A Hunter's Blood: The Crimson Contracts

I’m not stupid, Drakx thought. I’ll find her. I do this for a living.

He kept telling himself that to mask the obvious to him that even with Kimi’s expansive thinking, it took her months to come close to a theory of their location. He knew he was nowhere near her level of deducing. He had to keep confirming his level of intelligence to himself to stifle the actual thought of not finding her.

C’mon, think! Drakx scolded himself. He knew his adjacent connection to her expanded his mind farther than it had ever been. He had to calm down to think the way he had no other choice to. Either that, or suffer the consequences of the speculated, but unwanted result. He opted to calm down to let his mind work.

Alright, let’s analyze the obvious, he thought calmer, more rational.

Kimi has decided to try to complete my quest so I wouldn’t have to. In order to think she would have a chance, she would’ve mimicked my actions for success. She knows without experience, she wouldn’t have a chance. So her plan to destroy my immediate danger would be ineffectual. She would systematically mimic my actions to have, even the slightest chance of success. That’s what she is thinking being logical. Unfortunately, reality, mostly doesn’t follows logic’s rules. You can’t mimic experience. She really has no idea the danger she is in, Drakx thought, and pulled himself back to become more centered, and less emotional. So, what would I do if I had this new information? He began thinking straighter once more. I would gear up, get a plan, and execute said plan.

That was it! His way of finding her with expediency! Remembering her slavish like worship to logic, he believed he would be correct in his assumption.

He quickly called his supervisor. He rudely woke her from a fabulous sleep, but it didn’t matter.

“Even if this is important, I’m nailing your ass for waking me, Drak,. what?” Erin answered the Info-screen, with obvious irritation.

“I need your Personal GPS emergency retrieval beacon code, Erin! I’m sorry for waking you. Nail me later. I don’t care. I just need your help now!” Drakx pleaded.

“Wha… My code? Why? You know where I am. You’re bothering the shit out of me with this call! You’re looking at me on your Info-screen!” Erin asked with confusion.

Drakx reluctantly explained to her, believing she was wasting valuable time. “You gave Kimi some of your Gear. She went to find the DNAccidents without me. This is the only way to find her! Please. She’s in deep, and don’t think she can hold her breath that long!”

“If I give you my code, it will lock out the rest of us for security purposes!” Erin warned him. “We won’t be able to help. Come to the Guild so we can save her, together.”

“No time!” Drakx blurted. “I’m aware. They’ve always been my problem, anyway. I will finish this.”

Erin apprehensively gave him the code. “Don’t get killed by making this personal. Separate feelings from professionalism.”

“That’s impossible,” Drakx said. “I love her, Erin. I won’t allow any harm to come to her.”

Erin thought, he loves her, huh? He might have a bit of compassion inside of him after all.

“If you truly love her, separate the motive from your goal,” she said. “Go there to complete your contracts, not to save her. Make your primary goal the perk of your secondary goal. Trust me, I know.”

Erin wasn’t the supervisor from popularity. Drakx respected her experience over his. He listened.

“Yes, Sir! Completing contracts. You will have my report immediately afterward,” he gathered himself.

“Just don’t get killed in the process,” Erin told him. “I need to still nail your ass for waking me.”

Drakx cracked a small slit for a smile, and said, “Get your hammer ready, Erin, I’m coming back.”

***

“Wake, Anomalous Enigma,” an unfamiliar voice spoke.

Kimi was in a foreign area. She was sitting, and bound. She began to wake into abstract confusion. She forced herself to focus on one thing to get her bearings. The one thing was the unfamiliar voice. A less than ideal focus point, but none the less, a focus. Clarity crept back.

“Your incapacitation was not that severe,” the voice said. “Open your eyes so we can speak without awkwardness.”

Kimi opened her eyes. She was sitting in a chair, with a tall, olive complected woman, with jet black straight hair standing in front of her. The room was a colorless gray half circle. One entrance, and a large picture window behind her, on the flat wall. No furniture except the chair she was tied to.

“Please do not attempt to ask any questions that will not be answered. Understand your position is committed to compliance,” Sensus said.

“You could not enhance my educated assumptions anyway,” Kimi answered her. “Questions do not exist for me, Sensus.”

Sensus feigned surprise. “You know me? Oh my! Even a slower human could have figured that. For being Drakx’s X-factor, you are not impressing me.”

“Unbind me,” Kimi retorted. “Allow me to impress you.”

Sensus smiled at Kimi. “Your testosterone laced threat will not augment my intention. I am a female DNAccident. Barbaric taunts will not tip our scenario in your favor.”

“I do not need taunts to have an advantage,” she told Sensus. “As far as being Neanderthal like, I have not killed innocent people to flush one out for personal gain.”

“That is not primitive. It is not as barbaric as you would believe either,” Sensus replied.

Kimi knew she was a callous woman, but even that statement shocked her. “A race of higher intelligence does not kill out of vengeful spite.”

“A higher intelligence kills for necessity,” Sensus answered. “The lives of humans are not as important as flushing out the one who is attempting to eradicate my race. We are trying to survive. With Drakx breathing, our survival is suspect at best. He has to die to insure our survival.”

“Your race does not deserve to inhabit this planet,” Kimi said. “Your race is evil. A mar on humanity.”

“By the mere definition of your statement, you are that same mar,” Sensus told her. “We are superior. Humans love to kill their superiors. Things they cannot understand. Drakx is living proof of that. If he would be successful, I would look over my shoulder if I were you.” Kimi disregarded her statement, and bluffed. “Drakx, and an army of Hunters know your location now. They will descend on you momentarily,” she lied as Elreich walked into the room.

“Your bullshit blustering is partially correct.” Elreich said with a devilish grin. He turned to Sensus. “I have allowed her beacon to become active. He is coming alone!”

Kimi speculated her gear had a distress beacon. She also thought of how foolish Drakx was for coming alone. She began to think how technology signed his death warrant.

“He is alone? Humans are so ignorant,” Sensus said. “If he wants to commit suicide, allow him access.”

“None of us will harm him until you give the order,” Elreich said. His grin became more sinister as he walked out.

Sensus turned her gaze back to Kimi, and the smile left her face. “I cannot kill you to bring my brother back. You must stay alive until we have, and murder Drakx. Do not doubt--your death will follow that action quickly.”

“Kimi had a confused look on her face,” I have wanted to, however, have not killed any of your so-called brothers.”

“You killed Dhjaarc! I will E.L.C.A.R.R. you for my coup de gras!” Sensus responded to the false claim.

Sensus looked into Kimi, and realized she had no clue of Dhjaarc’s death. She couldn’t manipulate a memory that didn’t exist. Dhaajrc was really dead.

“It will not bring Dhjaarc back, but I will still enjoy killing you. I still have brothers that have survived,” Sensus recanted.

“They are not your brothers,” Kimi said. “You know they are procreation partners. Your ‘father’ would not have had you indulge in the primitive, human, sick fetish of incest. Your race, of course, would not populate with a lowly human. The quandary would be, do they know? Since you have told me my questions are useless, I really do not care for an answer. You can live in deceit. It is not my concern.”

Elreich walked in during Kimi’s response, and felt he had to defend Sensus. “Oh, we know. We kept the fallacy to keep Zannon with an ounce of doubt. He was an amazing warrior, but physically, a deadly partner. He served his purpose.”

Sensus turned to Elreich, and asked. “Do you believe I needed any help controlling a bound woman?”

Elreich looked down with immediate shame, and said. “No.”

“Did I ask for any input? Did I need rescue?” she scolded.

Elreich felt her anger. “No.”

“Then why take it upon yourself to save me?!” Sensus asked with anger.

Elreich wanted to explain his chivalry. “No one talks to you with such disrespectful disdain!”

“Do you see any scars on my person?” She asked rhetorically. “Then stay out of this conversation. I am a grown woman! I have this in control! Do not insult me by handicapping my intellect!”

Elreich realized his arrogant belief of a duty drenched rescue. It was irrelevant.

“It will not happen again. I am sorry.”

“What did you want?” Sensus asked, inaudibly accepting his apology.

Elreich stepped away from his shame to remember his initial purpose. “He is at the gate. We have set an ambuscade to subdue him at your order.”

Sensus changed her demeanor from anger to tactically deciphering the situation. “Did you hinder his wrist computer?”

“It is inert. The only thing it is showing is her beacon,” Elreich said.

Sensus turned to Kimi. “Elreich can manipulate, and mimic anything electronic. He can track, home in, and manipulate anything made of ones and zeros. That is how we knew of your arrival. The PDA message you left him. I gave you that information to show Elreich who was in charge between you and I. I allowed you an answer to a question you refused to ask, but I knew you wanted to know how you were captured. Besides, this information is useless to you. Now you know,” Sensus turned back to Elreich. “I control EVERYTHING!”

Kimi looked at her with hatred. She wanted to disrupt her line of thinking. “You do not control Drakx. Even the meekest animal will strike, if it feels trapped or cornered. Believe me. Drakx is the polar opposite of ‘meek’,” Kimi confirmed.

“True,” Sensus agreed. “The fly will defend itself against the swatter, but in the end, who will win? In the similar fashion of our hypothetical fly, Drakx’ defense will be...inconsequential.”

Kimi felt that loved her would make her eat those words.

***

Drakx checked his computer. No bogeys showed on his wrist, just Kimi’s beacon. He had tracked it to a large house, at the top of Clinton Hill. An elite community of Newer York. Only the privileged lived here. It was a highly personalized community of country like separation. You couldn’t see your neighbor. The community was grossly decadent in its monopolizing of land, with this world leading overpopulation. An eccentric community.

This is one of Sensus’ tricks, Drakx thought. I can’t read them, but I know they’re here. I hate walking into the trap, but I, at least, know what it looks like.

Drakx had to deviate from his initial plan. His secondary goal, which was his true primary had to be executed. There was no other option available. Time to rescue Kimi.

Her vitals are erratic, but she is still alive. He felt temporary relief. I’m about to walk to my slaughter, and Kimi, unbeknownst to her, is the bait.

Drakx looked towards the entrance. No opposition, or movement. He was free, and clear. The quiet was strange as he slowly crept to the door.

Of course they’ll let me in, Drakx thought. It’s much easier to capture a rat in a jar, when all you have to do is close the lid. Well, this rat knows it, and he has a big fuckin’ gun. We will get through this, Kimi.

Drakx, cautiously, moved towards Kimi’s beacon. He heard breathing. He leveled his gun at the breathing, and saw nothing. The breathing stopped. Quiet once more. He kept his gun leveled at nothing.

“I know I can’t see you through computer, or common sight,” Drakx whispered. “But I will kill you. I did it before. I don’t have to see you to fill this room with bullets. Even the invisible get wet when it’s raining.”

Silence. No response from anything. Drakx knew something was there. He couldn’t do a standoff with air when Kimi was in danger. She was close. He assumed she was in the next room. He thought when he rescued Kimi, they would reveal themselves soon after.

He entered the half circular room, where Kimi was bound to a chair, with a form fit gag in her mouth. She had a look of desperation.

Drakx began to smile as he saw her. He knew she couldn’t talk with the gag, but he knew she was as happy to see him as he was to her. The look on her face spoke loudly, warning of danger. Drakx spoke back with his expression.

“It’s alright, baby, I know it’s a trap. We will get out of here,” his look assured her.

Just as he reached her, Sensus voice inseminated from the entrance.

“Your death will be orgasmic once more. Since I will kill you both, it will be a, deadly ménage-a-trios of satisfaction.”

“When I kill Chelys, Kaynehl, Dhjaarc, and Elreich again, killing, for you, will be masturbatory at best because you’ll just self-terminate,” Drakx said, as he grabbed Kimi’s seat.

The only way out was the window. The rest stormed the room. Drakx fired toward the door, picked up Kimi, and ran at the window.

Drakx crashed through, with Kimi. He looked down, and saw a thirty meter drop to the dirt below. He quickly grabbed the sill of the broken window. With the weight, and momentum of Kimi under his arm, he dislocated his shoulder. As much as the pain was blinding, he didn’t let go.

Drakx struggled to press a button on his wrist computer with his forehead. It was a mechanical repel hook. It locked to the bottom of the house. He let go, and with Kimi secured, he sped repelled towards the ground.

When Sensus saw this suicidal maneuver, she held the rest back for a second.

“Wait! I want to hear the thud,” she told them.

When it didn’t happen they, quickly, rushed to the window. By that time, Drakx had safely lowered he, and Kimi to a non-lethal height.

Sensus saw the twine, and turned to Elreich.

“I thought you said you disabled his computer!” she blurted.

“I disabled everything ELECTRONIC! That lowering device is MECHANICAL! Do not berate me for unknown resourcefulness!” Elreich was finally fed up with her.

As Drakx landed with a thud, by releasing the repel twine, Sensus made her way to the door. The rest followed.

Drakx began to untie Kimi. He was only able to use one hand because of his shoulder. He knew they were coming. This was taking too long. He grabbed his left, dislocated shoulder with his right hand, and forced it back into place.

Sensus heard a blood curdling scream while running out the house. She didn’t know why, but knowing it was from Drakx made her smile.

Kimi’s eyes widened as she saw Drakx cringe in pain. He forced himself to recover, and began working on her bindings once more.

He unbound her quicker with both hands. Finally, through pain soaked tears, he took her gag off.

“I know you are in pain, and I also know why you chose to endear it. They are close. We do not have time for any explanation,” Kimi explained.

Drakx grabbed her arm, and began to run into the wooded area, “Since we need to hurry, and get the fuck outa here, start talking in contractions, and let’s go!” he said as they heard Sensus, and the rest behind them.

They quickly ran into the woods, and were out of sight for a second. Kimi felt as if she was the reason Drakx was in this situation. She didn’t think he would find a way to try to rescue her. Earlier, she didn’t believe she would even need to be rescued. She was beginning to realize, arrogance was a flaw.

“Elreich can manipulate anything electronic,” she whispered. “I do not... don’t know what the others can do, but we’ve got to improvise.”

“One of them can become invisible,” he said. “I don’ know which one, but the other two should be interesting.”

“It’s just the one, Dhjaarc has been killed through this ordeal.”

Sensus got to their drop point. She scanned the woods as the rest caught up to her. She began to feel stupid because she didn’t give Chelys the order to warp to their location. She knew he wouldn’t stand a chance against Drakx, when he has a gun. She didn’t want to harm them anymore. The decision caused then to lose them. She couldn’t hone in on their biorhythms, so they had truly escaped.

She didn’t want to put Chelys in danger, but she had no choice. Even if he was murdered, she had two left to procreate with. Once Drakx was dead, she would revive him, and E.L.C.A.R.R. him again. It was a risk that was acceptable.

“Chelys, warp, and find them. They are close. Do not engage. Locate them, and report back,” she instructed.

“Finally.” Chelys said under his breath.

“Do not allow vengeance to cripple your actions,” she warned. “Locate, and report back.”

Chelys said nothing, as he began to fold space to look for them.

“Here, take this gun,” Drakx handed the smaller gun to Kimi. “There’s a silencer on this one. Since we don’t know the final attribute, we’ll go stealth.”

“Got it, perfection is stalemated this time. It’s experience’s turn,” she whispered back.

“Well, experience has a fucked up shoulder,” he said. “I might just need your perfect aim.”

They took a second to look at each other, and smile.

“We’ll talk about your boneheaded stunt when this is over,” Drakx scolded. “I love you too.”

Kimi was thankful he had a futuristic attitude. “I look forward to you reaming me a new asshole. I actually can’t wait.”

Where are they?! Chelys thought as he began searching systematically. He knew the maximum radius a humanoid would’ve been able to travel in the amount of time they had. He started at the edge of the radius. Even with the instantaneous warp he possessed, being systematic took time.

He became angrier at Drakx for making him search for them. Anger began to cloud his judgment.

It only took three minutes before he got a result, but for someone who could move through space instantaneously, three minutes felt like a lifetime.

It was sad that even a higher intelligence had become seamlessly comfortable with the most destructive emotion. Chelys became angrier with the passing seconds. He wanted to destroy Drakx, and his whore himself. That was his thought process when he found them.

Fuck Sensus! He thought. “She does not deserve this privilege!

He was behind them, and they had no idea of his presence. He began to slowly creep behind them. He was going to hit a pressure point to paralyze Drakx, and beat the whore to death in front of him. As he reveled in his satisfaction, he inadvertently snapped a twig.

Kimi heard it, and was quicker than the hurt Drakx. She turned, and fired.

A surprised Chelys, received bullets in the chest, throat, and forehead. His attribute didn’t make him bulletproof.

As Drakx turned to see what, or who was behind them, he saw Chelys mouth silent, gurgling words of hatred. He fell to his knees. He died with his eyes open.

As Drakx saw the light leave Chelys’ eyes, he said, “Perfection will give us a chance. Good shooting, baby.”

“Well, now we know Kaynehl can become invisible,” Kimi said as Chelys fell to the ground silently.

Sensus felt Chelys’ life-force leave. She felt his death, more so than normal. Being an empath gave her that same feeling of dying. The curse of her attribute.

“I will find, and kill you both!” she screamed. “I will feel the death of every tree, but I do not care! I will burn this whole forest to the ground to kill you!”

Drakx knew she could do it. He looked for an escape, but there was none. He thought it was hopeless. That was when Kimi reached in his coat.

She has gotten me out of worse situations before. Let her work, he thought, as she pulled out the one gun she shouldn’t have.

Before he could stop her, she fired.

The gun fired, the bullet lit up, and climbed towards the sky.

Drakx looked very disappointed. “You’ve killed us.”

“What... How?!” Kimi was bewildered.

“That was a nuclear Air to Surface rifle. You fire it from a chopper,” he revealed.

Kimi felt the doom in the pit of her stomach. “All I thought of was the most devastating gun you had. My God, me, not mastering my anger has killed us!”

“At least they’re dead too,” Drakx tried to fruitlessly comfort her. He heard the pre-nuclear blast, and knew he couldn’t run four square kilometers in nine seconds.

“Love you,” he said, and kissed her on the lips.

She kissed him back lovingly, as they saw the blinding, white light.

Four square kilometers were turned into radio-active liquid…Silence