The Broken City Rising In The Darkness.

ON THE MAIN DOCKING BAY PLATFORM IN EROS FIRST CITY.

Dawn if you could call it that on that on Emma’s home world. There never is a dawn on this world, only a dusk sky that draws out over the cities. When it gets dark here its completely pitch black apart from the lights of the homes which light up in patterns across the city. It wasn’t quite in the second city though.

You could hear screams in the distance, and the light of huge fires as they rose up in to the sky. The hunting group has only had three hours sleep and I know they really need more but time has run out. It was very late when we all got to sleep and in less than two hours we’ll be joining up with Dachande’s clan and Horus and Orgoi who I asked to stand guard at the gate.

He’d had Ti-Sky send them the information on the new hybrid hard meat along with the news on the new clan who had landed. The mission was simple to go in and destroy the queen in the hive. Which was always far easier than it sounded, on top of this they didn’t have a clue where the hive was located, at this present moment in time.

Even looking at the ooman designs of the city wasn’t helpful, hard meat queens could start hives in any place if it was big enough. Which was the biggest issue there where hundreds of large building in the ooman city. This meant the first half of the hunt would a long painfully search along with both clans killing as many hard meat that got in there way.

He pulled turned slightly seeing that the strange Roi-Hoi animal was still sleeping at the foot of their bed. He tapped his upper left mandible looking at it, he’d never understood oomans and there love for creatures that where lesser to themselves. He looked around their room on board the ship for a moment the animal was well behaved though.

It hadn’t chewed on any of their items or ripped up any of their bedclothes. All it did was follow Emma around everywhere, then when she’d lain down to sleep it had laid it’s self down quietly. In all honesty he didn’t mind it, it was nice enough to let him stroke its head. He just couldn’t see what so special about it, and why Emma liked it so much.

He could see why the hard meat would choose such an animal, its attributes where very lethal. Plus it was obviously one of the top predators on this world, which was all the other hunters had noted when she’d pried open it’s jaws to show of it’s teeth. It’s jaws where full of dagger like teeth complete with the extended canine teeth.

He breathed in lying back on the bed, he was used to seeing viscous predators with these kinds of attributes, he just wasn’t used to seeing them so tame. Emma could’ve stuck her hand down this carnivore’s creature’s throat and it wouldn’t have bitten down. Did oomans train all there animals this way? Where they all tame and pleasant natured?

He put a hand on his chin he vilely remembered one older hunter’s in his pup years bringing back a weird little animal from one of the hunts. It was a furry thing with perched ears and a tail and a slender body it made a strange purring sound. He knew now that it was called a cat. It had made the head elder Ioji furious.

The hunter had said that the creature kept following him around, so he’d brought it back. Ioji had been very harsh and foul tempered leader who had always ruled through fear more than respect. He taken the animal’s little breathing apparatus off and left it locked up in a room until it died from not being from able to breath the air, then he had spaced it’s dead body.

The hunter had been given a beating for bringing it on board, and made an example of. Ioji had said that if any one brought any animals from the hunt aboard again there punishment would be even worse. He turned slightly looking at Emma who was sleeping next to him she was naked and curled up slightly in the fur covers.

Her breathing was very slow and rhythmic; he could see the breathing collars lights moving as made the air breathable for her. To Ioji oomans had been animals, stupid primitive beings that had descended from some ugly looking furry ape creature. He slowly moved his hand through her hair, how arrogant and foolish of him to think that way.

He had seen the Erisoki’s taking over as head elder as a good thing, Erisoki was a listener and was deeply thoughtful in his view of hunting. He didn’t like having to live in fear of Ioji’s brutal hand and never had since his youth. If Ioji manner of ruling had carried on Emma would’ve felt the full brunt of it, and he’d have been ether punished and dishonoured or banished along with her.

He had been clenching his fists when he’d told Erisoki about Emma in the cages on the Iron Year. He knew that it could’ve gone one way or the other and he feared more for her than himself, even though she wasn’t with him. He had just been so relived when Erisoki had chosen against Ioji’s manner of ruling the clan.

He sat back in there bed moving his upper mandibles slightly, he was really going off his trail of thought what he was more concerned about was this other clan. The human hunter who was like Emma seemed nice and he didn’t doubt her honour, but he still knew very little about her. As for her silent friend Bakuub he just didn’t know what to make of him.

The male who was about his age hadn’t spoken to him once he’d been very quite occasionally moving his gaze to his ship so he could keep his eye on the human android who kept on pacing in boredom. He was surprised that he hadn’t introduced him to the human. He got the impression though that the bronze armoured warrior didn’t like the android.

He liked Machiko though…as soon as she came back and got on with the job of pulling out creates of top of the range guns for the colonists he had been by her side instantly, helping her out. He laughed inwardly the female human had some sort of power over him that was for sure. He stopped sharply turning his gaze to Emma maybe it wasn’t a power but more a deep-rooted friendship.

Or truths of truths maybe it went even deeper than that, although he hadn’t spotted the obvious signs of a couple. He knew for a fact that not every ooman was the same and because of this not every relationship was the same. He slowly turned leaning down slowly as he moved his lower mandibles over Emma’s cheek.

He watched as she half murmured something in her sleep he shook her slightly watching as her eyes half opened. Emma found herself groaning aloud as the dim light of the room hit her eyes. She breathed in noticing that Jeuki was leaning over her his amber eyes moved slightly as he twitched his upper mandibles. “It’s morning…already?”

Jeuki sat up slightly. “Yes it is.” Emma groaned again. “Can’t I sleep another hour?” Jeuki moved his clawed finger over her shoulder. “You know you want to get up, you love the hunt.” Emma raised an eyebrow. “I want to go back to sleep.” Jeuki slowly moved one of his upper mandibles across her face. “Imagine all the trophies you’ll earn on this glorious hunt.”

Emma pulled the fur pillow closer to her. “Can’t I dream about them instead?” Jeuki laughed slightly. “Wouldn’t you rather live it than dream it?” Emma felt him move his mandibles again. She breathed in deeply feeling him move his clawed hands in a gentle motion across a waist. “Yes I would.” Jeuki pulled up slightly. “Good then I’ll go and wake the others.”

Emma watched as Jeuki pulled himself out of bed, he grabbed his undergarments putting them on in a swift motion. She closed her eyes as he opened the door slightly using the control button. Whatever thoughts of dozing of back to sleep left her as his roar hit the air followed by the banging of his fist against the wall outside.

She groaned again hearing the sudden commotion as the others where awoken from there sleep. She sat up sharply as something hard hit the floor she turned hearing laughter from the other hunters. No doubt Jeuki’s wake up call had caused someone to fall out of bed, her gaze turned as Argon’s ears shot up as he awoken by it.

She sat back for a moment watching her Roi-Hoi move it’s head in curiousity. So much for a lie in, what she wouldn’t give for her bed back on board the Yautja mother ship the warm comfortable one where she could lie for hours in Jeuki’s arms. Where she’d have to contemplate her pregnancy and the thought of mother hood. She lay back sighing aloud what she wouldn’t give to be in that bed right now.

ABOARD THE ARES BATTLE CRUISER SEVENTEEN HOURS FROM EROS

Eddy looked up slightly as moved the warm cloth across Amy’s eye. “It doesn’t look to bad, I mean it’ll bruise but you’ll be okay.” Amy breathed in deeply. “Stupid robot, I wish I’d had time to snap it’s mechanical arm clean off.” Eddy grinned slightly as her gently turned her head. “Stupid machine I’ll have it dismantled and refitted with better counter measures.”

Amy breathed in as she held the cloth against her eye. “It wasn’t the robots fault, it was the central computers.” She felt Eddy ease up her head he eased the cloth away pulling up the a little bottle of medical eye drops. “Oh no please not that it hurts.” Eddy pulled up the dropper he knew that she being very honest about that.

Military eye drops did really hurt they where used to get rid of dust in the eye, but they soaked in to the eye itself and released an antiseptic, which helped to heal any miner damage inside the renter itself. He’d had them put in once while on board the Iron Year when he’d been hit by a blast of chemicals from an unfixed vent.

He remembered the pain very well after receiving the eye drops. The only person who didn’t seem to care about them was Jessica it was like she had no concept of pain when it came to using them. It was her good eye had damage in the nerves or that she’d become so used to them, that she’d completely desensitised to the pain.

He pulled up Amy head watching her scowl as her good eye narrowed. “One second and this will all be over, you know that.” He felt Amy try to tug away, he pulled her back gently he squeezed watching as the liquid went in to her bad eye which was slightly blood shot. He pulled away as her fist slammed in to the table, which followed, by her shriek of pain.

Amy put her hand up feeling the pain. “That stings!” Eddy sighed aloud he looked at the table where her fist had come down the wood was slightly chipped. No doubt from the force of her metal bones striking it. He slowly lifted her hand noticing the scratches and a few cuts. He eased over the antiseptic as she turned to gaze at him. “Did I break something?”

Eddy smirked. “No, it’s nothing but a little dent, nothing to worry about. Your hand is more important.” Amy turned to look at her other hand. “It’s my bones isn’t it?” Eddy raised his eyebrow. “Your bones are just like everyone else’s Amy.” Amy grunted aloud. “No there not, I’ve seen the X rays of my body and the bones aren’t like yours.”

Eddy shrugged slightly. “So you’ve got metal bones, so what? There still bones and you bleed like everyone else.” Amy pulled away sharply. “I’m not like everyone else.” Eddy looked at her for moment he slowly moved sitting himself next to her. “You shouldn’t be concerned about what everyone else thinks of you, or your being with me. It’s not there concern.”

Amy looked down slightly. “I’m not concerned with their views…I just feel like a misfit.” Eddy laughed slightly. “Your not a misfit Amy, you’re a beautiful young woman.” Amy looked down slightly watching as Eddy cleaned the cuts on her hand. “You’re just being nice…” Eddy smirked slightly. “Your right I am being nice…but more than that I love you, and I don’t care if you’re a misfit.”

He was about to say something but stopped sharply as a knock to his office door caught his attention. He turned sharply. “Come in…” He watched as Jessica opened the door slowly. The woman’s good eye moved slightly as she closed the door. “Sorry to disturb you sir, it’s just where getting close to Eros. I’ve sent out the order to set up all our guns for battle with the Ethereal.”

Eddy stood up calmly. “Very good Jessica.” Jessica looked at Amy who had something of a black eye. She breathed in sharply. “Damn those robots in the gym hit hard…are you okay Amy.” Amy nodded slightly. “I’m okay…it’s not serious or anything.” Jessica breathed in deeply. “Maybe you should play a different sport…like badminton.”

Amy raised an eyebrow. “What’s badminton?” Jessica grinned slightly. “It’s similar to what you play now but you don’t you a ball you use something called a shuttlecock. It’s doesn’t hurt much when you get by hit one of those white feather like things.” Eddy laughed slightly as he sat down in his chair. “I’ve played that game before it’s not as half as much fun as squash.”

Jessica breathed in sharply. “Squash is for people who really like pain…” She shook her head. “Really not my kind of game.” Amy cringed slightly. “I don’t think I want to play that game.” Jessica nodded slightly. “Well I’d better be getting back to the central control room.” Eddy looked up as he rubbed his hand across his beard. “You must be very happy to be seeing home again Jessica.”

Jessica stopped sharply she pulled her hand away from the door. “You know a part of me was beginning to think that you weren’t going to mention this sir.” Eddy raised an eyebrow. “I read your files Jessica, I just felt that it wasn’t right to say any thing until we where closer to Eros. I know you needed time alone with your thoughts.”

Jessica turned slowly to meet his gaze. “My parents are in the third city…I tried to send a message to them.” She looked down slowly. “I don’t know if my message got through.” Eddy put both hands together. “What did you tell them?” Jessica sighed aloud. “I told them to take out the guns which they have and to protect themselves…I told them nothing about the mission.”

Eddy shook his head. “I wouldn’t care if you had said about the mission, there your parents and it’s your home world. Any person who’s getting ready to fight for their world would do the same.” Jessica found herself snarling aloud. “If Idorama has done anything to my home world…I won’t rest till I have his head on a silver platter.”

Eddy breathed in deeply. “Personally I think we all want his head on that same platter. Earth court has stated that he’s to be brought back dead or alive, they say his crimes are punishable are death.” He shook his head. “He’s even worse than Oran…Oran was always happy to keep things a secret. Idorama doesn’t care who knows about his projects.”

He shook his head. “He just kills anyone who gets in the way.” Jessica breathed in deeply. “I just want my parents to be safe.” She looked down slightly. “I haven’t seen them in so long…I just want everything to be okay.” Eddy slowly sat up. “Believe me Jessica what ever happens we will bring the Ethereal to it’s knees in battle and we will fight on you’re world surface.”

He breathed in deeply “Even if that means taking it back mile by mile” Jessica put her hand on the door control. “That’s very comforting to hear.” Eddy sat back in his chair. “Don’t worry yourself Jessica, be strong.” Jessica nodded as she closed the door behind her. She breathed in deeply, she wished it wasn’t so many hours in space.

They where going at full speed and still that seemed slow, still it was better than being in a sleep chamber. She’d felt better about getting out of those chambers when they’d gone in this area of the galaxy. She closed her good eye for a split second, it was better to keep a clear mind and focus on the task in hand.

Worrying wouldn’t solve anything. She breathed in again as she walked towards the central control room, she just had to be strong in her mind she was second in command and the others didn’t need to see her weakness in any shape or form. The commander had to brave and had to lead his or troop well other wise the mission would fail.

ON BOARD THE LEVIATHAN IN ONE OF THE CENTRAL PROTECTION ROOMS.

Elizabeth watched as the planet slowly came in to view it was big. Much bigger than Earth, but it didn’t look anything like it. It was like a giant dust bath with only a couple of area’s of green on it. She turned her gaze to the bedroom door she’d been locked in this room, once more. This room was nothing but a copy of her old room.

Her things had been placed in the same manner and she had, had to put on another expensive dress and take her medicine as usual. She narrowed her gaze the gun and it’s bullets where sitting on the dressing tables top. She breathed in deeply…this was supposed to be a central protection room, not that she could see what was so great about it.

It just looked like every other bedroom she’d been forced to be in ever since the day she’d been taken from Earth. She looked at the bullets on her dressing table again. They weren’t like ones she’d been given before these had grooved metal lines, which where plated in some form of silver steel at the bullets end. Why the hell someone would do that to a bullet was beyond her.

She noticed that her gun had been adjusted to fit them inside its spinning barrel. She sighed aloud focusing her gaze on the window in to space noticing how quite everything had suddenly become. It was an airy gut wrenching silence that filled her with fear. She wanted to drink something like a form of strong alcohol to dull the feeling.

She turned watching as something huge moved out alongside her window, she felt herself swallow it was one of the massive heavily constructed clamps coming free. She watched as it ran under the huge stretched out building body of the Leviathan bellow her. Why did they have to keep her in this room? She was afraid of this area of the Leviathan.

She was right under the docking clamps! She suddenly heard the roar as the engines in the lower Leviathan came online she could see the white fire bellow as it blasted outward. Her gaze turned as her room started to shake she watched as the glass of water on the table began to shake. This whole landing was based on that of a drop ship…she was terrified of drop ships.

Ever since the day she’d been forced in to one by Daniel so they could make a landing on the tropical world. She almost wet herself in fear as they’d slammed in to the atmosphere. She couldn’t stop herself screaming as they’d carried on down. Her mum had tried to grab her hand to help her calm down but it didn’t help.

Even after landing she’d been in shock, her grandfather’s men had laughed at her and how funny it was until Idorama had shut them up by firing a gunshot near to one of them feet. That whole day had been a terrible blur of panic and terror that she couldn’t shake no matter how hard she tried. She found herself shaking as the massive bars flew up past the clamps close to her window.

She grabbed hold of the windows edge feeling the shake as the massive clamps carried on past her. She looked down as the world around her started to roar as the whole section began to slide free from the Ethereal. She closed her eyes stepping back from the window as the world started to rush by. The metal outside the window started to turn red hot with the force of the sudden decent.

Elizabeth found herself cringing as the roar hit her ears, she found herself kneeling down and putting her hands up to her ears in fear. It felt like the walls where going to tear apart around her. She found self whimpering as objects fell from the walls, she watched in what felt like slow motion as the glass of water spilled on to the floor followed by the unloaded gun which hit the wet carpet with a dull thud.

She closed her eyes in terror trying to think of anything else, which could take her mind of this whole horrible situation. She closed her eyes hoping and praying that this would end. Hoping that she could forget this was happening and that she wasn’t falling from space at a deadly speed waiting for the engines of the Leviathan to kick in at full power.

Idorama watched as the planets clouds started to appear on screen. He put both hands together watching the dark sky move by. “How long till we touch down!” Daniel looked up sharply. “We’ll be touching down in five minutes!” Idorama grunted aloud watching as the sky carried on moving by. “Five the engines!”

He sat back as the roar of the massive engines hit the air full force, he could see the red dials flickering as the controller tried to keep totally control over the huge armoured vessel. He put a hand on his beard turning his gaze to an object he’d had brought up from his personal quarters by one of his helpers. He looked at the long Katana with it white dragonhead handle and tattles.

All intricately weaved in with black and gold patterns, which moved down the hilt, and along the heavy sheathe. Its ancient beauty was still as fascinating and drew the eye in. The blade of the Noguchi family still worked as well as it had centuries ago even though it shouldn’t have but he knew why did. He knew it was very lethal.

Some Yautja chemical had been poured over the ancient swords blade, it was no doubt the same chemical the ugly faced bastards used to keep their armour and weapons in such fine shape. It had revived the ancient antique returning it to its forma glory and making it impervious to the elements as well as somehow hardening the blade so it couldn’t be broken.

Normally ancient swords like this couldn’t be touched, as to breath on them would cause rust but not this weapon. He grabbed the sword pulling it up for a moment he slowly eased the blade free watching as the pattern of ancient craftsman ship hit his gaze. Machiko was a stupid bitch for leaving such a prize in her friends’ temple house in Kyoto.

Her sheathed the blade hearing the click, not that she could tell that friend that he was an idiot for looking after it since he’d shot that little bastard in the head. He slowly laid the sword next to his central chair she was never all that good at picking her friends. He looked up sharply feeling the world shake as the Leviathan hit the ground hard, which caused the dessert sands to fly up in front of the screen.

The controller looked up sharply. “Sir we’ve made a good landing we are directly in front of the third cities gates!” Idorama put both hands together as the view of third city came in to view on the screen, he could see fires burning in side it and expositions going off.” The huge Leviathan no doubt rose its gate and loomed over it like some metal monster.

He smiled slightly this was so perfect the people of Eros wouldn’t even know about there landing since all there satellites had been cut out during the night. They probably feel the shake in the earth but ignore it was some form of explosion from the third city’s chaos which he could now hear and see on screen. He breathed in slowly. “Turn on the barrier!”

He watched on screen as the huge sides of the Leviathan came outward each moved forward as they smashed the third cities huge gates. He ignored the screams and the dust clouds as they rose up as the metal walls pushed themselves in to the ground smashing the walls of the third city apart as they went. The huge walls interlocked on both sides their electric barriers coming on.

He sat back seeing the long guns move forward blowing away a few of the drones that had been inside when the gates had interlocked. He smiled listening to the screams of chaos and fear. He put both hands together breathing them in such was the beauty of chaos and fear, he sat back smiling wildly. One of the controllers turned sharply. “Barriers up sir, all inside protection is now active!”

OUTSIDE THE FIRST CITIES MAIN GATES

Machiko looked up sharply as heard a rumble in distance, she looked up sharply seeing that Attila was looking in the same direction. “What do you suppose that was?” Attila folded his arms. “Maybe it was another building blowing up…there have been fire blasting up in place all night.” Machiko looked at the gate their where every few people coming through now.

The ones that did come through resembled dirty stragglers who looked petrified. All had been instantly quarantined, they’d get the same lethal dose the same as those in the third city if any unborn hard meat where found. She breathed in she could feel the tension in the air and the panic. People where starting to lock there doors and weren’t coming outside anymore.

She could see the two young hunters from Emma’s group where watching as male straggler leapt through the gate. The man’s face was one of freedom but it was short lived. As one of the hunters grabbed his already torn bloody jacket heaving him up in the air. Which caused him to cry out in panic as the one holding him moved his masked face closer to his chest.

Two of the men carrying guns came closer waiting for the hunter to check the straggler. On ether side of the hunters where two barriers one for quarantine, which was red, another for the uninfected, which was blue. She watched the hunter shake his head as he turned putting the man behind the red barrier, two men in red and white coats picked him up and started to carry him away as quickly as possible.

This had been going on for the almost the whole night, the only thing that had happened was Jeuki had switched the hunters part way through the night to let the others sleep then switched them back at first light. Attila looked up slightly. “I feel sorry for these people, they’re having to put their own down it’s rather horrible.” Machiko shook her head. “They don’t have a choice even one hard meat drone in her could cause problems.”

She sighed aloud. “There doing there best to keep everything under control.” Attila watched as Bakuub came towards them he was carrying the two laser cannons one over each shoulder. He lifted them up then slammed them down forcefully. “Here are the cannons you asked for.” Machiko looked at the huge weapons. “Thank you.”

Bakuub folded his arms. “I still think we should go through the gate.” Machiko narrowed her gaze as she pulled up on of the huge guns to check the barrel. “We are not leaving until they get here.” Bakuub folded his arms. “Why is it taking so long?” Machiko looked up slightly. “They have more hunters, and no doubt those hunters are picking their best weapons.”

She turned sharply watching as number of shapes appeared in the distance. Bakuub looked up sharply catching sight of what she was looking at. “Finally…” Machiko leaned over catching sight of the pulse cannons. The hunting group was geared up in there heavy armour all looked ready for battle. Following along side them was Jacob.

The man looked even more concerned than ever, despite that she’d given his people better weapons. She narrowed her gaze she had no ideas where the idiot called Rayburn was it was like he’d vanished in to thin air. No doubt he was hiding somewhere drinking himself in to self-pity and even more doubt. Not that, that ever made any difference to a situation apart from make it worse.

She watched as Emma came closer Jeuki was following her he cocked his head to one side as he looked at the gate. He eased up his silver mask putting it on his head before looking up again through the red eyes. Emma breathed in as she came to a stop in front of the gate. Her gaze turned to Jacob. “As soon as we go through lock the gates permanently…don’t open them again.”

Jacob pulled back sharply. “It’s been less than two days there might still be people alive in there.” Machiko raised an eyebrow. “You might have noticed that there are only the odd straggler coming through the gate. You may have also noticed that just about everyone coming through this gate has impregnated in these last few hours.”

She folded her arms. “That means the hive has reached its maximum and will be coming to breaking point soon. When that happens the floods of hard meat will start to try and attack this city and your other city. You have no choice but to close your gate, because if you don’t you’ll die.” Jacob breathed in deeply feeling a horrible feeling in the pit of his stomach.

He slowly looked at his men. “Open the gates to full!” He watched as the huge gates creaked open slightly more. He was about to say something but stopped as he saw Ian running in the other direction. The young man leapt over one of the chairs closely followed by a young Roi-Hoi. He stopped watching as the young man sped past him.

He growled slamming out his hand grabbing his arm. “You are not going on this mission Ian!” Ian turned yanking his arm free. “I’m not here for the damn mission Jacob! I came to give me my sister something!” Emma moved forward watching as her brother came forward, he breathed in pulling out a automatic revolver from his jacket. “I forgot you give you this, its something for luck.”

Emma looked at the gun it was her fathers she recognised the hilt instant with it deep set groves. She looked at him for a moment before pushing the gun away. “I don’t need it, you take it” Ian laughed slightly as he grabbed hold of her weapons belt. “Look I don’t care about all your alien gadgets, I want you to take this it’s a family air loom and it’s lucky.”

Emma grabbed his hand trying to force him to stop. “You take it! You need it more than me.” Ian turned sharply looking at Jeuki. “Your race has this thing about family air looms doesn’t it?” He watched as Jeuki turned slowly, his gruff human voice hit the air. “Yes it does, family air looms are a great honour to carry.”

Ian grabbed Emma’s hand pulling it away. “You see Emma I did some reading up on the Yautja, Machiko was very helpful on the whole thing.” He pushed the gun in to her belt next to her strange staff like weapon. “Which is why you should carry this it would make father proud.” Emma found herself cursing in wardly as she gazed in Machiko’s direction.

She grabbed Ian’s hand. “I thought you where convinced that I was insane to take on the hard meat.” Ian smirked. “Oh yes Emma your insane and out of mind, but I believe you and Machiko can get rid of these things.” He grabbed hold of her pulling her a hug before she could get a chance to move. “I know you can all kill these things.”

Emma pulled away slightly. “Look I’m sorry…” Ian looked down slightly. “Look it’s okay we can talk about this when you get back, all of us you me and Jeuki.” Emma looked down for a moment before breathing in deeply. “Thank you Ian.” She turned sharply. “Ti-Sky!” Her gaze moved as the young blood ran forward, she looked at him for a moment. “I need you to stay here.”

She watched as Jeuki put a hand on her shoulder. Ti-Sky pulled back in annoyance. “I want to hunt!” Jeuki turned sharply. “You will do as you are told pup!” He watched as Ti-Sky moved back as he roared in his direction. Emma looked at the pup again. “I want you protect my brother and my mother.” She watched as Ti-Sky nodded then moved away from the gate.

Ian watched as the huge hunter moved towards him then came to stand next to him. He turned in Emma’s direction. “Em…why is staying?” Emma grinned wildly. “Oh to protect you, don’t worry he’s only young.” She watched as Hoi-O and Horus started to laugh as they’d caught on to what she’d said in her own language.

Jeuki growled aloud silencing them both, he eased up his hand in Ti-Sky direction. “You want to urn your honour back you do this, and you do it well!” He watched as the young pup slowly nodded his head. Ian looked at the hunter standing next to him. “Thanks…just what I always wanted a hulking mass of alien muscle…to look after me.”

Machiko eased up her hands. “I’m sorry to break this up but we have to go.” Emma breathed in deeply. “I know I’m ready.” Machiko pulled back as the gate opened fully revealing something that resembled a battleground. Twisted metal hung from the buildings and blood stains where splattered against the white walls while items where littered all over the floor.

She breathed in looking at the fire which where burning in the distance, she could hear the fire of guns in the distance but she had no idea where about they where. She eased up her weapon as she stepped forward she had all the maps nessurary. She eased up her spear watching as the sun glinted off the blade as she moved forward in to the hell like city.

End of part 16.

Silvermoonlight

2006-01-18

Authors note. Hi all, I hope everyone had a great Christmas and a great new year. I apologise that there was no chapter up right away and that you’ve all had to wait. Believe me I hadn’t ditched this story. I just felt really uninspired for a long while and what I was writing about really didn’t come out right.

So as not to churn out very small crap chapters I felt it best just take some time of from writing until my inspiration came back. Thank you for your patience, and thank you for all the reviews on chapter 15. All review responses are up on my personal forum.