Kusari Gold

[arvg]

The hurried reports indicated that the Kusari captain had donned a suit of Kusari Samurai battle armour and was stalking the ship.

They had nothing with the kind of firepower it took to take down a Samurai, at least the marines didnt. Fraser lifted his Sonic Disruptor, glancing at the First Officer. Take the bridge, he ordered tightly.

With due respect, sir, Chuck said tightly, youre not figurin on taking that thing on alone are you?

Fraser clapped the stalwart Bretonian on the shoulder and smiled. Go, take the bridge, trust me.

Chuck nodded. Aye, Skipper. He gestured again to his men and they carried on forward as Fraser cut down a side passage, heading towards the last known location of Squad Three.

The close atmosphere of the Kusari Destroyer, bathed in its red emergency lights, was claustrophobic. He slowed as he flexed his hands around the pistol, raising the weapon as he swung around a corner, crossing another connecting hall, his eyes sweeping every direction as the weapon swung effortlessly to and fro.

Hed fought a Kusari Samurai before; the creatures seemed unaffected by bullets, shrugging them off as if they had no effect. The creatures would keep coming until shot by something capable of delivering a massive system shock.

He wasnt sure the Sonic Disruptor was up to the task, but they didnt have anything else to stop the creature that would tear its way through the defenseless marines.

He saw a couple of marines and a crewman exchanging fire with a few surviving Kusari troopers through a cargo bay, and he circled around the fire fight, keeping his eyes peeled for the Samurai.

He was glad of the black gloves he wore; the leather covered the fact that his palms were moist with nervous anticipation. He was alone now, alone with a Samurai lurking nearby.

The cargo bay he moved into housed cargo containers from seized vessels, lit by circular lights in the ceiling that shone down making small circles of light and plunging the rest of the large bay into shadows. There was a light rattling from the life-support machinery that had malfunctioned and created a damp that left condensation on the walls and made the deck plates slick beneath his feet.

Years of hunting criminals through some of the worst cesspools in Bretonia for the BPA had given him a natural caution. He noticed the dead bodies of the Karin marines that had been set upon by the Samurai, dark burn marks on their uniforms where the Samurais energy weapon had struck them. Fraser knelt beside one, his pistol still at the ready, confirming they were dead, as he rose slowly.

He wasnt afraid -- he found that strange. He knew a Samurai could be beaten, hed beaten one before. So long as he kept his wits about him he would be okay.

He heard something; it was faint, the faintest hint of what he searched for, and it was gone almost as soon as he caught it. A disciplined creature, one that knew the slightest sound would give it away. But it was too late. Fraser rose to his feet, he had found his Samurai. I know you can hear me, he said in calm even tones.

The only sound was the occasional burst of weapons fire elsewhere in the ship.

I can hear you, he said again as he allowed his footfalls to echo into silence.

Your heart beating, the ragged breaths youre taking, the fear you are feeling.

He swung the weapon about again, searching about the shadows. I know youre here, Fraser continued, his voice echoing through the bay, I can see your handiwork. He glanced at the dead marines. You're a predator; you prey on the weak, the defenseless. How does it feel to be in their place now?

There was still no reply.

How does it feel to know that you are the one that is being hunted? he asked aloud, the sound of the marines entering the bay behind him made him feel relieved.

There is no escape. I know where you are. The Sonic Disruptor lifted slightly. I will shoot you if I have to.

There was a roar from beside him; the Samurai propelled himself out of the shadows towards his hunter, extending those deadly hands towards Frasers throat. Fraser sidestepped the clumsy assault propelling the alien towards a pile of crates and sending it sprawling. His Sonic Disruptor skittered across the deck as he lost his hold on it.


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