Papuru Star: Coalition Carnage

Chapter 15: Cold Reception

Past

Pain. First sensation once awake. Great pain. Chest. Familiar pain. Back broken once. Agony. Confusion. How? Remember. The Hunt. Scent of killbeast. Mind of killbeast. So long, hunting. Long days. Very tired. Ambush! Pain. Great pain. Now, much more pain. Verbal communication, pain in chest. Loud noise. Killbeast? No. Myself?

Voice
Death?

Death? Echoes. Me? Dying? No! Eamon not die! Rise! Restraints!!! Great pain. Great noise. Peace. Calm. Pain? What is pain? Sleepy. Must sleep. No! Open eyes! Must open. Where. Ice. Cave. Tubing. Metal. Steam. Different noise. Banging. Clanging. Whirring. Pain. Loud noise. Self.

Voice
Still live.

Different voice. Familiar. Agasan. Coward. Run from killbeast. Bloody Tusk never run! All are prey to Ja'ir.

Voice
Rest. Everything will be better.

Nice voice. Pleasant. Soothing. Loving. My Empress. I do for you. Everything. Dwelling of The Operator. Half Ja'ir, half machine. Remember. Was here, long ago. Nice...Sleeeeep... Darkness. Weightless. Machine noise. Familiar. The Operator is rebirth. The Operator is god. Bright. Sunlight. Nice, cold air. Refresh. Strong. Stronger then before.

Empress
Killbeast hypernetic will be your symbol of power. Face of steel, conquering all in your path. So sexy.

Front limbs, strong. Same. Back limbs, one different. Hypernetic. Heavy. Body adapting. Deeper paw print in snow. Will compensate. Will led Bloody Tusk in glorious hunt. Will mate with Empress. Heat in chest. Loins. Back limbs strong. Hold full weight. Communicate defiance to raging snow. Pack surrounds. Eamon reborn!

Present

Day 33

Roxy
Welcome back to Coalition Carnage. We're nearing the end of our 'go home tour', a ten day extravaganza where we broadcast from the most stunning locales Dycord has to offer, along with a couple games for our Superstars. But, it will be no games today, though, as it's battle day and the batch we have lined up will leave you breathless, wanting more! But first, a few program changes for the coming days.

Bird squawk annoying. Planet too warm. Dwelling, space ship, crowded with objects. Always breaking. Too close. Omniband around neck. Dislike. Finally. Beeping. Ready for hunt. Tense. Bird on screen keeps chirping. Bet delicious. Knock at dwelling door. Tasty looking Human. Pokes biteable head inside.

Pilot 2
I just had to see you up close. Good luck out there. My daughter has your stuffed toy. Wait until I tell her.

More meaningless words. Gratitude. Slight tingle. Somewhere else. Dirt under paws. Little gravity, no air. Sustenance on. Not much time. Must end hunt before Sustenance end. Crowded. Dead machines, stacked, high as glaciers. Familiar. Hunted here before. Last prime hunting season. Many ambush spots. Locate prey. Listen for thoughts. Simple. Found. Not far. Fear. So much fear, yet determination. Prey will fight. Good. Stalk prey. Prey mind not on hunt. Same thought repeats.

Eamon(thinking)
When one hunts, stray thoughts led to fatal mistakes.

Narshira
What!? Tarshira, did you hear that?

Eamon(thinking)
It is I, the one who will devour you. Eamon of the Bloody Tusk.

Narshira
So, the stories are true. Ja'ir have telepathic abilities. Can you hear me talk?

Eamon(thinking)
I hear your thoughts as you speak them. Your mind is very chaotic, yet organized. Never encountered such.

Narshira
Glad to impress. You can exit my mind now.