The Hunted

"A skilled hunter will never forget that he too is hunted. That his prey is not without strength or skill. He will fear it just as much as it fears him. If he doesn't, their correlation might change."

-Dr. Alexander O'Brien, University of Krester

"You disgraceful wretch!" Bae'Lokar shouted in rage and threw a handful of acid sand at the hanging woman.

She was stripped completely naked and suspended by her feet, three of her arms tied behind her back. The sand burned the skin on her torso and abdomen, turning her skin from dark blue to magenta. She wanted to scream but kept her mouth shut. She knew that if she opened her mouth, the spikes inside of her mask would bite into her jaw.

"I beg you, Lord Father, I am-" she tried to speak but a sharp pain cut her off.

Bae'Lokar sliced one of her fingers off and played with it in his hand like a toy. He then dropped it into a glass of liquid and watched in pretend fascination as it melted into sludge.

"Lord Father-"

"Silence. Your punishment is yet to be delivered. Nothing you say will undo your mistakes."

"Please I-"

He stabbed her bare chest but not deeply. Just below the skin where the lower layer of flesh met muscle. He did this several times, causing blood to leak out of the holes and down her upper torso and throat. The thin purple lines reminded the Lord Father of an ancient river system he had visited hundreds of cycles ago.

"I can explain!" she yelled, puncturing her jaw as she did.

"Explain what?" the Lord Father asked uninterested as he dipped his fingers into the toxic liquid.

"Explain how you lost all of your fledglings in one hunt? To a bunch of gobs no less?"

He pushed his fingers into the freshly cut holes, causing the woman to scream from the extreme pain. Her cries were second only to the sizzling sound of the chemical reaction between the toxin and her blood. The purple streams evaporated and rose into the air where Bae'Lokar inhaled them.

"Th-They weren't n-normal," she stammered, struggling to remain conscious, "They were d-different."

"The armored mutants? You have killed them before."

"No. Not them," she panted and coughed as her blood reached her mouth and nose, "They weren't as strong but they… they knew how to hunt. They were hunters."

Bae'Lokar grabbed the woman's hair and pulled her head up closer to his face.

"We… are the only hunters in this galaxy."

"I beg of you, let me speak," she said through gritted teeth.

The Lord Father pondered her words for a moment, still holding her by her hair. After a short while, he let her go, undid the straps of her mask, and took it off. Her jaw was riddled with holes much like the back of an amphibian he kept in his quarters for study. 

"Speak," he ordered, "But do not waste your words. Grandfather will hear them after me and he is already agitated."

— — — — — —

Twelve days earlier 

Our ship exited the Blank Void in a backwater system. The logs indicated it was named 3491-Gerni by Star Mappers. I hadn't even heard of it until I started plotting the hunting course for the fledglings. According to the logs, and our scans, the system had five planets orbiting a yellow sun but only one was habitable. It was the fourth planet and as we approached it I wished the knowledge of its existence never invaded my mind.

"What an ugly rock," the pilot said.

An understatement in my opinion. From orbit, it was brown, green, and blue. Images showed that almost half of its surface was covered in either dense, humid forestry or deep, wet, and reeking swamps. Only seven percent of the land was relatively flat and even that wasn't useful considering the rest of the planet. All of this, combined with its location, made the planet completely unimportant. At least, that's what I had assumed.

"Void craft detected," the pilot said, "Origin-"

"I know what they are. Humans."

I internally cursed in disgust. These lowlifes have been spreading across the galaxy like a disease. And at an alarming rate. They've claimed thousands of planets over the past hundred cycles. Not only that, they've chosen to integrate the other species into their so-called Union. It made me sick. Though it did present an opportunity.

"Do we change course?" the pilot asked.

"No. This is perfect. Take us to one of the smaller patches of flat land where their ships aren't patrolling. Make sure the masking is on."

I turned around and walked to the arming chamber where the fledglings probably were. I knew my instincts weren't off as I ducked to dodge a ripper blade that Bae'Zorla threw.

"Clan Mother!" she shouted and the room went quiet.

I saw Bae'Talni testing out her wrist-mounted dart guns by trying to hit Bae'Kornik, who guarded himself with four hook blades. In the corner, I saw Bae'Golnim toying with the scope of a long rifle and Bae'Jakola, ever the curious one, dismantling various machines.

I stepped closer, "What is the meaning of this?"

"I tried to stop them, Clan Mother, forgive them," a familiar youthful voice spoke out and I cocked my head to see Bae'Fander, our star fledgling. 

"Gather around, now," I ordered and they obeyed, "I know you are eagerly anticipating the beast hunt, your final trial before becoming a true Bae'Kloren hunter."

Their young faces lit up with joy and lust. 

"We will not be hunting the beasts of this world."

And just like that, the joy dissipated and was replaced by confusion, anger, and demand. When I first read the logs I too was intrigued. Apparently, the planet's ecosystem and structure along with our ancient experiments have caused the fauna and flora to mutate and evolve into unnatural things. Creatures there were immensely dangerous and hostile. Many plants were not only poisonous but also sentient in a certain manner. To say the planet itself was a beast waiting to devour anything that dared to step foot unto it would be accurate.

"Then what are we hunting?" Bae'Fander asked.

I turned on the image projector on one of my wrists and showed them, "Gobs."

"Terrans?" Bae'Golnim asked.

"I thought they were called humans," Bae'Talni said.

"It doesn't matter what they are called. What matters is that they, for a reason beyond even my understanding, decided to settle on this planet."

I saw a look of repulsion in their eyes. The same expression I had when I saw the lowlifes. It made me glad to know that they were raised and taught properly.

"Then we must inform the Lord Father," Bae'Kornik said with rigor in his eyes, "And rid them from the face of this system."

I smiled, "Your passion is praise-worthy but we will do no such thing. There cannot be many of them and even if there were, they're scattered and weak."

"So if we deal with them ourselves, the clan will reward us," Bae'Zorla said with a grin.

"I want to bring one for myself," Bae'Jakola said, "Their bodies intrigue me."

"Very well. We will descend in our javelins, we will raid their settlements, and bring trophies back to the White Spires."

Their smiles all turned to ravenous grins. Their hands twitched with anticipation. 

"What are we?"

"Hunters. The only hunters. The perfect hunters." they replied in unison.

"Who do we serve?"

"The clan. The race. The blood."

"We fear nothing."

"All fear us."

"What was taken."

"Shall be reclaimed."

"The void is ours," we finished and headed down the hall to the javelin docking bay.

Each of us boarded one and sealed the shell around the cockpit. All twenty of us shot out of the docking bay and rushed straight for the planet below, the shell protecting us from the cold nothingness of space. We had to be fast. Despite their primitive technology and impulses, humans would still find us if we lingered for too long. When we broke into the atmosphere, lights began flickering on our displays and we retracted the shell, letting the air and wing fill our lungs. 

"Clan Mother," Bae'Fander called out, "I'm detecting an energy signature emanating from the swamp."

"What of it?"

"The readings are different than the ones from the settlements. Still human, though. I wish to investigate."

I frowned at that. We were supposed to stick together and finish this quickly. But Bae'Fander was a prodigy. He had the makings of a Seeker or even a leader. I decided to give in to his desires.

"Fine. Take seven and return to me as quickly as you can. Do not let the gobs catch you off guard."

"Yes, Clan Mother. Bae'Talni, Bae'Golnim, you're with me."

Eight of my fledglings left. A part of me was worried like a mother letting her child venture out into the unknown. But I was confident they would not disappoint me. 

Soon enough, the twelve of us reached the settlement. A large wall surrounded a couple dozen or so structures inside. Some of the humans on the towers noticed us but too late. Our speed was too much for them. I ran through one, the spikes on the front of my javelin impaling his chest. Others followed suit and one by one the humans died. Their soldiers, or at least what could pass for them, fired into the sky with their primitive weapons and missing entirely. Bae'Kornik was the first to jump down and he immediately began slicing them into pieces. 

"This will be fun" Bae'Jakola yelled and fired her hook launchers, impaling two humans and dragging them around with her javelin like ragdolls. 

When I looked around the settlement I realised something. It was actually a research outpost. Over the cycles, I saw dozens of them. These gobs weren't soldiers. They were scribes. Pathetic.

"Waste no time!" I shouted, "Kill them!"

They listened to my orders perfectly and slaughtered without remorse. Humans were impaled, cut, crushed, and even burned. I saw Bae'Jakola take her time with one of them, opening his organs slowly in fascination. Bae'Kornik and Bae'Zorla rampaged through the structures, destroying them from within and coating them in crimson blood. Those who tried to run away were the most foolish as they were shot by our long rifles. Although, I had to give some of them credit. The ones who pretended to be soldiers put up a fight, even managing to wound one of my fledglings. I saw one pick up what looked like a sword and run toward me. Brave but idiotic nonetheless. With speed greater than he could comprehend, I sliced off both of his arms, impaled him through the chest, and lifted him off the ground. Blood drooled from his mouth as his feet dangled in the air. But his eyes still radiated defiance. Until I pulled them out, that is.

Carnage was everywhere and it was glorious. The fledglings were joyful beyond words as they finished off the last few gobs that remained. When the screaming stopped, I took one final look around the outpost. Almost half of the structures were burning and bodies covered the entire area. I counted a little more than a hundred dead. It wasn't too large of a stronghold.

"That was quick," Bae'Jakola said, "And I was just starting to enjoy myself."

"These things are so frail," Bae'Zorla said.

"You're one to talk, letting them shoot you," Bae'Kornik laughed and pointed at her injured shoulder.

"Shut up, I still killed more than you. And that one got lucky."

"Keep telling yourself that but we all know my blades tasted the most blood."

"You have all made the clan proud," I said, "The Lord Father will be pleased."

"But this was easy," Bae'Jakola said, "I still wish we could have hunted the beasts. Or at least something that could give us a challenge."

Right then, as if by magic, the remaining lights flickered all around us, and screens inside the still-intact settlements flashed to life. A strange voice came from them and we rushed to see what it was, knocking off surgical equipment and other items to the ground. 

"I know you can see this," the voice said in human tongue, which our collars translated "Have you had your fun?"

The imagery was blurry and shaky. We weren't sure what we were even looking at. But then everything became clear. Bae'Zorla recoiled when she saw the dead fledglings sprawled on the muddy ground. 

"Amateurs," the voice spoke again, "Thought they owned this place." 

"Who are you?!" Bae'Jakola asked angrily, "How dare you do this?!"

Everyone present, including me, was beyond furious. Not just because these interlopers killed my fledglings but also because of their gall to even harm one of us. One of the Bae'Kloren, the perfect race. 

"No one of note, really," the voice, a man I could tell, answered, "But you… You are something special. Coming all the way out here just to kill some scientists. Doesn't exactly strike me as noble or whatever your little boy here said."

"Where is he?!" I snapped at the screen.

The camera moved, showing the mangled bodies of Bae'Talni, Bae'Golnem, and the other fledglings. Seven out of eight dead. For now at least. 

It quickly showed Bae'Fander. He was kneeling on the ground, stripped from his armor and clothing with cuts and bruises all over him. One of his eyes, ears, and two of his hands were missing. A burly olive-skinned human stood behind him and held a knife to his throat.

"Why do all your names start with Bae anyway?" the man asked.

"Release him!"

"I don't think you're in a position to demand anything."

"Release him or we will kill all of you!" Bae'Kornik added in rage.

"Really?" 

The burly man let Bae'Fander go and the one holding the camera pointed a gun at him.

"Go ahead and try," the man said and shot the fledgling in the head.

The feed died out and we all stood silent for a moment. Some of us were shaken with anger. Others paced around the room in disbelief and confusion. My gaze was still fixed on the monitor. So much so that I didn't register someone calling me.

"Clan Mother!" one of the fledglings shouted, snapping me out of my trance, "What do we do now?"

"Now?" Bae'Kornik asked with a snarl, "Now we find them and kill them! For our blood! For the clan!"

"How did this even happen?" Bae'Zorla asked.

I finally found the strength to speak, "It doesn't matter. We will not let it happen again. We will hunt them down and take vengeance."

Without another word spoken, all of us went back to our javelins and rode into the swamp with haste. We had their signal as well as Bae'Fander's. Our fliers zoomed past the trees and roots, making sure we weren't touching the water. 

Suddenly, as we were nearing our marker, a thin metallic line appeared in front of us. My eyes almost didn't notice it. I dived down so I wouldn't hit it and the fledglings behind me did the same. Two weren't fast enough, however, and their heads were split in half at the mouths. Their javelins spiraled out of control and crashed into the trees. 

"Hold!" I ordered.

We all stopped. There was an eerie silence all around us. Not even the insects made any noise. The display on my javelin lit up with targeting warnings but before I could say anything, small explosives hit our aircraft and we jumped off. As soon as we did so, shots rang out from above us, and one of the fledglings was riddled with holes and died while another was badly injured.

Bae'Jakola screamed in anger and fired her needles in all directions. Others fired their weapons and humans began falling off the trees. Five of them were dead but one survived. Bae'Jakola and another fledgling hoisted him up.

"Where are the rest of your pathetic kin?" she asked through gritted teeth.

She wouldn't get her answer as the man exploded and killed them. What were these humans? When I took a closer look at one of them, she had olive-colored skin, no hair, and orange eyes along with a symbol on the side of her neck. Before I could determine what it was, the injured fledgling called out to me.

"Clan Mother. What-"

Her words were cut short as a massive creature jumped out of the water nearby and devoured her. It was a six-legged lizard-like creature with a long mouth and a spiked tail. Its dark eyes glared at us before it ran toward Bae'Kornik. He readied himself, a ripper blade in each hand. He jumped onto the creature's head and stabbed its eyes, causing it to screech in pain. When it tried to shake him off, he jabbed one of the blades through the side of its neck and used it as a pole to spin and hang below its throat. Bae'Kornik tore a large gash in the creature's windpipe, then jumped back up and pierced its skull. Its now-dead body fell to the ground, shaking the earth and making ripples in the water.

Bae'Kornik jumped off and stared at the beast's corpse, visibly proud of his kill. He turned his head toward me with a smile. But before he could say anything, a loud bang rang from behind us, and his entire head was blown apart. Before his body dropped, two fledglings ran toward the source of the shot. One was killed midair as he dashed from tree to tree. The other made it to the gunner and cut him apart. Except, there was no gunner. It was a remote-controlled drone with a targeting sensor.

As the fledgling was about to head back, the drone exploded and blew his scorched body into the water. Only three of us were left. How? How was this happening? This wasn't meant to happen. This is all a mistake.

"Show yourselves, cowards!" Bae'Zorla said, holding her blades and dark pistols, "Face us!"

We stood back to back as small orbs fell from above us. They popped and filled the air with irritating smoke. Our visor covered our eyes but it bit into our skin and even with our sensors it was hard to see. 

Then they came. From the mud, the water, the trees, the air. They surrounded and overwhelmed us. We shot some, and cut down more but there were too many. I watched as my last two fledglings were impaled and pinned to the ground. I lashed out in rage but one of my arms was cut off and I was pushed down with my face in mud. 

"Seems like you didn't go through with your promise," a man said.

I recognized that voice.

"You!" I snarled at him, "Go on then, kill me. Kill me or I will tear out your hearts!"

He shook his head and chuckled, "Would Grandfather like that?"

My eyes widened as he spoke the Sacred tongue.

"Who are you?!"

The man didn't answer. Instead, he pulled out a thick syringe and stabbed me in my right leg with it, injecting me with something small but solid. Then he stood up and grinned.

"Send your Lord Father my regards," he said before he stomped his boot on my face and knocked me out.

— — — — — —

Present

"When I woke up I was on board my ship and headed back to you. You must believe me!"

"What did he inject you with?" the Lord Father asked.

"I do not know. All I know is that it is in my right thigh."

Bae'Lokar touched her thigh with his still acid-drenched fingers until he could feel a small object underneath the flesh and cut it out with his dagger. It was a metallic cylinder. When he opened it, a piece of parchment fell on the ground. Crouching, he took it and read the contents written in the Sacred tongue. The torturing of the Clan Mother left his mind as he pondered the three words in the message.

Project Bio-Guard.

"I beg of you, Lord Father," the hanging woman pleaded, "Let me return to that worthless rock. I will find them and bring you their heads."

Bae'Lokar shook his head as he crumpled the paper in his hands and picked up a sword.

"No," he said and cut the Clan Mother's head off, "Your role has been played."