Quick note from the author:

Thank you for the reviews, pms and little notes of encouragement to keep going. I haven't forgotten about Shadow and Ghost and honestly have no plans to abandon the story. Just have had to make and continue to make some RL changes in my life that unfortunately puts me in a position where writing is a luxury I get very rarely. But I still love it and thank everyone again!

Please enjoy this next chapter of Shadow and Ghost.

-Miss K

New word:

tarei-hsans: unworthy or bug

Shadow and Ghost

Chapter 20: The DNA of Revenge

50 years ago...

"Its waking up Doctor." Eliza Fields looked over her shoulder at her boss, Dr. Reshard.

James Reshard had been waiting for those words ever since those alien bodies had been found so many years ago. Now his life's work was staring at him with confused unblinking black eyes.

"Eliza, begin documenting its physical appearance, we have no idea how fast it will mature. If it ends up like the Xenomorphs we must record daily descriptions."

"And if it is like the others?"

"Then this will be an amazing creation. Perhaps the bridge for us to understand them, and their prey."

Eliza nodded before turning back to the little creature and lifted a recorder to her lips, "The specimen is so far a success. Possessing features from both DNA host Aliens. It appears to be a 'he' as there seems to be the gentiles from the hunter present. The hunter can also be credited with the specimen's facial construction, dread lock like hair and overall body structure and skin pattern. Stripes with faded spotting over the large muscles of the gluteus and thighs, noted as well over the rear of the shoulders along the traps. The Xenomorph can be seen as well in the spikes present along his back and a whip like tail. His feet and hands appear to be more xenomorph though digits number as the hunter's. His coloring is a shiny black with the patterns appearing a deep almost iridescent blue. Only time will tell now which creature he is more mentally alike."

Eliza clicked off her recorder as a security officer barged into the room in frantic hysterics, gasping for breath as he spoke. "A ship...they're coming...here."

"Who?" Dr. Reshard asked.

The security officer had no time to answer as his chest broke apart from a cloaked spear like weapon bursting through. Eliza screamed as the creatures began to appear out of thin air. The one holding the impaled officer tossed the body across the room in a crumpled mass. She dropped the recorder and tried to run, only to find that same spear like weapon passing through her back, pinning her heart to the wall in front of her.

As Eliza's body fell, Reshard stood in front of his newest creation, and spoke in a wavering but clear voice. "I am unsure if you can understand me, but please don't harm this one, he could prove useful to you in later years and I can help ensure that success."

The Hunter retrieved his spear as he approached. Reshard could feel his blood pounding in his ears. The group of hunters stood at the door obviously awaiting commands from the one that approached him. The large male adorned in small skulls and what looked like the mandible tusks of other hunters stopped and motionless seemed to stare into the observation cell.

For what seemed like an eternity to Reshard, the hunter finally turned his masked gaze upon him and with a mechanical flash of his visor the hunter spoke to him. "Intriguing...very well." Standing to his full height, he barked orders at the awaiting hunters and Reshard found himself roughly whisked away with his work and his first successful specimen.

Present day...

Dr. Richard lay curled on his sleeping mat in the cramped cell that Nracha'var had given him all those many years ago as "more than enough space for a pet". He had given up on ever escaping, he had tried once when he was still young but found he could not pilot a jumper alone and the subsequent beatings that followed nearly killed him. He sighed, there were many times he had wished they would have, his current 83 year old body was fast giving out and though he knew his freedom would never happen while alive, death had become a welcome companion, ever looming over his shoulder whispering promises of permanent slumber... of escape. But despite fifty years of imprisonment he had had access to some of the most advanced equipment and his research had exploded before his eyes. He smiled as he thought of that tiny creature he became a slave for... no long tiny.

The psychotic clan leader had no idea just what he had let aboard his ship those many years ago. Once Reshard had recovered from his escape attempt he had thrown himself into his research, even created a couple more experimental specimens to keep Nracha'var occupied while right under his nose Reshard learned about the yautja and came to the conclusion long ago that this particular clan of yautja where nothing more than wanted criminals and nothing like the rest of the species.

Reshard secretly began conducting his own research with his first specimen never sharing more than he had to with Nracha-var or the other yautja scientists. Even when his age started to slow him down and they felt the need to find him a younger replacement to continue his work when he died, he never shared his secrets. Sol, the spineless little man they had kidnapped for him to train in the secrets of his science, tried many times over the last few years to win favor with Nracha'var by telling the bastard about the dangers the first specimen posed.

Reshard began to giggle, I knew you would disregard Sol's warnings, even that weasel has no clear understanding of just what I have done to you. I knew you would be preoccupied with your self-absorbed plans. My creation has exceeded all expectations... His laughter slowed and as he grinned he thought, all your scientists tried to tell you he was not an animal...but did you listen? His laughter grew hysterical. No, just like I knew you wouldn't, not with your sites on the other two drones. You'll never see him coming.

A pain in his chest made his laughter waiver, but a sigh of relief escaped his lips as he settled down. Soon death will take me, you bastard... my only regret will be I don't get to watch 591 tear your fucking limbs off.

xxxXxxx

Kv'var-hult stormed into the specimen laboratory. "He wouldn't Listen." She pouted to her associate, H'ko'var.

The older male just snorted, "And you expected different?" He eyed her as she stopped next to him in front of the safety viewing window.

Crossing her arms over her chest. "No." Kv'var-hult watched the specimen numbered 591 pace in the holding cell. Narrowing her brows she asked. "Has it been doing that all day?"

"Yes." H'ko'var answered with an edge of concern to his voice. "And as time progresses it is increasing in agitation."

"I wonder if it knows that Nracha'var has ordered its disposal?" She studied the creature as it paced. It's graceful stride and serpent-like movement made it uneasy to watch, as it's Yautja features stood out in glaring contrast with its Kainde Amedha features.

"I thought that's what you wanted?

"It was."

"Then why do I hear disappointment in your voice?"

She turned to H'ko'var, "I wanted more time to study its DNA combination before it was disposed of, but that zabin of an ooman had to snivel to Nracha'var and the other one expired today, what was I supposed to do?" She turned to watch 591 again, "You know as well as I that my head would end up on the chief's wall if I would not have gone to him."

H'ko'var nodded. "That is most likely true, however he launches for his hunt today and will be gone for a full moon's rotation."

"That isn't enough time." She pouted, "and you know it."

"Be that as it may, it is better than no time at all."He chided.

"True. I suspect its ooman was hiding critical information from us." Kv'var-hult watched 591, each elegant stride seemed forced even aggressive with his whip-like tail movements flicking behind him. What has you so agitated? She wondered before asking aloud. "Have there been any changes that could be attributed to its agitation?"

H'ko'var stood in thought a few moments before answering. "The only thing that has changed in the lab today was the other two have been removed and loaded onto Nracha'var's jumper."

"591 kills anything put into its cell and its mad the others are gone?" They looked at each other. "Wait...what? That would mean it could hear them from the other soundproof cell." Her companion just nodded. "That means..."

"591 can hear us..." He finished as they both looked back at the specimen who had ceased his pacing and was now staring back, his unblinking eyes deep pools of fire in their infrared vision.

"What other secrets is it hiding?" She asked.

H'ko'var began stepping back away from the window. "I don't think we want that answer..."

591 roared deep and guttural in response, the sound they both knew well as a hunter's challenge. In a shower of splintered safety shield material, 591 crashed through landing on the back of Kv'var-hult as she tried to run for the door. H'ko'var had made it to the alarm and as he flipped open the safety cover, 591's tail speared through his chest ripping him out of reach of the palm scanner. He hit the floor with a force the ripped 591's bladed tail through the side of his ribcage. The tail severing everything internal in its path. H'ko'var's sight darkened as he watched that tail leave a bloody groove across the floor.

Kv'var-hult prayed in a pain filled and panicked voice to Cetanu to make her death quick, she could feel the specimen's talon tipped fingers ripping into her back and encircling her spine... A solid weight pressed against her shoulders. A deep growling voice rumbled. "Do not worry..." For a moment Kv'var-hult felt peace at hearing Cetanu answer, her thrashing began to slow until she realized the voice didn't come from beyond but from behind. Her screams echoed through the soundproof lab as 591 removed her spine maliciously slow.

When the lab fell silent, 591 brought the bladed tip of his tail up to his right arm and cut himself on the bicep with two tiny incisions continuing the pattern that etched his arm from the wrist up. Scanning the room he located the air vent. With one final survey of the bloodied room and the mutilated bodies of his tortures he turned his back and climbed the wall leaving a bloody trail as he pulled himself into the opening. Inhaling deeply, 591 fixated on the scent of fuel and began to stealthily climb his way towards his new quarry.

As The launch bay became closer the excited barks of the other two creatures that looked like him began to echo through the shafts. 591 climbed to a vent that exited from the wall behind the jumper. Slipping in through the open thruster lines and settling into a maintenance shaft of one of the fins of the smaller craft, 591 settled in for his first ride off the clan ship and his first hunt outside of a room.

xxxXxxx

Nracha'var growled in anticipation, it felt good to be on a hunt and away from the stifling confines of his clan's ship. With the influx of complaining scientists and incompetent hunters, he was feeling murderous with his people. Though some of them had beautiful skull structure, and there was no better trophy than a Yautja skull, it would not be in his best interest to have a ship full of dead and headless followers, especially once Thar'n-thwei was disposed of. Having his clan and the Elder's badge would go a long way with the council in letting him back into Yautja Prime. "And once back in, I can dispose of the rest of the Elders and anyone else I see excepting, even encouraging impurities into our royal blood."

He growled at the thought of what Thar'n-thwei and his twin had done. Traitors to their race. Kwei-kv'var-de, bedding an ooman and creating an abomination. Instead of killing it he had let it live and Thar'n-thwei, a sterile disgrace. Should have taken the journey as a solo hunter, an honorable path, but instead pressed for clan elder and adopted...ADOPTED...a council member's unclaimed bastard. Then the little Hybrid... She should have been killed upon birth, but since she wasn't, will now make an interesting addition to my trophy walls. "One way or another dear friend I will cleanse the yautja blood lines in a way the old gods are incapable of doing. I will show them how they are no longer needed."

Nracha-var watched the star paths in silence for a bit, grinning smugly as he pictured his new hounds tearing the tarei-hsans apart, weakening them for his final merciful death blow. He was meant to be the gods' replacement for the yautja, why else would I have been the one to find the ooman science colony with their unnatural experiments? I will use an abomination to kill an abomination and purge a corrupt blood line from our midst.