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Narrow Escape: AVP (A Fanfiction)
S1: Chapter 13: Oh Crap

S1: Chapter 13: Oh Crap

As the ooman lift climbs higher and higher, Scar goes over everything he has witnessed or experienced. The serpent with the netlike injuries to its carapace; he has seen it before. The same serpent had attempted to slay him after his first meeting with the ooman female. It had crept stealthily along the ceiling before hiding in a nearby crevasse. Only the piercing screeches of its queen had drove it back into hiding. But why?

He has not seen or heard from his hunt brothers since they separated. Finding a serpent with a net burn cannot be a good thing. Celtic would never have left it alive. Therefore, the hunt leader must surely be dead. And Chopper? What has become of him?

An earsplitting boom greets Scar’s ears. All at once, none of his suppositions matter. If either Chopper or Celtic were in the pyramid when the bomb went off; they are dead now. The entrance of the borehole looms ahead. Scar and Lex brace themselves for impact. The lift erupts from the hole like a cannonball, the explosion from Scar’s wrist device bursting forth a split second later.

The ooman lift slams into the ground and the Lex ooman emits a short cry. Nevertheless, the pain does not deter her. She climbs to her feet and races away from the expanding fireball. Admiring the female’s determination, Scar follows closely behind. Eventually the two beings are once again matching stride for stride.

Buildings and other large structures collapse all around them. They dodge most obstacles without difficulty. However, the entire ice shelf starts to crumble. As the ice collapses, it takes the ooman settlement with it. Scar and Lex quickly find themselves in a race to avoid being dragged down into the resulting pit. The ledge ahead of them shifts and begins crumbling. Without any need for coordination, Lex and Scar leap across the gap.

Landing in a crouch, Scar catches his breath and slowly climbs to his feet. He surveys the ruined landscape around him. The Lex ooman comes to stand beside him. Her eyes grow wide as she takes in the level of devastation.

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Scar turns to the ooman with a sense of pride. His heart swims with joy. He has done it. He has killed the serpent queen and ended the hunt. He considers what he will tell the ooman. Will she understand why he cannot go with her? What he has growing inside of him?

During their brief journey up through the borehole, Scar's mind has crafted scenarios regarding his own demise. Not a very easy task. It was much easier when it was not his own hide being considered for termination. To die upon the cold white, in the company of his new ooman companion, will be a more fitting death than to die at the tiny teeth of the monster growing within him. He alone will choose the moment of his death--not the black queen. The Lex is brave for an ooman. And also intelligent. She will understand. She will know what must be done.

Removing his mask, Scar observes the mix of emotions which play over the ooman female’s face. First, fear. Then, surprise. Followed by stubborn resolve. She is determined not to show fear. Even if she may feel it deep inside. Scar roars half-heartedly, in an attempt to break the Lex’s resolve. She only stiffens her face and continues to meet his gaze. She is indeed brave.

Scar reaches down and rips the bony finger of a serpent from his belt. Lex watches his every move. Brandishing the still bleeding appendage, Scar holds it close to the acid scar on his forehead. The Lex nods her head with understanding and offers him her left cheek. Scar traces the same symbol across her flesh. He is surprised that the female only inhales sharply when the acid burns through her skin. No tears. No flailing. Just those two small inhalations.

Once he is finished, Scar offers the ooman his own version of a smile and his eyes soften. The female returns his smile and brings her spear erect, planting it in the powdery snow. Unsure if he should use her own ooman words, to explain his mortal situation, Scar leans closer to the ooman female.

Behind them, there is a loud crack of ice and a sudden upheaval of snow. The ginormous serpent queen bursts from her icy prison and glowers at the two beings who have caused so much destruction to her brood.

With a loud gasp, the Lex begins slowly backing away. In the same instant, Scar’s amber eyes grow wider than he ever thought possible. His mouth gaps open in shock and disbelief.

In the words of the oomans: “Oh Crap!”

End Story One (We Are On Our Side)