The Hunted

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Chapter 1

Mira woke in a small, cramped cell, the dim red light from the passageway reflected dimly off of the wall next to her head. It was too dark to see anything clearly, but Mira could still smell. The air reeked of refuse, grease, feces, and blood, mingling together into a putrid aroma. What little she could see blurred and distorted as she tried to stand upright. As soon as weight was applied to her left leg, she collapsed back to the deck with a pitiful yelp.

Broken, She thought.

After a minute of deep breathing the pain subsided and her head began to clear. Then she noticed something else the distinctly rich, yeasty odor of cardimine. The scent was heavy on the recycled air that was being pumped through the air-scrubbers. In fact, the smell was so prominent that Mira wondered if there wasnt an old Outcast sitting in the adjacent cell. Within minutes, Miras leg ceased throbbing and a pleasant relaxing sensation began to creep over her limbs as she inhaled deeply. Every instinct inside of her was screaming for her to figure out where she was and how to escape, yet for the moment she couldnt have cared less. Then the scent faded, and Miras thoughts cleared.

Mira Foster was a bounty hunter of the highest caliber and bore many scars of her journeys. She had the sharpest instincts and the sharpest tongue among her peers and used both quite frequently. And right now her gut was telling her that shed just been given a rather large dose of cardimine intentionally, most likely for the purpose of keeping her calm and sedate.

Bugger that, Mira decided. She looked around her cell and found a loose length of chain that was still attached to the wall at on end. While it wasnt long enough to reach through the bars and strangle a passer-by, it was long enough to smash against the bulkhead and create a ruckus. Taking care to avoid putting pressure on her injured leg, Mira began to thrash the chain against the wall. Harsh spikes of noise ricocheted off the cell walls and down the gangway as metal clashed against metal in a deafening cacophony. And then she heard the heavy tread of footsteps marching up the gangway grating.

Cut the racket! a harsh voice bellowed.

The floor of Miras cell leaped with sparks as a powerful jolt of electricity arced from electrodes embedded in the surface. Her body convulsed and collapsed with a thud.

What seems to be the problem here? the voice rumbled.

Lifting her head to glare at her captor, Mira sneered.

Why nothings the matter, sir. I was just exploring my suite and making the bed. Why do you ask?

A low growl emanated from the dim shadow on the other side of the bars. I suggest you keep future attempts at housekeeping to a minimum. The other guests are quite comfortable at the moment, and I dont want them disturbed.

Mira placed her face close to the bars and squinted into the foggy corridor at the silhouette.

About 5 10, stocky, low center of gravity, injured in the right leg Miras mind was absorbing all the details she could observe. If she did manage to break free of this cell, she wanted to know how best to disable any crewmembers she came across.

The shadow suddenly crouched low and brought its face down close to the bars, prompting Mara to flinch. Did you hear me, slave? the voice rumbled. I dont want to hear any more noise from you until we reach Malta. Then you can scream all you like, while the Outcasts break you.

The voices breath stank of saliva and cardimine, and Mira wrinkled her nose in disgust. So Im on a prison liner bound for the Outcast homeworld of Malta to be sold as a slave. she thought.

Let me out of this cell, She snarled, as the shadowy figure began to limp away, and well see who breaks who. Heck, Ill finish the job and give your other leg a limp when I beat your sorry arse into a bloody smear on the bulkhead! She knew it was a cliche form of verbal attack, but it was the best she could come up with through the pain of her broken leg and the electric shock.

However, the result of her verbal jibe was far more dramatic than she had expected. The silhouette turned on its heel and charged the bars with an infuriated roar. Mira desperately tried to fling herself back from the door, but found herself caught by the throat. The shadow slammed her up against the bars and held her off the ground so that Mira was forced to stand on the tips of her bare toes to avoid choking.

Say that last part again? I didnt catch it. the shadow dared. I dont have to keep you alive, you know. Ive got enough bodies that the death of one smart-mouthed human female isnt going to hurt my profits that much.

Miras eyes were wide and she could hear her heart pounding as she gasped for oxygen. The bars pressed their rough, pitted surface against her face as the shadow reeled her closer. Then she felt a nose brush against her temple as the voice spoke directly into her ear.

Then again, I may kill you anyway. Just for kicks. After all, I dont do this for the profit; I do it because I like it. I like to be feared. And you are afraid. You can talk and boast all you want; slave, but I can sense your fear. Its screaming through every fiber of your body and is mirrored in your eyes.

The grip on her throat began to relax and Mira gasped a shaky breath. Then the rough hand turned her head and Mira found herself staring into two eyes that shone with an orange hue. She choked on her own spit and gagged as the hand suddenly released and dropped her to the floor.

Shut up, and go to sleep. The shadowy figure began to limp down the corridor again.

Mira hauled herself off the deck to fling a parting retort at the shadows back, but was interrupted as a power surge caused the red lights in the corridor to brighten for an instant.

Wha-? Mara did a double-take. Then the lights resumed their faint glowing and left Mira in the dark with a few seconds of the image burned into her retinas.

Her captor had a large, black tail. And now that she was paying attention, his gait didnt resemble a humans at all.

What in the name of Jerek what the frak are you?!? shock overwhelmed composure, and Miras arms began to tingle as the hair on her arms prickled.

Now temporarily blinded by the flash of light, Mira heard the offbeat gait come to a stop and she flinched internally as a low cackle reached her ears.

Funny how all you slaves say the same things, the voice sneered. But since Ive already decided that you will never reach Malta alive, I see no reason why I cant humor your query.

A chill ran down Miras spine at those words.

I am a hybrid; a freak, a furry. The combination of human and wolf in one body.

The blood in Miras veins ran cold. A genetic hybrid? But thats impossible! Genetic splicing in humans is highly illegal and punishable by death.

You humans and your laws, the hybrid snorted. Laws only carry weight when there are enough lawfuls around to enforce them. And space is a very large place.

Renegade scientists created me in the hopes of improving your race, and when I didnt turn out quite as they had expected, they turned on me; tried to kill me. And when I reached out for help, your kind offered the barrel of a gun.

It is ironic, really. Your fellow humans bind you in chains and work you to death in the fields, and your brothers sell you into bondage for a quick credit. You humans will drive yourselves to extinction. Who am I to stand in the way? As I see it, I am simply helping you speed up the process.

This is my way of repaying your kind for what they did to me.

Youve got some pretty twisted logic up there on that high horse of yours. Mira spat through bared teeth. I bet youre just seething with self-loathing. You yourself are half human, arent you? Get off your soap-box and do the universe a favor by putting a bullet through your self-righteous brain.

Mira braced herself for another violent outburst, but was surprised when the hybrids voice rose with manic laughter.

I ceased being human the moment I murdered the researchers that created me, his voice rang. Now am I nothing but a mirror of your fears; a phobia that taunts you from the dark and drags you away by the ankles, one by one. You wanted something to be afraid of, and I have given it to you.

Mira exhaled slowly, and tried to calm her racing heart. This was all so strange, she couldnt be certain she wasnt dreaming or having a bad cardimine trip. She turned toward the door and opened her mouth to speak, but froze as a low-power flow of electricity locked her muscles in place.

It is a shame that I must now kill such a hardy specimen, the hybrid snarled. You would have fetched a fine price and He paused mid sentence. No

Mira didnt like that tone one bit. She heard the clicking of the hybrids teeth as his mouth contorted into a sadistic grin that reflected glistening, blood-red light off saliva.

No, you will not be killed. I have other uses for one such as you. the hybrid mused.

Then the electric current arced from the floor and Miras vision went black.

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Characters:

Cory Walsh - Unknown
Ari Kova (Yaroslava Ivanov) - Active
Declan "Owen" Quinn - Active
Agent 1854 - M.I.A.

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