Xeno-Planet

The End of the Ultima

The plan was ready, and it was now or never. “Are we ready for me to start booting up the engine to begin the plan?” Nero asked. They all nodded in response. Even the Death Adder. Nero signaled the Adder to hide itself and the creature did so. Nero entered the transport shuttle and turned the key. He booted up the systems and started powering the engines.
A loud noise emitted as the engines powered up. Then soon just as expected was a rumbling. John and Nova went up ahead to where the first trap was and they saw it walk up. The Ultima Rex. It scared them. But John said, “NOW NOVA!!!” Nova and John immediately ran and the Ultima Rex followed. But then it tripped the first trap.
A big boulder was dropped on the Ultima. Its osteoderms protected it from a lot of damage but the Ultima Rex was clearly hurt. They kept running and John activated the next trap. Dropped from a bushel was a bouquet of Plasma Grenades. It blew up as the Ultima ran past. But it only hindered it slightly. Trap after trap, and still it kept on.
Eventually they made it back to the shuttle where Sarah was waiting with a radiation rifle. She aimed the shot at the apex's left eye. That dazed it. But it recovered, with a loud roar it prepared to kill them but Nero ran out and whistled. Suddenly, the Death Adder leaped out of hiding and attacked. The battle of apexes began.
The Ultima Rex used the hardened scale blade on its tail to strike but the Adder swiftly evaded. It wrapped its tail around the Ultima Rex’s body. It tried to bite but the Osteoderms protected it. It scratched until it got its fingers under one of the plates. But the Ultima Rex grabbed the Adder and pulled it off. The Adder however, managed to take the plate off. Violently separating the osteoderm from the Ultima Rex’s body. It roared in pain from the loss of the osteoderm. And the Adder lunged.
It sunk its fangs into the exposed tissues. Releasing its venom. The Ultima Rex roared in anger and grabbed the Adder’s head. It yanked it off and swiftly impaled the Adder with its tail. It then bit the Adder’s neck. And soon…it was heard. A ripping noise as the Ultima Rex ripped off the Death Adder’s head. It roared triumphantly. “NO!!!” Nero yelled, having lost the one creature he called a companion while stuck on Alaria.
John was startled but grabbed the rifle from Sarah and prepared to fire. Nova hid behind him. And Sarah watched on. The Ultima Rex looked at them. It started moving in but then…it stopped. It started wincing and whining. Then it vomited a mix of flem and blood. The Adder’s venom kicked in.
Once it finished vomiting it attempted to recuperate but then its muscles tightened. It roared from the pain of its body turning against it. It vomited some more and then it fell to the floor. It convulsed until…nothing. No motion. Not even a twitch. There was no life in the beast's eyes. Both apexes killed each other in the end. Nero approached the head of the Adder.
He rubbed its snout as a final goodbye. “Thanks for helping me out buddy. If there's a heaven for you, I hope you find it.” Nero said, clearly sad. “Hey Nero…I’m sorry.” John said as he placed a hand on Nero’s shoulder. Nova did the same. As did Sarah. “It was…a nice creature for the short time we knew it.” Nova said. “For a big eight-eyed, torso-having, snake, it wasn't bad.” Sarah added. Nero laughed and nodded. Then they all went on the shuttle.
The engines were ready and they blasted off. They were on their way home. Nova held John’s hand. “Oh? What's this for?” John asked. Nova responded, “I know you're a common janitor, but I think we built something of a connection down there and I wouldn't mind going out for dinner sometime…back on Earth obviously...” John smiled and said, “Yeah…”
He looked out of a window back at Alaria as the shuttle charted its course back to the Galactic Research Organization HQ. “That’d be nice.” John finished. All of them, Nero, John, Nova, and Sarah came out different than before. But maybe, it wasn't all bad. And maybe, good things were on the horizon.