the staff. “She actually seemed quite pleased with herself. Very satisfied, I’d say.”


Ver’On nodded as he made a swing for M’Pa’s head. M’Pa grabbed his staff and quickly shoved Ver’On back, unbalancing him off his own staff. M’Pa lunged at him, trapping Ver’On’s head between the staffs. The match was over. “You know,” he said. “You best get your head on the hunt, and off you mate. Lest you be the first to die.”


Ver’On grunted, knocking both staffs away, tackling the taller Yautja to the floor, pinning him with his knee to his throat. “I’m more durable than you think,” he said, then rose off him. “What about that little female you were with?”


“Noria? What about her?”


“Was she upset when you…”


“No. She understood. She even asked about El before we left. Wanted to go visit her, I think.”


“She’s not going to upset her is she?”


“No. She’s a breeder, plain and simple. She was a fun time though.” Before Ver’On could say more, the door opened, and two young bloods cam in, bowing respectfully to their elders.


“A moment to spar Elder?” One of them asked.


Ver’On tossed him one f the staffs. “Why not.”


M’Pa grunted to the other, and he readied for a physical attack. “Are you sure boy?” he asked, noting the comparative size of himself and the dwarfed warrior. “I have at least three feet over you.”


“I may be small,” the boy grunted, “But I am mighty! COME!” And M’Pa let him have it.


An hour or so later, the two males returned to the bridge, commenting on the prowess, stamina, determination, and just plain guts of the two young bloods they just fought. As they retook their unofficial posts, the pilot informed Ver’On and M’Pa that they’d be in orbit within the hour. M’Pa approved, calling up the map of the planet, selecting a suitable landing site, closest to their target. Ver’On left the bridge once more, heading for the dinning hall, where the young bloods were awaiting inspection and instruction.


M’Pa landed the cloaked ship at the crest of a rocky hill, once all the settings were done for single pilot use, the Hur males all lined the halls leading to the ramp of the ship, yet to be lowered.


“Spawn of Kire’Hur!” Ver’On bellowed. “Today, we face our most dangerous, cunning, enemy. Today we reclaim the honor lost to us. TODAY WE HONOR OUR NEW CLAN! THE LARA-KREE-HUR!!” The roars around the room were nearly defining, and after a moment, Ver’On raised his hand for silence, and got it. “We go in packs of four, two cycle intervals. Each is to watch the other. Young bloods, mix with your elders. MOVE OUT!”


As the elders of the group paired off, with two of the younger, not really caring who they were, they engaged their cloaks and silently left the ship. Once all were gone, Ver’On joined the last team, signaling to M’Pa to hover one hundred metrics above the trees until they returned. Then, as silent ghosts, they left, joining the rest of his family, already moving through the forest on their quiet missions of death bringers.


‘Perhaps,’ Ver’On thought, ‘we may be able to bring down a queen. That would be something.’ One of the group raised his fist and all stopped. There was movement ahead, and it wasn’t their people. Ver’On eased his heart as they all crouched low and remained still. This was going to be fun.






El stepped from the shower and began drying herself off. Carefully she examined her form in the viewer, looking for anything that would give away her pregnancy. Ver’On seemed certain that she would be, and although she was late, she’d misjudged her cycles before. Finding nothing, she wrapped her hair in her towel and put on her lounge dress.


Lee’tha insisted he wear it, that way if she began to show, even slightly, she could still hide her development in the folds of ample fabric. She took a long tie she’d taken from another of her outfits and tied it around her waist; otherwise she’d not be able to move without the cloth billowing up in her face. Satisfied, mildly at least, she went out to her shared room with Lee’tha and lay down on the bed. The two shared the bed as well, the room not being large enough for two, and often they would remain awake all night talking, really about nothing. At this time however, Lee’tha was off in the gardens, El opting to remain and sleep. Lee’tha didn’t argue, as she’d not allowed her once, and fought to stay awake through her lessons in the library.


She pulled the cover over her, rubbing her stomach once more. Tan’ock was a valuable source of information right now. Though he could tell her what to expect and what to eat, as he’d observed of his mate all those years ago, she was too scared to ask the most important question. Would she be able to give birth naturally to her baby? The thought of even more going wrong terrified her more, as she would see in her minds eye, Ver’On grief stricken once more, leaving her alone, to struggle to survive.


She fought back her tears of phantom fears, and turned over, only to be startled by Kal, as he stood in her open doorway. If he was just standing there, it wouldn’t have bothered her so much, but he was leaning against the door frame, in just his loincloth bottoms. And from the way the cloth stuck out at the front, she knew it wasn’t just for leisure.


“Sorry,” he said, standing upright. “I didn’t mean to frighten you.”


“Well…I’m usually alone…about now, you know…to sleep.”


“I know,” he said, stepping up to the side of the bed. El moved to the center. “I wanted to be sure ou were alright…and to tell you; I’ll be mating in the next room, should you care to join me.”


“WHAT!!”


“El, you’re not attached in the eyes of our clan, Ver’On would not be able to protest.”


“Go to your intended, Kal-esh…” she said sternly, “and I’ll thank you NOT to ask me again. I’d hate for on Ver’On’s return, he’d have to kill one of his clansmen.”


“As you wish, little oomam,” he replied seductively, “I’ll secure your door. Ignore the screaming, but know my offer still stands.”


“And that’s all it will do.” She watched the door close, and sighed in relief, laying back down. No sooner did her heat meet her pillow, than there was a thumping on her door, followed by growls, howls, and roars, that were all too familiar. He did that on purpose, he had to. Oh he was gona pay. Some how, she’d get back at him.


She rolled over some time later, the noise finally stopping, but was unable to fall asleep. Lee’tha was sitting there, looking at her, her face full of concern. “What is it?”


“You’ve been sweating like a male in the sparing rooms,” se replied, setting down a cloth. “I’m surprised you didn’t overheat.”


“Sorry. Couldn’t sleep.”


“I know. I came in with the outer chamber in a mess. At first I thought…but then you wouldn’t do that to Ver’On.”


“He offered, you know. Like it was no big deal that he was making a pass at me, knowing Ver’On would rip his head off if he caught him.”


“I think that’s the idea. Kal-esh wants you, not permanently, just for a while. He wants to know what it is like to mate an Ooman.”


“Well he can go find one of his own, just like Tan’ock is going to. Who knows, maybe they can go together.”


“I’ll be sure to mention it to Tan’ock when next I see him. Maybe he can plant the idea in his head better than we can. One other thing, and I think you’re the culprit for this.”


“What?”


“J-on is huffing all over Fer’aza, like he was to slam her against a wall to mate her any time. Did you say anything to him?”


“Not a peep. But I did notice some certain looks across the dinner table when we were all together a few nights ago. Didn’t you see the way he was looking at her?”


“Well hall he has to do is ask Kal for her, and he’d strip her himself to give her to him to be rid of her.”


“WHAT!”


“Kal is at his wits end with her. Didn’t you know?” El shook her head. “Apparently he found out she’d been talking to a few other Yautja around the ship about you. Said you were abandoned by your mate. Kal had to fight three of them just this morning to keep them from beating down the doors to get in here.”


“That little witch!”


“Talk to J-on, he won’t listen to anyone else. Maybe he will to you.”


“Because his mother was human, like me?”


“You never know. Now come on, you’re still sweating, let’s get you into the shower.”


“I just had one.”


“Well, you’ll have another.”






The lift was far too small for her liking. Not only that, there were only two of them in the lift, an he was breathing down her neck. LITERALLY. She turned only to have her ample breasts brush up against his chest, barely covered by his practice leather armor. His skin bulged from underneath it, as he’d drawn it far too tight across his muscled chest. Either that or he’d swiftly outgrown it sense he put it on that morning. “MUST YOU STAND SO CLOSE!” she shouted.


J-on purred, sending vibrations through her breasts, causing her nipples to stand out. “If you didn’t like it,” he whispered, inhaling her arousing scent, “your body wouldn’t respond like it is.”


“I’m not for you!”


“Yes you are. No male will touch you, even if I have to shower with you to make my point clear. YOU’RE MINE.”


“NO! I want M’Pa.”


“M’PA IS A SKINNY two hundred and fifty year old sap!”


“Don’t insult him!”


“I’ll say what I wish!” He thrust her hard against the door, pressing a series of buttons to stop the lift from moving. “I’ll even say it to his face! I’ll tear him apart if he even breathes on you!” He rubbed her body with his, letting her feel the full force of his desire for her. All Fer’aza could do was whimper, but not in fear.


“Stop it,” she sighed, as her leg slipped over his, making it easier for the bulging mass between his legs to come in contact with her body, even through her dress.


“That’s not what your body says,” he purred, kissing her neck.


“YOU’RE UGLY!”


“But I’m more male than any aboard this ship, or on that ridiculous cruiser.” He brought his hips hard against hers, holding her on the tips of her toes for a few seconds, before letting her slide back down to the floor.


Suddenly the lift started moving again, and the door opened a moment later. Fer’aza, haven been released only seconds before, hurried on her way, J-on stepped out, purring contently. His brother, Jin, looked at him with a huge grin. “You played with her, didn’t you?”


J-on growled at him, and pushed him onto the lift. A moment later, he joined his brother, and they left the floor, just as Fer’aza was disappearing into her father’s quarters.






Lee’tha and El were on the sofa in the main living space, talking. Fer’aza growled at them and went to her room. “Fer’aza, what’s wrong?” El asked, as though she didn’t already know.


“That damn male!” she screeched, and closed the door to her room.


Had the door been on hinges, El was sure she would have slammed it. El turned back around and giggled with Lee’tha. “I think I will talk to him,” El sighed, flipping her wet over and over in her hands.


“I wonder if Jin waited for his brother, or even if he knew he’d be coming this way after Fer’aza.”


“You were with Jin?”


“Socializing only, I assure you. If he is to be my Kadji, then he must meet with Ter’Oth’s approval.”


“I’m sorry Ter’Oth went with Ver’On.”


“Why? We joined your family, as your only healer he had to go.”


“But now you’re like me, all alone. And you don’t seem to be getting smaller either.”


Lee’tha ran her hand down her belly. She was at least five months by human standards. Who knew when she’d deliver. “The baby kicks once in a while too.”


“Wow. So soon? Its only been a few weeks.”


“We develop quickly in the first few months, it is the last few that are the hardest.”


“Why?”


“The baby moves to position, may times, making sure the female is properly shaped for delivery.”


“Shaped?”


“Much pressure will be put on my lower body in the later months. This pressure will make my tissues softer, easier to stretch, so the baby will birth easily.”


“Will that happen to me?”


“I don’t know. You could ask the healer to take a look at his records of the Zana, I’m sure Tan’ock wouldn’t mind.”


“No. I get the feeling she’s a real soft spot for him. I don’t want to upset him.”


“Ok. So…?” Lee’tha whispered. “Do you know yet?”


“No, not yet. I think its stress.”


“Stress? What does that have to do with anything?”


“Stress affects the way the human body cycles. If I don’t cycle normally in the next few days, then yes. If I do, we missed.”


“What stress would you have?” The two looked to the door of Kal’s room, as the thumping started again, and the roars did nothing but increase. El just pointed to the door, and they laughed. “I see your point. Are you hungry?”


“Well, now that you mention it, yes.”


“Good. Come with me. We’ll go get some food together.”


“Two females can cause a better food fight than one hu?”


“I said nothing of the kind. It was Fer’aza that threw the first dish anyway.”


“Oh yeah, I’m sure she did. But the juice stain down the front of her dress, just happened to be there.”


“Exactly. It isn’t my fault she’s a sloppy eater.” The pair laughed as they left, hearing Fer’aza scream through her room door for silence from the mating couple.






Ver’On pushed the last of the stone slabs off himself, his shoulder cannon still at the ready. ‘Those two young bloods had a lot of explaining to do!’ he thought, but as his temper roared to potentially audio damaging octaves, his eyes fell on the two young warriors. One was stuck to the wall, encased in the slime and secretions of the Kainde Amedha, the other was laying on the ground, his shoulder and leg badly bleeding. Around each of their heads was wrapped a face hugger, the tails tightly secured around their necks. “No,” he sighed, not realizing he’d said it. The young bloods had protected him from this fate, by firing on the ceiling, sealing him safely away from the creatures.


Ver’On went to the boy on the floor, and pulled out his medical kit. Ter’Oth had told them to use the new medicine if they ever got caught with a face hugger coming at them, and they couldn’t get away. He said it may save their lives. He removed the injector tool, and injected the medicine into each of the boys, and himself. So far nothing. He took the same vile from not only his own med kit, but the other boy’s as well, and repeated the treatment. At first there didn’t seem to be anything happening. Then from the boy on the wall, the face hugger dropped off. Did the medicine somehow kill the embryo implanting creatures? He wasn’t about to hang around and find out. He pulled the boy free of the wall, shaking him till he woke.


The boy looked to his elder, and nodded, using his hands to inspect the damage to his mask, only to find it was gone. Ver’On checked on the second boy, in time to see the horrid creature fall to the side of his head. Again, he shook the boy to consciousness, and steadied them while they readied to move out. He’d commend their actions later, if they survived the face huggers and the medicine. Together they headed down the cave tunnel again, the rest of their group could not have gone too far when they realized, Ver’On and the boys were not there. But such was not the case. They found one male, dead on the floor, his chest ripped open from a back shot of a Kainde Amedha tail. The death was painful, but quick. The other, was pasted to the wall, his chest open from a wound caused by a Z'skvy-de, or chest burster. They would have to find that creature and be sure of its death.


One of the boys stopped, and promptly threw up. Ver’On shook his shoulder when his stomach stilled, showing him the med kit, letting him know he’d been given medicine, and it was likely that which made him ill. The boy nodded. They continued on, taking the weapons of the fallen with them, to return them to the families when they got home.


A few metrics ahead, the tunnel divided. It wouldn’t have been so bad, accept both tunnels were covered in the secretions. It wasn’t until they heard the roars of fellow fighters, did they know which way to go. Breaking into a run, the trio charged down the tunnel to the left, and found a grand battle with Kainde Amedha, taking barely a moment to asses the situation, Ver’On held the boys back, as the seven warriors were more than a match for the few creatures. Quickly the things died around them, the warriors taking the heads of the beasts as their prize. It was the tallest of them that noticed Ver’On first, and grunted in greeting.


“I was wondering when you would get here,” he whispered. The two touched their fore arms together, their wrist blades clanking gently at the contact. “You’re too slow.”


“I had a ceiling on top of me,” he grunted. “M’Pa, what are you doing here?”


“When you said you’d like to come back for the Queen, I knew I had to come. I’ve never taken one down. And what better team to have help me, than that of the family of Hur.”


“El will kill me if you get hurt.”


“Then I guess you better make sure I don’t get hurt. Hey, what’s with him?” The group turned to the second boys of Ver’On’s group, as he vomited in a corner of the tunnel.


“Oh, I had to give him the new medicine. The other one did the same thing a while ago.”


“Ah, you must have used too much. He should be fine. Grown males like you and I can stomach it better than the young.”


“The face huggers dropped off at least.”


“They will. The medicine retards the development of the embryo inside. They should be able to get to the healer and have it removed through surgery without any trouble. Where are the others?”


“Dead. One slain, the other…we didn’t get the medicine to him in time.”


“C'jit.”


“Don’t talk like that around El. I don’t want her to pick up our curses.” M’Pa nodded. “We now have two targets. The queen and the new creature hatched today. Both must die.”


“And so they will.”


“Elder,” whispered, the second boy, as he bowed slightly. “Forgive me, but, you should take a look at this.”


“Thank you, but no. Expelled food is not pleasant.”


“Not that, I found something. I think I found another way into the queen’s chamber.”


The older Yautja looked between each other then followed the boy. He pulled away more rocks, as he pointed out the hole in the wall. There was a fine mist that poured from the opening, and the smell of rancid flesh. One of the males quickly stabbed his spear silently forward, piercing an egg on the other side of the new opening. Good work, Ver’On gestured, and the boy smiled.


M’Pa signaled that he would gather more of their warriors in the area, and have them spread the word of where the queen’s nest was. Ver’On nodded, and with the help of the boys and the rest of the Yautja, they dug through the wall, making a large enough opening for them to get threw. Once the hole was big enough and more f their warriors joined them, they headed in.






El sat beneath the tree, crying. She didn’t want to talk to anyone, not just yet. Lee’tha understood that, and ran interference for her, keeping the other females away.


They’d missed. She’d missed her chance to have a baby for Ver’On. Yet he seemed so sure. Beneath her cloak she held her arms across her stomach, the empty place that ached to be filled. How could she face him? How could she tell him that she was without his child?


“El?” She looked up to see Lee’tha standing there, in each of her hands was a bowl of Naxa, a fruit that she found she liked very much. “I thought you might be hungry.”


“Thanks,” she sniffed, taking the offered bowl.


Lee’tha sat down next to her. “Feeling better?”


“No,” she sighed.


“What’s wrong?”


El put the fruit back. “We missed,” she continued.


Lee’tha didn’t understand. “Missed what?”


“I’m not…” she looked around, “…pregnant.”


“Are you sure?” El nodded, putting her fruit aside. “El, I’m so sorry.”


“What am I gona do? Ver’On was sure…when he gets back…and I’m not…”


Lee’tha held her near crying friend. “He’ll just have to do it again,” she said, and smiled when she felt El laugh. “And I know you’ll enjoy it as much the second time, as you did the first.” El just laughed harder, returning Lee’tha’s hug. “There. That’s better. El Look at me…You don’t have to worry about having babies now. You’re young, you have many years to give Ver’On and M’Pa babies. As his mate you have two responsibilities. One, to feel for him with all your heart, make him happy, and keep him calm by allowing him to mate with you. The second is to raise healthy babies. Now if the second takes a year or two for the first baby, than so be it. Let him enjoy you, as you had better enjoy him.”


“I didn’t’ realize how much I wanted it, till now. You got pregnant so fast, you and Vaz were getting along so well talking about babies, and Zon is mating like crazy…”


“Don’t look at it as competing. I was lucky. Because of my…past…and all the hurved I’d been given, Ter’Oth’s treatments weren’t any guarantee if I would ever have a child. I may never have another. But I’m happy. Most important, I love my mate, and he loves me.”


“What? What was that word you used? It didn’t translate.”


“Love? Don’t you have a word in your language for it?”


“I probably do. What does it mean?”


“To feel with all your heart for your mate,” Lee’tha repeated.


“Love? Of course. Love.”


“There! Now you’ve got it. I understood.”


“Good, now say it again.” Kale wanted to be sure her translator go the information right for her.


“I love my mate, and he loves me.”


“I got it now. Thanks.”


“Good.” Lee’tha handed her the bowl again. “Are you sure? I hate for you to be mistaken.”


“I’m sure. My system is cycling.”


“How do you know?”


El looked around, making sure no one would hear. Something like this wasn’t something that you spoke of openly. She then whispered low, “Females of my species, bleed when they aren’t pregnant.”


“What?” El just nodded. “That is…odd.”


“Normal for me. You should have seen Ver’On when it happened the first time on the shuttle.”


“What did he do?”


“He thought I was gona die, I’m sure. But once he understood that I wasn’t worried, he calmed down.”


“He must have been watching you like a Kainde Amedha.”


“I’m not sure, I’ve never seen a ‘Kine meeeda’.”


Lee’tha laughed. “OH EL!!! Honestly! Come with me now. We MUST work on your language.” El followed the female out the door, and up several levels to the library. El didn’t mind her lessons, her reading was coming along quite well. She even convinced Lee’tha to help teach her to speak the Yautja language, as a surprise for Ver’On when he came back.






The cave was dark, mostly, but there was a luminescence all over the walls. The floor was littered with eggs, all of them closed. They had to be careful that while they moved through the chamber, they didn’t trigger any of the pods to open. If one did, all would be lost.


M’Pa stayed close to Ver’On, and the two young bloods, carefully scanning the chamber. He signaled to Ver’On that the queen wasn’t in the section they were going through. One of the other males drew Ver’On’s attention to one of the eggs. It was open, but the face hugger inside, was dead.


The eggs have been here too long, he gestured. Not enough nutrients in them when they were laid, to sustain them.


Ver’On nodded, and led them further in.


One of the young bloods went ahead with M’Pa, noting that other warriors were weaving their way through the eggs as well. They too noted the odd dead aliens in their shells, but quickly brought their focus back to hunt for the queen.


She’s got to be in here, somewhere! One gestured, flicking his hand of the slime that seemed to be dripping from everything, even though no Kainde Amedha were in the chamber with them. Ver’On nodded, and motioned for them to spread out. The battle would draw them all back together, once it began. Again M’Pa remained with Ver’On, the two young bloods, not that far away.






As the hunters disappeared deeper into the chamber, they failed to notice a sleek black shape uncurl from the wall, and climb across the ceiling. This Kainde Amedha was far different than its siblings. It had the extra limbs of a queen, and the developing crest on its head, though not as big as its mother naturally was.


She raised her head, quietly sniffing the air, catching the distinctive scent of an older queen. Her lips pulled back in a snarl, while its outer facial limbs, common to all Yautja, twitched against its hardened exoskeleton. Quickly it dashed off, silent, like a coming fog, yet far deadlier than any atmospheric precipitation.






M’Pa joined the rest of the warriors as they crouched low at a ridge of rock. On the other side was about a dozen Kainde Amedha drones, all surrounding the queen. She was huge, her crest was jammed to the ceiling, a huge gouge in the roof to make way for her massive head. The drones crawled over the queen, as she was not just trapped by the stalactites and stalagmites, but also trapped in the chamber by her connection to her great egg sack, suspended by her very prison all along the back wall of the cavern.


Ver’On motioned for some of the warriors to go around the far side. There were far more of the Hur warriors, than there were of the drones, but as trapped as the queen was, she was still exceedingly dangerous. The forward warriors would take out the drones, then assist the rest of the males in bringing down the queen, while the younger warriors kept guard to keep out the reinforcing drones being drawn to their queen’s distress.


The warriors were in position. Ver’On looked to M’Pa, he nodded. The signal was given.


Seven warriors sprang from behind the rocks. At once three drones went down, taken out by cannon fire. Another two were taken out through direct combat, one warrior with a staff, another with his wrist blades; slicing the head off the drone as it leapt at him. The remaining seven crowded around their queen, hissing and squealing.


The queen was no different. Her head thrust high to the ceiling, bringing down showers of dust and rock, as she thrashed her head, trying to look intimidating. She didn’t have to try, but the hunters weren’t backing down. Two drones climbed over her head and began digging, trying to make the space larger for her to move, while the remaining five squared off against the hunters. M’Pa shot his constriction net, taking two in one shot. The net wouldn’t hold them for long, swiftly he moved across the cave, driving into the trapped creatures with his spear and wrist blades. Just as the acid blood of one of the drones broke through the net strands, his spear pierced and pinned both drones to the wall, as his wrist blades came down and sliced the heads form their bodies.


The other three drones were dispatched by the remaining advancing hunters, their attention quickly going to the two above the queen. One male pulled out a spinning disk, letting it fly. It took of the tail of one of the creatures, gaining its horrible squeal and hiss, but it continued its work on the ceiling, urged on by the queen. Another hunter grabbed the returning disk, sending it up again, adding his own on the mission. The first disk cut through the crest of the queen, as well as one arm of the injured drone. The other disk severed the spine of the second drone, sending it to the floor in a weighted lump of nothing. Another hunter ripped its head off with his bare hands, tossing the head to the hunter who’d caught the returning disks. The other hunters began attacking the queen, firing at her egg sack to damage her internal organs, as well as to sever her trapped rear legs. If that were accomplished, she’d be an easier kill; if you can call taking down a queen easy.


Ver’On and M’Pa stayed close together, using wrist blades and smaller throwing disks to take out her upper limbs, as they made ready to attack her head. One hunter was thrown across the room, as the queen’s tail was freed from the confines of the drones’ secretions. With its uncontrolled, un-aimed swing they were lucky the hunter wasn’t killed on impact, nor that more hunters were taken down at the same time. M’Pa switched targets and went after the flailing tail, hacking away with his blades and disks.


Screeches filled the chamber, roars and growls drowned out by the high pitched insect like cries. Outside in the connecting corridors, flooded more drones. The young bloods all crouched, blocking the direct path to the inner chamber, hissing and growling at the approaching horde. Shoulder cannons smoldered, as drones one by one, and in pairs all flew apart at the blasts. The drones never ceased their advance, and the young bloods not stopping their attack.


Ver’On pulled his wrist blades out of the rocks, where they’d jammed after severing a chunk of the crest, when the queen tried to head but him out of the way. The retracting mechanism no longer functional, he braced the blades at their full length, and swung out as he freed the deadly edges. Effortlessly one blade sliced through the skin near the queen’s neck, acid blood pouring to the floor. With her only good long arm, her left, she pinned Ver’On to the floor, diving for his head. Ver’On grabbed the remaining head of a dead drone, putting it in the way of the queen’s extending jaws. M’Pa suddenly appeared and severed the inner teeth, pulling his mentor free of the queen’s grip. Not waiting to be thanked, M’Pa dove for the limb, as Ver’On and several other hunters went after the chest of the beast.


One by one the spears shot out, the wrist blades sliced through the great crest. Someone tossed down the remains of the second drone, roaring in victory, only to be crushed against the ceiling, as the queen rose herself off her dying egg sack. A stalactite broke off through the warrior’s chest, he slumped to the floor, dead.


Ver’On looked on. His family was dwindling even more. He could not let that happen. Grabbing the fallen warrior’s broad sward, and climbed above the queen’s head, noting where the severed tail rested, where M’Pa had cut it off. The queen lowered her head, and deafening roars ripped through the cavern.


With all his might, he drove the sward through the back of the queen’s head. The roars died down, but didn’t cease right away. The squeals from the queen however, stopped in a bubbling warble of sound, before finally dropping dead to the floor of the chamber. Using the last of the swards sound metal, he severed the head from the body, kicking it over at an odd angle to show it was dead. The other males all looked to him, the smoking blade still in his hand, the metal dripping off with acid alien blood. He let out a roar of victory so loud, he though he’d deafen himself before it died down. The roars of his warriors added to it, and carried the sound all the way to the surface of the planet.


Ver’On made a quick count of the remaining males, but did not get far, as he was tackled off the back of the dead queen. Before he could protest to the one who’d done it, pain filled howls and angered growls filled the cavern. As he turned, three other males rushed forward, as the one who’d tackled him fell to the floor of the cavern, battling the younger Queen that had snuck up on Ver’On.


The small queen dashed away from the warriors, heading for Ver’On, her head low, her tail flying around her. Suddenly her tail was trapped to one of the stalagmites along the floor with a constricting net, and Ver’On, with the help of another male, raised the end of the dead queen’s tail, and drove it through the chest of the new queen. It let out a horrible scream, sending its inner jaws to Ver’On’s head. The other male thrust his arm in front of his elder’s head, taking the strike of the inner jaws through his arm, Ver’On only getting one of his dreads bitten, rather than his head being split open.


The warrior pulled the body of the adolescent queen away, using his foot to hold the head down, while he pulled his arm off the teeth. Again the warriors roared long and loud at the new success of their dual kills. Some of the young bloods looked into the chamber, as thought they’d nothing better to do. Ver’On could hear one of the young bloods chuckle, saying they’d had more fun than they did.


He stepped over the remains of the second queen, shaking the shoulders of several warriors, before he met with a few, kneeling on the ground. His heart stopped when he saw who they were gathered around, and he roared for Ter’Oth to get to them quickly, demanded the med kits of every warrior.