Ward slowly opened his eyes. The Sun shines brightly while inaudible talk could be heard from all around. The pain from his wounds is now practically non-existent, indicating that they have fully healed. The atmosphere is calm and the air is warm. Like waking up in the calm forest after a tough day.
With a grunt he lifted his upper body, his hands and legs still tied up while his mind is yet to fully awake.
“Finally woke up?" A sharp and familiar voice came from Ward's right. Zara stood at the tent’s entrance, peeking her head through, seeing if he is awake
The only response to her question was Ward’s confused face, making her chuckle and smile.
“It is so easy to tell your emotions”
She said as she approached Ward and untied his legs, allowing him to move more freely. He sat still waiting, not wanting to make aggressive moves and waited for Zara to give him instructions.
“Well come on, stand up” She said, gesturing him to get up.
Ward slowly lifted his body, the hole in his shoulder is practically gone. The healing gel did more than he expected, while it would still occasionally sting with little to none amount of pain, it's nowhere near to what he felt yesterday.
As soon as his legs firmly stood on the ground, Zara approached closer and attached a piece of rope to his tied-up hands. She soon took off into the direction of the camp, leading him like a little pet dog through the busy encampment. While Ward did receive a few odd and curious looks, he looked around in search of Fraser. Unlike Ward, Fraser was already gone from the tent. Only adding speculations to what happened to him.
Where is Fraser? I didn’t see him at the tent so he was taken before I woke up. God, please don’t tell me they killed him.
“Yo Zara” Tira shouted out causing Ward to shift his attention to the approaching humanoid.
“Hey Tira” Zara replied with a smile
“How’re the prisoners?”
“You know, it is not as bad as I thought it would be. I have been examining their behaviour and have noticed how similar they are to us”
“Them?” Tira said pointing at Ward, her faced confused and disgusted. Causing Ward to feel slightly offended
“Yeah, they can feel emotions just like us, they talk to eachother and pass on information. They are practically a different version of us.
“Very different” Tira added
“In terms of bodies, yes. We are stronger and faster than them, but what about the intellect? How the hell did they arrive here in the first place? I tell you they are super smart”
“Well not smart enough, nearly all of them died at a crash and the last two survivors got caught”
“Tira, you don’t see what I am trying to say. We should learn from them”
“I am sure elders have better use of them, they will probably be experimented on and investigated. All you need to do is bring them to the city safe and not investigate them”
“Yeah I know” Zara said with an exhale, understanding that her friend does not fully comprehend the alien’s psychological power. Ever since the aliens got captured, she was and still is to determine what these aliens are. Just like Ward, she has been watching him talk to Fraser, how they interact and communicate with each other.
The technology in their body suits. All of their equipment and tool gathered from the spacecraft. All of these things just feed into Zara curiosity, making her want to find out more about life beyond this planet.
“We are moving out soon right?”
“Yeah, captain should give the order soon.”
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“All right, I will go and see her now anyways”
“All right see ya Zara, don’t get distracted like yesterday” Tira said, bumping her elbow at Zara's arm in a jokingly manner.
“Yeah, of course” Zara replied with a chuckle before she carried on walking to the captain's tent.
“Come on let's go.” She pulled the rope that is attached to Ward’s hand, pulling him forward and making him walk.
It’s like I am a dog, on a walk in the park. I can’t complain but god this is vexing
As Zara and Ward approached the tent, Ward noticed Fraser sitting on the outside with a humanoid behind him, making sure he does not escape. Upon seeing each other Ward and Fraser both felt relief, happy tosee that one another is alive and well.
He is alive, thank god.
“Is the captain inside?”
“Yes, you can leave the prisoner here, I will keep the watch” The guard replied
“Got it” Zara said as she pulled the rope once again, pulling Ward next to Fraser. Ward did not hesitate and sat next to Fraser, eager to talk to him and pass on what he learned about the humanoids. While Zara proceeded inside the tent, curiousaboutwhat the captain wants.
“Yuh nuh kno ow happy mi to si yuh bredren” Fraser whispered to Ward, trying his best not to attract any attention.
“You too man, did you find out anything?”
“Nuh much really, mi ongle recently wake up”
“I have been examining them and noticed how similar they are to us, it's almost frightening.”
“Wah yuh mean similar?”
“T-They act and, and show emotions. Just like us. Like humans. They crack jokes, laugh, show anger and frustration. They basically can communicate with each other like as can. Who the fuck knows, maybe it was them who crashed our ship in the first place”
“Dem crashing fi wi ship? Wid what? Dem spears?”
“Okay, maybe they didn’t crash our ship. But they are an intelligent race, maybe not as intelligent as us but they are smart. I think we should try and communicate with them”
“Yuh mad? Wah eff dem tink yuh aggressive? Dem wi kill yuh”
“Yes, there is a chance they will kill me, but what if I am able to communicate with them. We have discovered a new race, we cannot let this chance slip away”
“Lef dat to di scientists. Wah yuh might consida friendly may be hostile to dem”
----------------------------------------
“Captain?”
“Oh there you are!” She responded, leaning over a small portable desk with a map in the centre. The map shows the aerial view of the jungle, some areas are marked with X’s, indicating that they are the danger zones, while other areas are marked with S’s which are the opposite, the safe zones. Near the centre of a map. A letter G is present, that’s the group's current location.
“You called?”
“Yes, I want to know the prisoners’ condition”
Zara looked confused, not understanding why would the captain care about the prisoners all of a sudden.
She wanted to kill them yesterday and now she cares about their well-being. It must be because of the elders; she has been informed how valuable the prisoners are and now takes extra caution.
“They are doing well, I have treated their wounds and fed them.”
“Did they take the food well?”
“Yes, from what I can tell, there are no symptoms of them eating our food. I have also been looking at their behaviour”
“...”
“and?” The Captain said in curiosity
“While their bodies are weak compared to ours, their minds possess intelligence that may even surpass ours.”
“What makes you say that?”
“Well, from what I have gathered they can communicate and interact with each other, just like us. Their equipment is of high quality and they can adapt”
“What do you know about their equipment?”
“One of those aliens had a hole in his shoulder when we picked him up. Yesterday before nightfall I have checked the wound and I saw it healing. I do not suspect it to be their own regenerative abilities as other small cuts do not seem to have the same effect. What I think happened is that they used some kind of equipment to fully heal the wound. If that’s not the proof, just look in what they came to the planet. A giant bird able to fly and carry hundreds of them.”
The captain shifted her eyes sight away back onto the map, analysing all the information Zara has passed on.
“I see, well if that is the case. I can see why elders might be interested in them.”
A feeling of accomplishment spread through Zara, at least someone believes her theory.
“Is that all captain?”
“Yes, you may go. We leave as soon as the morning Icarus sings” -
“Captain” Zara nodded and left the tent.
“Wah bout dat way?” Fraser pointed his head towards an unguarded path into the open jungle “It di most open path”
“No, it’s not going to work, they will realise and catch us”
“Wi cya outrun dem”
“They are 7 feet tall and can carry us with one hand. Running from them will be pointless”
“Wah yuh suggest then?”
“We wait, bite out time. And when opportunity strikes, we take it”
Suddenly Zara stepped out of the captain's tent, interrupting Ward’s and Fraser’s whispering. She reached out her hand to the guard and took the two pieces of rope that were attached to Ward’s and Fraser’s hands. As soon as the rope was in her hand, they both slowly and cautiously stood up. Trying their best not to show any type of aggression.
“Well you have trained them well” One of the approaching humanoids said. Her outfit is the same as everyone's with the only exception being the red marks on her face, showing that she is one of the chosen hunters.
The chosen hunters are more powerful and stronger than the usual hunters, the energy within them nearly doubles when compared to an average denizen on the planet. The red marks on their face show that they have been marked by the elders and they have achieved their power through their willpower and determination alone.
“Hey Faryeha, how’s the road?”
“All clear and well, the animals are very quiet for whatever reason. Predators are not hunting so much as before.Like they are scared to step out of their dens”
“Most likely due to the crash-landing last night, you know how they react as soon as something out of the ordinary happens.”
“Yeah. These are your new pets I assume?” Faryeha said as she leaned down towards Fraser and Ward, causing them to step away in fear. Faryeha found this amusing and laughed as she saw their anxious faces.
“You are scaring them”
“Am I? I just want to look at them in more detail”
“Yeah, but how would they know that?”
“You are too protective of them”
“Well I have been ordered to take care of them. They must not be hurt both physically and psychologically”
“All right, all right. I’ll leave them alone” With those words Faryeha pusher her body back up and fixed her posture.
“How is your training by the way?”
“With the energy?”
“Well yeah, unless you have some other training I am not aware of”
“I don’t know Faryeha, it’s hard. I don’t know how to focus all of my energy together. There is just too much”
“Listen, you can do it. You have the biggest energy levels I have ever seen, and with enough practice you will be able to control it all”
Zara rubbed one of her shoulders and looked down at the ground, not knowing what to say.
“Look, how about I will become your personal trainer?”
“You can?” Zara’s eyes lit up
“Of course, I will say that we have a connection that will yield faster results”
“But what about the current trainer?”
“I am sure he would not mind”
“Well... I appreciate it. Thank you Faryeha”
“Don’t mention it” Faryeha said as she looked at the trees.
“Icaruses are about to wake up, imma go and head out with the hunters, prepare yourself. The city is only two days away now.”
“Of course, see you Faryeha”
“Take care”
“I told you they have emotions. One of the aliens saw how scared we were and laughed, mocking us. I tell you they are smart motherfuckers”
“Mi hope di search party arrives soon”
“Get moving you two” Zara said as she pulled the rope.
And so, the group is on the move once again. The formation has been slightly changed as the prisoners are now able to walk themselves. With Zara leading them, they have been put in the front of the group, nullifying all the chances of escape as they are now watched over by the whole group.
The journey is short yet very tiresome for Ward and Fraser, forced to walk long distances their legs fuzz with pain as the torn muscles begfor them to stop. Yet they know that pausing is unacceptable, as they do not know what kind of consequences they will face.
The more days past, the more Ward and Fraser learned about the aliens, even to the point where they named them for easier recognition. Ward gave up on the idea of trying to communicate with the aliens, as Fraser said it is too dangerous and could cause their death.
What Ward and Fraser do not know is that Zara, who is still in charge of them, is undergoing her own investigation. In free time she would put Fraser and Ward together so they can socialize, while she herself is observing from afar. Fascinated by the human's intellect.
“Mi legs killing mi ow langyuhtinkwi a guhhaffi walk?”
“Days.Weeks.Months. Who the fuck knows, all I can say is we have to move. You don’t want to be food for that thing over there” Ward said as he pointed to the large monster behind them. All though they have been walking for a few days now, the jungle does not seem to change. It all looks the same, like walking in a loop. Ward is yet to see rain or changes in the weather, everyday its the same, slight breeze and warm air feel nice to the skin but can drive someone mad over weeks.
“Fuck” Fraser sighed in anger
“Mi nuh showered inna days. All di sweat builds up yuhkno an-”
“Wait. I think I see something”
“What? Anotha pair of animal mating?”
“No, look.” Ward pointed at the end of the jungles path that is cut by the daylight. Like the end of a dark tunnel.
“There is something there” Ward said before looking around.
“Have you noticed something?”
Fraser looked around in attempts to figure out what Ward was talking about
“Notice wah?”
“All of the humanoids have lowered their weapons; they are not at guard anymore. Fucks sake even Bessy lowered down her weapon, and she fucking sleeps with it.”
“They...They know, that it is safe ahead.”
Ward turned his head to Fraser, his eyes squinting while a small grin appeared on his face.
“This is the end”
“Now yuh scaring mi more dan di aliens”
In no time the group reached the end of the path, the bright light blinded Ward and Fraser, causing them to look away. As soon as their eyes adapted to the bright surroundings, their feet refused to move as their eyes got mesmerized by large light stone gates. The walls that are attached to the gates are of the same material and are bent back, indicating that they connect together. Like a large circle of stone to protect whatever is inside.
Aliens could be seen atop of these walls, patrolling and looking out for any potential threat. The trees around the large walls are missing, but no stumps are visible. Almost like the tress do not want to grow on the soil near the walls and the gates.
Ward and Fraser looked at each other in silence, neither say a word but both know and feel that past these gates, something beyond their understanding is lying in wait.