《Human》 Chapter 1 The great blue jewel stood out against an endless black space and not just for its awe-inspiring appearance. The Mothership''s life scans showed a fertile but primitive world brimming with near-limitless potential. If anyone else from their society had come across it, it would have either been strip-mined or worse marked for farming, but as a team of researchers, this world offered a chance to study life in its more primitive state that they seldom had the chance to do. Most worlds they came across were barren, gaseous, or just unlivable, but this one existed in contrast to an otherwise empty, dead, and uncaring universe. Upon entering its orbit, the Mothership launched observation drones to all corners of the planet. Soon enough, the ship began receiving footage of various locations across the planet''s surface, from arid deserts to frozen icecaps. Some drones flew easily through the maze of trees that also dotted the planet''s surface. The planet''s telemetry showed a world ever-changing and one that was unique among the planets the Greys had encountered so far. As for lifeforms, while impressive in stature, these animals didn''t captivate the Greys as much compared to one particular group of bipeds. These various pink and darker-skinned beings looked almost entirely large, hairy, and indomitable, unlike any being the aliens had seen on other worlds. Compared to them, the average Grey was much smaller, while these aliens looked like fearsome giants. The footage being transmitted to the Mothership showed a ferocity that they all agreed could mean trouble if these alien beings could ever leave the planet''s surface. Even the thought of these aliens becoming aware of them had the crew on edge. The ship''s Overseer Urlak''thul stood close to the reinforced window of the Command Centre. Behind him, other Greys worked; meanwhile, he took his time to marvel at the enticing beauty before him. The much younger researcher, Mokvel, had at one point been diligently cataloguing every single biped as it was sighted on the drones. Now, he had been summoned before the Overseer and was poised to lead a group to that planet''s surface. The thought of such a thing excited him, but it also stirred a deep, nagging fear within. There''s only so much ruthless hunting you can watch before you get the picture. They aren''t just strong, there''s a terrifying potential baked into them. One I fear we would arouse if they became aware of us, but to the Overseer, that is more than worth the risk. ¡°This world must remain off the official record. I fear it will unsettle many and possibly incentivise the Blue Warbands if they catch word of able-bodied hunters.¡± ¡°As you wish, Overseer, the data will remain inside our terminal network. Do you still wish to send a ground team to the planet¡¯s surface?¡± Mokvel asked. The words hung heavy in the air, and the Overseer rested their large hand on the glass that reflected their oval-shaped grey heads. "It''s an extraction mission. Nothing too complex. Just extract a small amount of specimens, soil, and other organic samples. There should be in theory no reason to interact with these - what are we calling them, Terrans? Earthlings?" ¡°Terror... Terran sounds fitting, don''t you think?¡± ¡°Funny, Terra can also mean home of life.¡± "And what if we have to deal with any number of them?" asked Mokvel. ¡°They will have to be dealt with, but I¡¯d prefer if that was avoided. At all costs.¡±Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. "Understood. I will begin preparations for the expedition." Before the scientist could leave, the Overseer rested a hand on their shoulder. "I understand this will be your first away mission; do not disappoint me, Mok. Provided this all goes as planned, I will put your name forward for the Deep Space Expeditionary Project. There''s a greater unknown beyond this world with plenty more secrets yet undiscovered in this vast universe. As pretty as this jewel is, there are still many diamonds for us to uncover." Mokvel knew that better than anyone, still, he would never pass up a chance to set foot on an alien planet. He couldn''t even remember the last time he left the ship.
The Mothership, a large saucer-shaped vessel, had only a few floors, each of them divided into sections. Mokvel had got used to navigating its various corridors and once he had passed some lesser workers and their associated support drones, he soon reached this floor''s main hangar. Here, they maintained some of the ship''s utility craft, with most of them being used for expeditionary missions. While not strictly a combat-focused vessel, they had a few dozen trained pilots and a couple of rapid strike fighters, but the universe was often so quiet that most of these starfighters would never even see use. A craft they did use often was the Expeditionary Saucer, which looked much like a smaller, more compact version of the Mothership. It could also double up as a forward outpost. It wasn''t uncommon for these crafts to be used in longer away missions. Mokvel, although excited, secretly hoped they wouldn''t be on the planet too long, since it simply presented too many dangers, and that was without accounting for the Terrans themselves. After spending more than enough time watching them hunt, the last thing he wanted was to meet one in person. Unlike him, the Terrans seemed to revel in their capacity for physical violence. Despite all their advanced weapons and technology, these primitives were still predators that could tear him and others apart limb from limb if they so pleased. Because of the present threat on the planet below, the Overseer had assigned his team of researchers, a group of protectors, to watch over their activities. It took a little longer for all the similar-looking greys to gather, but once they did, Mokvel had them all form a line. "You have all been briefed on the mission ahead. It''s rather simple. The planet, Terra is host to rare organisms we wish to sample as part of an Archival mission. We are there to extract samples that can be used in hydroponics or stored in our cryogenic banks. That means everything goes through decontamination, with no exceptions and no sneaking any easily lost lifeforms on board, no matter how large or small they may be. Can anyone share what happened to the Expedition Group Zeta?" The researchers and protectors looked at each other, confused until one researcher stepped forward and said, ¡°A Zeta Researcher brought aboard a Qellick rat from Yora V. And did not expose his new pet to standard decontamination protocols.¡± ¡°And what happened next?¡± Mokvel asked the researcher. ¡°The unaccounted-for rat escaped captivity and was never seen again.¡± ¡°And the Zeta crew?¡± "All dead. They had succumbed to various unidentified diseases and¡ªcannibalism. When the ship was eventually found, it served as an important reminder of why we must avoid cross-contamination at all costs. If you suppose a single rat can doom one vessel. Imagine what a higher being can do." ¡°Exactly my point. On most worlds we¡¯ve come across so far, life has barely started. But Terra is beyond that. The Terrans are larger, faster and more lethal in groups, meaning no researcher leaves the bubble alone. If you get caught out there, we are not coming back for you. Is that clear?¡± The following clicks were all the indications he needed. The small crew soon boarded the circular vessel and once at their stations, the Expeditionary craft engaged its engines and soon departed the Mothership. From where Mokvel now sat in his command chair, the sheer scale of the planet and its endless blue oceans led him to grip the chair. He knew the day would come for deployment. He just never expected so much to be resting on it. As long as we leave the Terrans alone, they should not threaten us. We just need to log a couple of samples and catalogue some newer species. How hard can that be? Chapter 2 They were the Neanderthal, and they lived for the hunt. The larger the beast, the more determined they were to bring it down. What they had once run from now ran from them. The tribe of men stalked through a vast green forest. The high canopy blotted out much of the sun and made the forest floor more humid while also making them harder to spot, thanks to the dirt and furs that covered their bodies. They even limited their verbal communication, relying on hand signals and watching their every step to avoid stepping on loose twigs. Their prey, a red deer, had its head down grazing. As the group began encircling the blissfully unaware creature, a loud noise punctuated the surrounding air, scattering the birds and causing the deer to bolt into the thick line of trees before disappearing for good. The thick canopy overhead meant they didn¡¯t see what had startled their prey, but the tribe knew one thing. They would not let it get away. This unearthly noise was unlike anything they had heard before. It was something new, and it had shaken the ground beneath them. Still cautious but moving faster now, the tribe hurried through the boundless forest, ignoring anything and everything as this new curiosity took hold of them. They stopped when they reached the tree line, finding only a grassy plain. While clinging to its edges, they saw no sign of what caused the disturbance. They each suspected that whatever it was had long since departed and a short while later, the group''s leader signalled for the hunters to head back; one man, the youngest of them, remained hidden, watching, waiting for something to happen. ¡°There is nothing to see here, boy, and you don¡¯t want to be left behind,¡± said a voice behind him. ¡°I¡¯ll catch up. Whatever it was, it''s still here. I¡¯m sure of it.¡± ¡°But the plains¡ªempty,¡± said the older man, making a wide gesture with his arm. The young man squinted. Other than the windy grass, there was no indication of anything being here. He put his large, hairy hand on the larger boulder and looked back. "I will catch up." ¡°The clan leader will punish you.¡± ¡°When I come back with prey, he won¡¯t.¡± The burlier man grumbled and spat at the ground. ¡°That¡¯s if you come back at all, young one.¡± Both men stared the other down, but sensing Young would not relent in this endeavour the larger man turned and hurried back the way they came. Young meanwhile knelt and focused on the plains and the strange peace of mind it brought him. Allowing the silence to wash over him, the hairs on his body bristled and he saw it. A glint of some kind. It forced him to briefly shield his eyes. A large group of little grey figures appeared one after the other, as if out of thin air. The young man was torn between running back and telling his tribe or dealing with these creatures himself. Their relatively small size compared to him would make them easy pickings. Some of them did carry objects that he guessed were weapons of some kind. A direct attack would get him killed, but an ambush, they wouldn¡¯t see it coming. He remained observant; their routine had him more curious than bloodthirsty, so he knelt and watched them work. Who are these little people? And why have they come? Why did the Great Forest shake in their presence?
This was the scariest part of setting foot on a new world. The ship breached the atmosphere at incredible speed and he could only trust that the saucer''s guidance systems would compensate for any variables he could not account for. The only time he intervened was adjusting where they wanted to land. Thankfully for them, Terra''s atmosphere and more proved easy enough to navigate, though scans outward showed potential shifts towards turbulent weather elsewhere, now they had to choose where to land. They aimed for grassy plains, since the likelihood of recovering live specimens there would be much higher compared to the colder or more arid environments. The crew looked out of the saucer''s view screen and saw a scattering of tall trees bending from the energy exerted by the craft. They soon found a small clearing and prepared to make land. Mokvel, from where he sat in the Command chair, saw a warning appear on the arm of his chair. He pressed a button or two and the hologram of the Terrans appeared. He scratched his cheek. "We may have a problem." One pilot swivelled in their U-curved white chair and faced him. ¡°How? This was determined to be the optimal landing position to recover samples.¡± ¡°Life scans picked up a group of Terrans nearby. Launch the bubble drones. If we can get a barrier up. They¡¯ll hopefully just brush it off.¡± Another member of the crew initiated the launch of the drone craft and instructed them to encircle the saucer, giving enough room for the aliens to navigate outside while also avoiding being seen. "I''ll remain here to manage the barrier."This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there. ¡°Good. Have the medics prepare cold storage for any of the live samples we gather. And as always, make sure everything is decontaminated.¡± The grey alien next to the drone operator looked up from monitoring the scanner. "It looks like we deployed the drones at the right time; the barrier is masking our presence to them." "How many are there?" Mokvel asked. ¡°Eight, all along the tree line. They aren¡¯t approaching us¡ªyet.¡± ¡°That¡¯s because they can¡¯t see us and let¡¯s keep it that way. I want you to keep us updated on anything outside the barrier. Anyone else not needed here can join me in the field. Any more questions?¡± He heard no response. ¡°Let¡¯s get this done.¡± It took some time for the away team to get suited up in their bulky, conspicuous-looking white suits. Afterwards, they underwent decontamination that, once completed, would allow them to depart the ship. The metal ramp emerged from the saucer''s body, coming to rest on the wavy green grass. The noises of Terra filled their ears. A world this alive was a rare find for them. ¡°Remember, we cover the safe zone first and once done, we part the barrier and scout the surrounding area. Always keep your protectors close by. It should go without saying, if you get lost, no one is coming back for you.¡± They all understood well enough. Many present had been on previous away missions, but for Mokvel this was his first and as such it fell upon him to lead the way into the cloudless blue sky. The world around him was serene and far prettier than anything he had seen back on the homeworld. The Greys, through their ambitions, had ruined their planet with toxic industry, reducing it to nothing more than an engine for their expansion into the cosmos. Whatever beauty may have existed had long been stripped away and fed to the fabricator factories, but here on this untouched world that blight might as well exist only in his nightmares. The High Command cannot know we have found paradise. They would only despoil it. Mokvel led the way slow and steady down the ramp. It took a few seconds for him to fully get used to the gravity and wind now urging him along. The planet eagerly welcomed them into its embrace. Altogether there were eight of them, four scientists and four protectors. After surveying their current surroundings, they would then divide into two groups and go beyond the tree line. He waited until everyone was accounted for. ¡°Update on the Terrans?¡± he asked the scanner team back on the saucer. "They''ve retreated for now. This should give you ample time to get enough samples and return without drawing attention. Still, be careful, Mok. It''s not just Terrans you have to worry about." Mokvel knew that from Mothership¡¯s surface scans, alongside the Terrans, there were similar and sometimes larger prey or predators. All of them easily dwarfed the Greys. The only edge they had over these formidable creatures was their disintegration and stun-capable pulse rifles. The first few minutes they spent within the barrier, extracting soil samples and more. He knew through word of mouth that part of this would go toward developing a means of altering the terrain of various worlds. It could also be a volatile weapon that could crack this one open if they so wished. After those samples were acquired, Mokvel radioed for the barrier to be parted enough for both teams to scout the edges of the forest. With a fellow scientist at his side and protectors close by, the tree line looked like a terrifying prospect. All he could see was a darkness guarded by the endless forest. His two hearts beat fast, and it took one of his protectors to nudge him forward. He passed by a rock when he saw it within touching distance of another researcher and just barely out of sight. He had somehow remained hidden from the scanners. The full head of dirty, messy hair; misshapen, bared teeth, piercing brown eyes, and arched, rage-filled bushy eyebrows. If looks could kill. They had found their first Terran, and they would be his prey.
Young remained as low as humanly possible as the strange little people got closer. He considered retreating to the tree line, but it was far too late now, as in a few seconds they would be upon him. They spoke in confusing clicks and strange noises. It was definitely a form of communication, just one very different from his own. Two of them carried what he suspected was a form of weaponry, but he had no way of knowing its capability until he saw it in action. I have to hit first and hard, catch them off guard. The first of the unarmed Grey met his cold ironclad stare and was pushed to the ground by the stone-tipped spear as it made light work of the surprisingly fragile protective suit. The shrill creature''s scream made him roar in satisfaction as its blue blood dripped off the shaft. He wriggled the spear loose and reached down to grab the limp body. He lifted it and launched it at the two other Greys. Their smaller bodies gave them little time to manoeuvre, so their friend became their dead weight, dropping them like stones. Young aimed for the one that still held its weapon and drove the spear at its head. He was met with denial as a strange transparent visor resisted his efforts. Enraged, he struck at it like a wild beast until something had to give and soon his persistence was rewarded with the stone tip becoming lodged in the alien''s head. This one only let out a pitiful whelp as it ceased flailing its arms. The lack of actual threat from these creatures was laughable¡ªpuny insects. A spasm made him lose footing, and he spun to see the other alien holding a similar weapon. So that¡¯s what it does¡­ He tightened his grip on the spear and noted the little Grey alien had become a blurring motion of two separate beings. With his vision now working against him, he let out a defiant roar and launched the spear right as the second pulse knocked the air out of his lungs and launched him backwards. His thoughts became a disjointed mess as he met the wet grass, but one thing still simmered beneath his now disobedient body. Silent rage. Chapter 3 A pain unimaginable that was the only way to describe it. The corpse of his fellow researcher had hit both him and the protector close to him, sending them both tumbling to the ground. The crude weapon wielded by the monster had then made light work of another¡¯s protective suit, and in their slowness to react he had finished them off, too. By the time he had got his bearings, the damage had already been done. The human lay flat against the grass. One of the protectors from the other group had succumbed after attempting to subdue him and they now stood in place, impaled by the great spear launched in the Terran''s last act of defiance. The protector that had been with Mokvel looked horrified. ¡°What do we do, Mok?¡± "We pull back, secure this one for transport, and keep him sedated. If he wakes up, we are all dead. You saw what he did! Get the med drones and take him on board. Nothing else matters anymore, except him." The other two researchers had since hurried over to take in the carnage, and with only two remaining protectors, they each took a position covering the tree line. They could not afford any more complacency. ¡°Was it just him?¡± the other group¡¯s protector asked. Mokvel nodded and pointed to the nearby rock now stained with blue blood. ¡°Yes, he was behind that large rock before he ambushed us.¡± "What should we do?" asked one of the scientists. ¡°We need to get him one board first, send a message back to the Overseer, and tell him to prepare a holding cell. He has a highly aggressive subject coming on board. We can¡¯t take any chances with this one.¡± ¡°And these three?¡± ¡°They come too. Once we¡¯re safely home, we¡¯ll prepare a ceremony to honour them. We¡¯re lucky he didn''t get to finish the rest of us off, too,¡± said Mokvel. He looked down at the fur-clad Terran. It looked strangely peaceful while it slept, but he couldn¡¯t allow that to distract from its ruthless ferocity. If this was just one Terran, imagine what an entire pack can do.
The Terran, in its subdued state, went through the decontamination cycle and before being brought onboard had first been anaesthetized by med drones to keep him under. He would remain in the Saucer''s Med Bay under constant supervision, as many of the beds they used had restraints for dealing with larger threats like him. Mokvel, despite being in pain, remained watching from the ramp as the two protectors wrestled with trying to free their fellow protector from the spear used to skewer him. It was just the three of them now. He had ordered the others back on board. No doubt, the monitor sitting on the transport''s command bridge had used this time well to prepare a litany of excuses for how they missed the lone Terran signature. As the two protectors appeared to be finally making progress, a collective pair of voices came onto the radio.This book''s true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience. ¡°Multiple -¡± Another stone-tipped spear whizzed from the tree line and met the head of one protector. They folded over and landed on the grass. Their death had been instant. ¡°To the ship!¡± The protector took the rifle from their back. They began firing blindly into the forest, leaving sear marks in the trees as a bulbous mass of dark shapes stood at the line. The trees seemed to bristle in anticipation of what would come to pass. This world and its children rejected them. And rightfully so¡­ The protector soon reached the bottom of the ramp as another barrage of spears blocked their view of the sky. Mokvel watched as the spears rained down around them and surrounded the remaining protector, almost acting like a prison. The tribe of Terrans entered the last light of dusk. All of them were larger than the man they had taken down. Light and dark-skinned, their bodies bore the scars of living off a dangerous land. It was fast becoming obvious to Mokvel who would go on to claim mastery of this world. This time, a single spear, thrown at random, hit the last remaining helpless protector before he could even escape up the ramp. He keeled over backwards and Mokvel could only back away in horror from the gruesome scene before him. His people lay scattered, broken and bloody. At the mercy of these Terrans. ¡°We need to leave now!¡± Mokvel shouted into the comms. He punched the button that would withdraw the ramp. The largest of the Terran tribe moved towards the ship and two more soon followed him. They talked in a harsh-sounding language using expressive gestures and hand signals. Mokvel didn''t need translation technology to get the basics of what they were saying. Anger. Invaders. From the Sky. Kidnappers. Retreat. The larger of the two pointed to the dead Greys. Take them. Learn. Next time. Ready. ¡°There won¡¯t be a next time,¡± Mokvel said out loud. Three Neanderthals stared at him and bared their dirty, sharp teeth in a challenge. ¡°We should really be going¡­¡± Mokvel muttered, pushing the button that would seal the ship. The last thing he saw as the metal doors slid shut was the grim stare of the Terran. Impassive and unyielding. It would forever haunt the mind of Mokvel. Once his fear subsided, he retreated from the exit and prepared to give the monitor a piece of his mind. The Command Centre was eerie quiet. As everyone took their usual positions, Mokvel settled into the command chair. ¡°Pull back all drones. There¡¯s no longer any point in continuing to survey.¡± The one responsible for monitoring the away team spun around to face him. "Listen, about the rock. It obstructed the scanner." "You also had drones! That oversight got three - no, five killed. Besides, it''s not me you''ll have to answer to." They straightened at the realisation. ¡°It won¡¯t happen again.¡± ¡°There won¡¯t be a next time,¡± Mokvel said. ¡°How are launch preparations going?¡± ¡°Almost ready. Let¡¯s hope they aren¡¯t smart enough to not get caught in the engines.¡± Once the barrier was down, the saucer''s legs folded into the ship and it began hovering before launching itself across the tree line. A sight that would no doubt stick in the minds of the Terrans forever. Once the momentum was with them, the saucer soon escaped the atmosphere. It didn''t take long for them to spot the large curved silver body of the Mothership. A feeling of relief washed over Mokvel that was quickly undercut by the immense regret of losing so many of his team. The monitor couldn¡¯t take the whole blame. After all, this expedition had been his responsibility. Despite the losses, we do have quite the prize. The question now is, what do we do with him? And could his people be of even greater use to us? Are we prepared to shoulder such risks? After seeing the Terrans in action, Mokvel knew that regardless of whatever came next, it would be best to not underestimate the Terran they had captured, because any complacency from them would surely spell doom for all those aboard the Mothership. Chapter 4 Overseer Urlak¡¯thul appeared on the viewscreen. ¡°I got your message about a prisoner. Care to explain what happened?¡± ¡°We ran into some complications.¡± ¡°What kind?¡± "We landed close to a tribe of Terrans and one of them ¡ª ¡°Mokvel glanced at a sheepish Grey. "Got the drop on us.¡± ¡°Any casualties?¡± ¡°Five are dead; we lost three at first to the lone Terran and the last two fell when the rest of his tribe appeared while we were pulling back. They were all unrecoverable. I¡¯m sorry, Overseer.¡± ¡°What became of this lone Terran?¡± Mokvel leaned forward. ¡°He¡¯s under heavy sedation. You''re going to want to see him. He¡¯s like nothing we¡¯ve ever encountered before.¡± ¡°Is that so?¡± ¡°Overseer, they possess strength far beyond our own. It would be best to prepare a cell for him.¡± ¡°I will have that done. I look forward to your full report Mok. All things considered, it¡¯s not a complete loss.¡± The view screen went blank and Mokvel raised the Medical Bay. ¡°How is our guest holding up?¡± ¡°They are still in a deep sleep. Everything is nominal for now. I noted plenty of scar tissue on their body. This one is quite the fighter, despite their young age.¡± "After seeing them first hand that doesn¡¯t surprise me. The Overseer will be preparing somewhere that should be able to hold him. Still, we can¡¯t afford to get complacent. Keep me posted on their condition. We''ll be docking soon." ¡°Understood.¡± The connection ended and the ship¡¯s autopilot handled the complex inputs required for the saucer to enter the hangar bay. The saucer soon settled and Mokvel made a point of ordering everyone off the ship, while the medical team and a group of protectors helped take the Terran off the saucer. He was suspended within a vertical, hovering culture tank that showed various tubing connected to different parts of his body. The liquid being piped inside the Terran kept him both stable and sleeping. Mokvel was at the back of the procession as it exited the craft. Unsurprisingly, Overseer Urlak¡¯thul was present and speaking with the crew. A silence followed as he approached Mokvel. ¡°I look forward to seeing your report on how this creature was brought down.¡± "I can''t lie. It''s only by sheer dumb luck that no one else died." "How did it manage to get the drop on you? We detected no technology on the surface of the planet. It''s all primitive." ¡°It¡¯ll be in my report.¡± ¡°Well, I¡¯ve had security prepare a holding cell. It should be more than enough to keep it contained.¡± ¡°I would suggest a constant patrol and observers. The last thing we should be doing is underestimating a natural-born hunter,¡± said Mokvel. ¡°There will be regular patrols. You don¡¯t need to worry about that, Mok. Go rest. You look rough.¡± Once secured, the Terran was moved deeper into the Mothership. Mokvel decided to take the Overseer''s word and headed for the barracks. The compact, rectangular-shaped room was small, but it offered enough privacy. A couple of other Greys had retired for the day. He used the panel on the wall to open his near-transparent door. He entered, and it shut behind him. Another adjustment meant no one could see inside. Finally able to get out of his space suit, he lowered his aching body into the small cot. It had a setting that would coat his body in a biogel that would mitigate and heal the wounds he had sustained. He clicked his fingers, and the light dimmed. Despite his restlessness, he soon drifted off.
This novel is published on a different platform. Support the original author by finding the official source. The corridor he was in stunk of death. The warning light spun above and the alarm system blared. Grey bodies littered the floor; all of them were people he knew. His crew from the saucer, even the Overseer, lay in pieces. All of them were torn limb from limb and scattered one way or another. Standing over them, lauding their tremendous strength, was the Terran, with their hulking body and bulging muscles. He pulsated with rage. His pink skin had turned blue from being coated in their blood and guts. A grin stretched across his face and he reached out to Mokvel. Those enormous, dirtied, calloused hands clasped around him. Leaving him in darkness. The Terran¡¯s laughter followed as he started squeezing, and Mokvel¡¯s consciousness began slipping away¡­ Mokvel opened his eyes. The orange light and quiet beeping meant someone was trying to reach him. He quickly changed into a newly fabricated jumpsuit and approached the panel inside his room. He opened the communications. ¡°Glad to see you¡¯re awake. Our guest is awake, and he¡¯s pacing. The Overseer wants you to lead the interrogation of the specimen.¡± The dream flashed by in Mokvel''s mind and his lips became dry. "Sure," He managed even if it came out as a stutter. The light in his room turned a comforting blue. Reminding him of that pretty blue jewel. And the monsters it harboured.
The journey to the holding cells felt longer as the nightmare still lingered in the back of his mind. His two hearts pounded with every step. The fury of the Terrans had him question if bringing one on board was truly the best idea. He entered the circular corridor; the heat and intensity from the white lights above almost made him want to turn and run back the way he came. The room he came to was made up of a large circle that the holding cells were built into, and cutting through the middle of it sat a long section used to discreetly observe prisoners. Mokvel followed the circle''s curve until he reached a sliding door and entered the code. He passed one observation room after another until finally; he settled on the one watching the Terran. Two observers were also present, and they greeted him with a silent nod. ¡°How¡¯s he doing?¡± ¡°Pacing. To an uncomfortable degree. It¡¯s dizzying to watch,¡± said the observer to his left. ¡°And he has just been pacing? Nothing else.¡± ¡°He chatters to himself but too quietly for us to hear.¡± Mokvel stepped forward and rested on the back of their chair. ¡°He¡¯s killed protectors like they were nothing. We need to be extremely careful with how we handle him.¡± ¡°There are already arrangements to have them watched on rotation. These cells were made to hold things far more dangerous, that¡¯s for sure.¡± ¡°I fear underestimating him is exactly what he wants.¡± The Terran ceased pacing and approached what to him would be a blank-looking wall. What he couldn''t see was that it was a two-way mirror visible from only one side. He put his ear to the wall and his breaths became longer and more drawn out. Mokvel smiled. ¡°Can he hear us?¡± ¡°It shouldn¡¯t be possible,¡± said the other observer. The Terran bared his teeth, leaned back and began talking out loud in a mix of grunts and growls. Even if they couldn''t understand, there was venom in every word. ¡°Can you run that through our translation filter?¡± Asked Mokvel. ¡°I can try, but his speech is -¡± ¡°Primitive.¡± ¡°That too. But nothing we haven¡¯t figured out before. Anyhow, he should be understandable any second -¡± ¡°AM GETTING OUT. YOU CAN¡¯T HOLD ME. I WILL GUT ALL OF YOU!¡± the Terran boldly declared while pounding on their bare hairy chest. The first observer he spoke to turned the mic volume down. ¡°Should have expected that.¡± ¡°He¡¯s angry then.¡± ¡°Very angry.¡± The Terran looked back toward the force field and faced it. He charged at it full pelt, to the horror of all the observers except Mokvel. The Terran hit the wall of energy hard enough to launch himself back to where the two-way mirror was. It held, but from where they stood, it was clear his arms and body smoked from the now visible burn marks on his skin. ¡°We need a med¡ª¡± said the right observer as they stood up. Mokvel knocked their hand off the comm button. ¡°But he¡¯s hurt.¡± ¡°He¡¯ll recover. He wants us to lower the field.¡± ¡°You think that was a trick?¡± asked the other still-seated observer. ¡°What else could it be? He¡¯s a predator and like it or not¡­ we might as well be prey to him.¡± A laugh from behind caught all of their attention. ¡°Pay, Mokvel no mind. This is nothing more than the act of a dumb ape, thinking he¡¯s smarter than his betters,¡± said the Overseer. For Mokvel, the mocking laugh of the Terran swam in mind, but he bit his tongue. Don¡¯t believe me, fine. You¡¯ll find out the hard way if we don¡¯t take him seriously. He may behave like an animal, but he is far from it¡­ ¡°What would you suggest we do with him?¡± asked the left observer. ¡°High Command might be interested if we can get more of them.¡± ¡°You want to bring more on board?¡± Mokvel asked, astonished by such a proposition. ¡°Is five dead not enough for you, Overseer!¡± ¡°Think, Mokvel. The Warbands would be even more of a force to be reckoned with if we got a few more. Wars that dragged on for years could end in no time at all.¡± Mokvel blinked a few times and saw the Terran pull himself up to his knees. He looked like he was rubbing his brow, but in truth, he was probably listening, even if he couldn''t understand them. "I''ve seen what he can do and what his tribe can do. That''s a dangerous gambit." ¡°It could also give us a lot of leverage with High Command,¡± said the Overseer. ¡°It¡¯s just a suggestion. Our terminal network is keeping this one¡¯s existence under the grid.¡± ¡°Good, because the less others know, the better.¡± But for how long will that be? Wondered Mokvel. Chapter 5 Young heard them chatter and grumbled to himself, knowing he could never understand what their plans were for him. His attempted probing of the invisible force field that kept him inside this cell had not, as he intended, resulted in them coming into his cell to check on him. He would have to consider other options. The design of the cell itself could hold a solution, but his head still ached and he couldn''t see straight, never mind think of a plan. He sat against the wall where the chatter had come from. It had been silent for a while since he rebounded off the barrier. He wondered if they were still observing him. That question was soon answered when one of the Greys appeared outside his cell flanked by two other greys armed with the same pulse weapon that had knocked him out. The Grey took great care in putting the tray down and pushing it inside the cell via a small opening that had appeared in the barrier close to the floor. The strange coloured contents of the plate looked unpalatable and the rotten smell made him scrunch his nose. But as if to remind him he couldn''t think on an empty stomach, he heard himself growl. Needs must, I guess. He knelt and noticed they had given him a tiny fork-spoon-shaped tool to eat the slop. He scooped some and tasted it, chewing for a short while before forcing himself to swallow the acrid-tasting thing. Whatever this food was, his body did not enjoy it. He jumped to his feet, kicking the tray aside; he ran to the barrier and projectile vomited onto the Greys still present and despite their blank faces, they each looked none too pleased by his actions. Some of it rebounded back onto him. He staggered back, using his arm to wipe his lips clean. Afterwards, he looked over his shoulder at the spilt mess while his observers chattered, pointed, and sneered with those gangly grey fingers of theirs. ¡°Not meat!¡± He declared, reaching down to the tray and launching it and the food at the barrier. He saw the flicker of fear in their eyes as they all jumped backwards. He also saw the ripple of the barrier as it struggled to maintain its cohesion. If only there was an easier way to damage it and be free¡­ He began making gestures that looked like he was scooping water. Do they even know what water is? They all looked confused until another alien showed up. This one was familiar to Young. This one had somehow survived his wrath earlier. The man spat on the floor in disgust. The alien urged those present to leave and held up the palm of their hand so that it was as close to eye level with Young as possible. A projection emerged, showing a stream of water. The alien then proceeded to speak in large confusing clicks that made him raise an eyebrow. A few minutes later, it all made sense in what the alien was trying to say as the same aliens from before showed up with a bowl of clear liquid. Water? They carefully slid it into the cell, and Young crouched down to scoop the liquid into his mouth. The sudden tang made him bat it aside in disgust. The alien nodded and sent them away again. Now annoyed at this strange game, Young gestured from himself to the alien and pulled a finger across his neck. When the aliens returned, the bowl was once more slid inside. He stared at his bruised, burned, and bloody face in the transparent bowl. For little beings, they sure had caused him a lot of trouble. He crouched again and scooped the not water into his mouth. To his surprise, his body did not reject it. It left his throat no longer dry, and even the pain in his head subsided a little. This gesture by them changed nothing of what he thought about them. He was still their prisoner, and he had no plans to remain that way. He spat at the force field and, to his satisfaction, it went through and landed on the alien''s cheek. They made a mild gesture of wiping it off before shrugging and walking away. This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon. I¡¯ll kill you all. That¡¯s not a threat, but a promise. I¡¯m not staying here. And when I''m done, you''ll regret ever thinking you could contain me.
Mokvel touched his collar and opened a communication with the Overseer. ¡°How is he?¡± ¡°Restless, volatile, and unpredictable,¡± Mokvel said. ¡°Is that all?¡± ¡°Where are you now, Urlak?¡± ¡°In my quarters.¡± ¡°We need to talk.¡± ¡°If you insist.¡± Mokvel cut his link and hurried through the vast corridors of the ship, making his way to the bridge section. It also provided easy access to the Overseer''s private quarters and allowed him to be on the bridge in case of an emergency. A few of Mokvel¡¯s fellow Greys waved at him as he passed by them and entered, into the cool private suite; almost all of it was white with a humming blue light overhead. The Overseer sat behind a transparent glass desk. ¡°You want to talk, Mok.¡± Mokvel marched to the table and leaned on it. ¡°He needs to be put out of his misery. The longer we keep him here, the more he learns about us and about this ship. You can¡¯t see it, can you? He¡¯s not some dumb ape.¡± ¡°As I said before, don¡¯t overestimate a dumb ape.¡± ¡°Urlak.¡± ¡°Same genus.¡± "Why do you want to keep him alive so badly?" Mokvel asked, finally stepping back. ¡°He¡¯s as much a weapon as everything else on that world. There¡¯s so much untapped potential and let¡¯s be honest, we¡¯ve barely cracked it open.¡± Mokvel scratched at one of his long, wiry fingers. "You told them, didn''t you?" The Overseer held up his hands. ¡°It would leak eventually; it''s better to be ahead of the curve.¡± ¡°And who did you tell?¡± growled Mokvel. "The Ragsiba Warband. They are the closest fleet to our current orbit and are on their way to supply us with a better means of securing more potential livestock." ¡°This is a bad idea; one is difficult enough, but you want to bring more of them off-world?¡± ¡°Your opinion ¨C¡± The light flickered on and off overhead. In that brief silence, someone began pinging the communication system built into the Overseer¡¯s desk. He pressed a button, and they appeared as a projected hologram. ¡°We have a problem with the prisoner.¡± ¡°Elaborate.¡± ¡°He¡¯s managed to break out and is tearing his way through our protectors.¡± ¡°Where is he heading?¡± the Overseer asked, leaning forward not hiding his curiosity at these concerning developments. ¡°Not sure, his movements are sporadic, and if I didn¡¯t know better, he¡¯s also using our maintenance tunnels to get around being easily seen.¡± ¡°I told you not to underestimate him,¡± Mokvel said while folding his arms. The Overseer leaned back, unconcerned. ¡°All this does is show the Warband why we should have an army of them scattered across various worlds that haven¡¯t yet submitted to our rule. Imagine the chaos a group of Terrans could cause if instructed or implanted!¡± ¡°If this all goes wrong, it¡¯s on you, Urlak. Don¡¯t say I didn¡¯t warn you.¡± Overseer Urlak¡¯thul smiled, stood up and headed for the bridge. ¡°As I was going to say, your opinion is noted, Mokvel. We should prepare to meet our guest, if he¡¯s as smart as you say he is, he¡¯ll be here real soon.¡± Chapter 6 The author''s tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. Chapter 7 ¡°You did good, ape. All this tenacity that brought you here. The Warbands will love you. Now drop that gun,¡± He said, using his long fingers to point first at the weapon, then at the ground. "The Warbands? You still you''re in control of this monster! Are you out of your mind, Urlak? Hasn''t he killed enough of us!" ¡°Quiet, Mok. You should be proud; after all, it was your ground team that discovered the perfect killing machine. It is the greatest living weapon we have ever come across. I¡¯ve never seen such ruthlessness and aggression before.¡± As if to annoy the Overseer further, the Terran still refused to drop his weapon. Urlak again made the pointed gesture and if all else failed, he would fire a stun shot. There would be no room for any surprises this time. The Terran scrunched their face and spat at the floor. Instead of dropping the gun, they held the gun forward, offering it to them. Urlak looked over at Mokvel for a brief moment and smiled. ¡°See they already -¡± That was all the time the Terran needed because before he could even finish his sentence, a loud beeping filled his ears and the Terran, likely on pure instinct, jumped back and down to the ground while covering their ears. The plasma explosion that followed tore through the Overseer¡¯s fragile body, sent Mokvel flying and scattered the others on the bridge into a mass panic. Mokvel hit the ground in a lowered section as he heard more fizzling plasma shots. The Terran had recovered and was finishing his work. Silence fell, but not for long as the entire ship shook violently. Mokvel gasped, looking at the viewscreen and saw them. The Blue Warbands had arrived in the nick of time.
Every part of him screamed as he hit the ground, the flames of plasma licking at his back while his bloodied knees scraped against the metal floor. The alien that he had first encountered while planet side had since disappeared from view, most likely dead. His friends now gave him their full attention. He roared his frustration, wanting nothing more than to return home, to be done with this entire ordeal. He just had to take out the remaining aliens and figure out how this ship worked. None of them had weapons, so it was as easy as pointing and shooting. Soon enough their garbled cries ended, and he had silence at last. While he now controlled the Command Centre, there was still the possibility of backup showing up. There¡¯s only one unaccounted for - if he¡¯s still alive I can get him to lockdown the bridge that should slow down any armed Greys. Then I can have him fly the ship and land on the planet¡¯s surface. Our people could seize this entire ship! The tribal chief might even submit to me under threat of being vaporised. The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation. It all sounded great in his head, but that was easier said than done. He was about to check where the Grey alien had landed when the ship shuddered and two much larger vessels appeared on either side. He ground his teeth again for all the good it did and watched the centre of the floor project a face; this one was blue and longer with a pointed chin and large unblinking black eyes. It spoke in a now familiarly grating angry babble and he knew that while he won this fight, his war and the fates of every man on that planet were now at the mercy of these newcomers. He watched the large group of aliens materialise before him. They were almost his height and looked equipped for a fight. Exhausted and not wanting to take chances, this time, he dropped the weapon, heard it clatter and bared his bloodied teeth. He would remember their faces and when the time came, they would regret knowing his.
Mokvel poked his head up from where he hid. The Blues had arrived and surrounded the Neanderthal man. Unable to match the firepower now arrayed against him, the man submitted, likely aware that he had no way of fighting off so many heavily armed aliens. Seeing him, one of the Blues approached and helped him back onto the elevator platform. ¡°Care to explain.¡± Mokvel nodded. ¡°This one here was intended to be a gift to you from the Overseer.¡± ¡°And was this him?¡± the Blue asked, pointing to the goopy remains of the Urlak''thul. ¡°Yes, our gift broke free and fought his way here.¡± ¡°Is he the only one?¡± Mokvel hesitated for a moment. The Greys were unprepared for conflict, but the Blues, this was their element. They could handle the Terrans easily enough. He just feared what would become of their world. Life in the universe was fleeting enough; having the Blues descend upon the planet might just snuff out one that still had the potential to develop a civilization that could rival theirs. Perhaps it¡¯s good they¡¯re here then because I dread to think what these Terrans could be capable of, if allowed, to evolve past this primitive state. Keeping them under heel might be the best solution, as much as that also worries me. ¡°The world is full of them as far as we could figure out.¡± The Blue alien looked at the Terran. ¡°Then we have a lot of work ahead of us. Prep this one for transport and you, Researcher, you will be our consultant on this matter since you know this thing better than we could, and after seeing all this¡­ carnage. I don¡¯t think any of us here want to let this one out of their sights anytime soon.¡± Chapter 8 The singular light came from above and shone down through the glass into his boxed cell. Unlike his last one, this cell had a large, physical, metal double door keeping him in, not an energy-based one. For a brief second, a shadow fell over him, leaving him in darkness. The cause of this soon shifted so as not to block the light as much. Now, he could at least make out the outline of their back; he didn¡¯t need to guess who it was. Mokvel. Even just thinking of the name made him spit on the ground. ¡°I think we got off on the wrong foot, Terran,¡± said the alien, doing its best to be clearly understood. ¡°Urlak deserved what happened, but you understand this will not end the way you think.¡± ¡°Why are you here?¡± Young growled and couldn¡¯t stop pacing around like any caged animal would. ¡°To warn you of what¡¯s coming, you¡¯re never going to see that beautiful world again. The Blue Warbands will either use you to further their ends or see you be a tribute for games.¡± Young looked squinted a little to see Mokvel look down at him. ¡°Tri-bute?¡± ¡°The Warbands like to capture all kinds of prisoners and pit them against each other. The winner gets their freedom, so there¡¯s that, at least.¡± ¡°Then all I need to do is win.¡± The alien¡¯s chattering laugh echoed around them and made Young wonder what it was that the alien found so funny. ¡°I took your people down. What¡¯s the worst you can throw at me?¡± ¡°Other aliens like yourself, bigger, stronger and just as resourceful. You¡¯ll be theirs to slaughter.¡± ¡°You doubt my abilities, still?¡± ¡°No, I think I¡¯m the only one who knows what you¡¯re truly capable of. One thing is certain, Terran, we¡¯re all going to burn for what we¡¯re going to do to your world.¡±
A series of punctuated booms ended the silence and flattened any tree that the Blue Warbirds passed over. The ships whizzed overhead, creating sweeping shadows that caused the roaming pack of Neanderthals to stare up in a mixed state of wonder and horror. The newcomers had taken Young and now more of them had shown up. They picked up the pace as they ran through the thickly forested wood. If these newcomers found their camp, the women, and children would be in grave peril. Booms thundered around them, different from the thunderclaps that came before. These were at random intervals and what soon followed was billowing smoke; thick and black, it blotted out the sky in all directions. The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement. The trees opened up to a small camp of their fellow Neanderthals, panicking while trying to keep low and sheltered for all the good it would do them. The Chief who had led the hunt knew there could be no hiding from this threat. No doubt it already knew exactly where they were and were converging towards them. He needed to restore order, and fast. He bellowed out a guttural roar that got everyone¡¯s attention. He pointed to some of the men still geared up. ¡°Prepare the men and women to defend the camp, we¡¯ll need everyone if we¡¯re to survive them. Watch the skies, and not just the forest. These outsiders traverse the sky as easy as any bird of prey.¡± The grunts of acknowledgement were all he needed to hear, and the men set to work arming those around the camp with stone-tipped spears. If these newcomers were of similar stature to the Greys they had faced before, he suspected they might have a chance of survival, but a part of him doubted this. These outsiders he imagined would be far more formidable if their tactics so far were anything to go by. Sage looked at their chief and agreed. ¡°I doubt this will go our way, Chief.¡± ¡°Even still, we fight.¡± The Sage nodded, but before they could plan further, a lengthy shadow covered their camp and the roar that came after almost deafened them. The wild animals that could flee fled deeper into the wood, as if that would protect them from whatever now lingered above. Intense winds forced the Chief to dig in his heels just to avoid being pushed off balance. ¡°Whatever comes out, give it no quarter!¡± A series of circular openings appeared on the underside of the structure and from that blackness, something large was deployed to different parts of the camp. One of those things landed dead centre in front of them. It had a metal look to it and the Chief at first thought it was some kind of weaponised ball. Instead, it made strange noises as its shape transformed from a ball into something vaguely humanoid. He held up his hands to signal his people not to engage. Their weapons wouldn¡¯t be able to stop whatever this was. ¡°Terrans, we offer you this one chance to surrender. The strong among you will be brought aboard our ships. The weak will perish. The decision is yours.¡± Somehow, these aliens spoke their language or had at least found a way to understand it. Chief looked at his Sage. ¡°If we refuse to join you?¡± asked Sage. ¡°You must choose soon or we will make that choice for you.¡± Chief clenched his teeth together. ¡°We will come with you, but leave the weak. They do not deserve death.¡± "That is not for you to decide. One more time, are the terms acceptable?" Chief wanted to say no, to die a warrior''s death, but what was the point of that? If he was to overcome this threat, he would have to play along for now. Let them think they are in control. Biding our time is all we have right now; much will need to be sacrificed if we are to win in the end. They will be made to regret this. The Chief swallowed back the regret he already felt. ¡°We accept those terms.¡± ¡°Good, do not resist, we need only the strong, the old are not required for your future,¡± the strange metal humanoid¡¯s hand pointed to the Sage. ¡°You will be the first. Do not resist.¡± ¡°Avenge us, Chief. Do not let our deaths here be for nought. Do not mourn! Take that anger and make it your strength.¡± ¡°He doesn¡¯t need -¡± The Chief was cut off as the blast of yellow energy consumed the body of the Sage and reduced him to sludge. So that¡¯s what we need to overcome. It seems impossible now, but that¡¯s not truly the case. We will endure their torment, and whatever comes next. When they least expect it, we will rise and lay waste to them as they have already done to us¡­ an eye for an eye. This battle may seem lost, but this war has only just begun. Chapter 9 Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road.