A New Breed: Birth

“You okay?! What the hell did that thing say to you?!” Royce demanded, helping her to her feet.

“…My…master…It’s…all my fault…” she choked.

“Wha…?” Isabella began.

“…It’s…my fault he was caught. I’m the reason…he’s…he’s…” Tears ran races down her cheeks.

“Snap out of it!” Isabella shook her lightly. “We’ve all got to figure out a way outta here before that murdering bastard comes back!”

“…There’s no way out…they’re probably guarding all the exits…to make sure I don’t escape…” she replied numbly.

“Great…so we’re sitting ducks then…” Isabella sighed slumping onto the floor beside the girl.

“…We could always fight our way out…” Royce began.

“…And get killed in the process!” Isabella snapped. The girl sat quietly, slowly regaining her composure. “…I…have an idea…”

The other two looked at her, she gazed back through puffy red eyes, “…You may not like it but…if it works out, you two can probably go back to your own planet…”

 

The alien hunter knew something was amiss as he neared the safe house at sundown. He could feel it on the wind, the female was in distress. He kicked in the door to find her in the presence of another human male, he had his arms wrapped around her pressing a dagger to her throat.

“Don’t move, ugly…” Royce growled.

The hunter hissed, a familiar three pointed red beam of light focused on Royce’s forehead.

“Do it and I end her and the abomination she’s carrying…” he growled.

The predator hissed again but made no move to attack.

“Now, let’s make a deal, you and me…A ship, for the girl. I know you’ve got a back-up hidden around here someplace…”

The alien watched him for several moments. The girl in Royce’s arms let out a cry, there was a loud splash as her water broke and hit the floor. The hunter made a move toward them and Isabella stepped out of the shadows, aiming her assault rifle at the monster’s head.

“I wouldn’t do that if I were you…”

“…should we…” Royce whispered.

“…No…keep going…I’m fine…” the girl panted. She cried out as a contraction gripped hold of her.

“…Looks like she’s about ready to pop!” Royce called out. The predator watched them a second more before tapping something into the communicator on his wrist. Not far away there was the sound of an engine starting. The hunter threw his head in the direction of the sound, letting them know he wouldn’t try to stop them.

“…How do we know you won’t just blow it up the second we’re airborne?” Isabella shouted. The hunter glanced at her before pulling off the communicator and crushing it in his claws.

She and Royce shared a furtive glance, he tossed the girl towards the alien hunter as they both made a mad dash for the door. The girl cried out, her knees beginning to buckle underneath her. The hunter scooped up into his arms.

“…Foolish humans…”

 

She was in pain. It was worst then anything she had ever experience. There was movement all around her, the familiar hissing voices of other hunters.

“…Those humans…You let them in didn’t you?”her master’s brother asked idly as if they were on an afternoon stroll.

She said nothing, refusing to even acknowledge his presence.

“Heh, you are much cleverer then I give you credit for… You do realize it is highly unlikely that you will survive the birthing…”

“…Then I can join my master…in death…” she replied, a tear, slipping down her cheek. The hunter said nothing, turning his back to her and leaving the birthing room. The girl let out a cry, it felt as if she were being split open. The others in the room, began to mutter amongst themselves in disgust and horror. Just before she lost consciousness, she heard two distinctive wails split the air.

One was unmistakably the call of a human babe taking its first breath, but the other was the birth cry of a hunter.

“…Master…do you see…? Our…poor…children…”