Chapter Text
“I suppose a few hours wouldn't hurt…” the dark queen pondered aloud.
It hadn't taken an awful lot of convincing on my part to get the queen to return to her duties as the Night Haunter, if only temporarily. I had expected a lot more push back. The pregnancy had been hard, she nearly died.
“You are her father after all. I believe the two of you should have some time together.” She continued.
I held my daughter Regia in my arms, cradling my child. I felt the weight of the world in my hands. This baby has yet to know the suffering outside these palace walls, I only wish I could protect her from them forever.
With a yawn and a stretch the night Haunter stood erect, towering over me “yes indeed… it truly has been too long.”
“Indeed it has my dear…”
“Justice never rests...” A mangled sadistic smile carved its way across her face.
I could feel Ragia writhing in her swaddle. The Night Haunter sensed it and hesitated. She struggled to leave her child. Our child.
“My love. Go… I will not let any harm befall her, I promise you that much.” I said.
She was torn, her duty as the terror of Nostromo and her duties as a mother had finally come to blows.
With a final glance of reassurance that our child was in good hands she departed. Leaving me alone with Ragia.
The air was cold without her, and my thoughts remain on my child, but not of the one in my arms.
“I believe it's time for you to meet your baby brother”
The razor sharp cable dug its way through the soldier's collar and found his esophagus, choking, sputtering, and finally dying Vlemiar unstrung the wire from his neck allowing the dead body to fall hard against the concrete of the tunnel.
Another body came crashing to the ground, two guards dead. All without alerting the others, perfect. All that was left for Vlemiar was for his remaining men now is to make the four mile track though the underhives sprawling tunnel system to reach the broadcast station.
Vlemiar stepped through the rusty steel entrance to the sewer and smiled, the smell was horrendous but that hardly mattered. He knew soon enough the bastards chasing him would have much larger problems than him. They likely wouldn't even notice his escape.
Bricks, bottles and whatever else the crowd could find flew through the air shattering against riot shields and windows outside the headquarters of the Haunters. The skeleton staff remaining were outnumbered by the quickly gathering riots shaking the capital city of Quintus.
“Disperse immediately! You are in violation of curfew! Disperse immediately” shouted Sargent Tamarov through his megaphone to little effect.
“Disperse imme-!” Tamarov was interrupted by a chunk of broken pavement nearly colliding with his face. His face shield being the only thing between him and a concussion.
Over the Chao of the soldiers holding back the riot and the barrage of projectiles Tamarov could see his lieutenant calling for him to bring himself inside the building for a moment.
He turned to find someone had broken the shield wall and was grabbing him by the shoulder. The unwelcome guest was quickly handled by an officer shattering his skull with a heavy blow of the baton.
Ducking and dodging past the violence Tamarov found himself behind the great doors, shielding him from the carnage.
The soldiers inside were seen changing from padded riot control armor into full combat gear whilst others were seen loading magazines with live ammo.
“Sarge! We just got orders from our lord we need to abandon HQ!” Shouted the lieutenant
“What!?” Tamarov barked back to her
“I said we are leaving! We have orders to fight our way through and relieve her majesty's guard! They aren't holding up any better then we are”
The lieutenant forced a locked and loaded rifle into the arms of Tamarov saying “we are clear to engage anyone disobeying curfew with lethal force.”
A makeshift incendiary made its way through a window with a crash and engulfed a nearby desk in flame.
“When I give the order, open fire! Do I make myself clear Sargent?!”
Sargent Tamarov racked the slide of the rifle, sending a bullet into the chamber. Soon that bullet would be used to lethal effect.
“loud and clear ma’am”
Patrove couldn't accept what he was hearing..
“Withdrawal is an order lieutenant.” The Lord Commander of the Royal guard spoke calmly.
“My Lord?!” he pleaded.
The radio remained dead silent except for the static buzz awaiting his reply.
“Lieutenant. I am ordering you to withdraw all forces to her majesty's palace, we are under attack-”
As if emphasizing the captains point a burst of gunfire drowned his voice out.
“I repeat! We are under attack! All forces are-”
Once again his voice is drawn short by the explosion of gunfire.
“My Lord! Get morgenstern, I have a plan!” Shouted Patrove in protest.
“Negative. We are under strict orders not to disturb him”
“Give me but one squadron! A dozen men and let me chase them down! We have them on the run!” Patrove continued.
He tried for several minutes to get an answer from his radio but was only met by the unrelenting static hum.
Pacing around the tent anxiously, Patrove had his orders but they didn't sit well. His soldiers managed to get one of the traitors to tell them everything, he knew the exact path they would be taking.
He had already cut off the escape.
But now… now he would have to abandon everything. It just didn't make sense, why at a time like this would Morgenstern abandon his post.
“Lieutenant! Lieutenant Patrove come in.” the voice of the captain cracked over the radio once more.
“Yes m’lord!” he answered.
“Inform your second in command to take all forces and rendezvous with headquarters, curfew is now in effect and kill on sight orders are active until further notice”
Patrove knew what this meant. The chase would begin.
“Lieutenant, you are clear to engage the tunnels. Do I make myself clear?”
“I'll make them pay boss” Patrove growled.
“Good luck soldier… you are going to need it.”
It didn't make any sense, Vlemiar had meticulously routed their escape, first through the factory's warehouse then through the tunnels first layer, then second before reaching the heat sink and returning to the second and finally the broadcast station.
It was impossible, but here they were. For five agonizing minutes they'd been stuck trying to get this door open, crowbars fought hard against the servos and hydraulics but nothing was getting that door open.
Vlemiar ran through every possibility in his head, but nothing could explain this. It couldn't have been an error because the door has been emergency locked and control panels destroyed, no this was deliberate.
Anxiously Vlemiar took a knee and half racked his weapon checking the chamber to see he had a live round locked and loaded before turning and seeing his men still struggling against the door.
“Everyone move away, get a breaching charge on that door. We are running out of time.” He ordered
Albino flesh stretched tightly against muscle and vicious red eyes were the most noticeable characteristics of Nostromo’s population of canines. But another thing stood out to Patrove at the moment.
The horrible laugh they had. That sadistic cackling these dogs had struck a nerve with the lieutenant, it was the main reason Patrove had pushed for the creation of an experimental squadron of K-9 Haunters.
This experimental unit was yet to see action but were called out to take part in the operation nonetheless, now they would be given an opportunity to taste blood.
Patrove carefully selected his men that would accompany him on the chase of these terrorists, he believed these dogs might just be the force he needed.
They seemed to be performing excellently, pulling hard against the leeches as they picked up the scent of the retreating enemy.
The four Haunters of the experimental squad held tightly to their dogs ahead of the main force. The battle hardened tip of the spear from Charlie company's second squadron comprised twelve soldiers. Each well seasoned from hundreds of raids on the lawless underhives most dangerous areas.
Before the Night Haunters' reign the surface was kept loosely in order by the mafia's, gangs and cartel protection rackets. Lacking a police force up until recently these gangsters were the only thing keeping the surface hive from resembling the Chaos and anarchy of the underhives. Down below the maintenance, sewer and drainage tunnels sat a hellish slum inhabited by millions of Nastramos most desperate and depraved.
The Haunters had tried unsuccessfully to bring a resemblance of order to the lower hive, repeatedly sending strike teams to flush out the worst scum they had to offer. the long campaign creating the battle hardened warriors of Charlie company.
The year-long war had resulted in many deaths without any results. The underhive was just as dangerous as it was previously. But all that was irrelevant now.
These weren't the unorganized rabble he was used to fighting, these were surface gangsters. Highly trained grunts from one of Nastramos criminal syndicates.
Patrove had to focus, these enemies were ready and waiting for him.
The confined space of the metal tunnels made for a claustrophobic environment, the noise from machinery and damp humidity didn't help.
A distant explosion rang out deeper into the tunnel network signaling they were closing in fast to the target, the dogs were going ballistic, howling and laughing in excitement as they awaited the opportunity to tear apart prey.
“Clear! Clear! On me! Move!” Ordered Vlemiar as he made his way through the breached door and swept his weapon across the room expecting an ambush that was yet to materialize.
His soldiers followed with weapons drawn covering each other in an orderly formation watching every possible angle of attack.
Vlemiar could hear the hounds and knew it was only a matter of time before they would catch up, he knew if he could make it just a little further he could set up an ambush and buy some time.
This was the best place at the moment to set up an ambush, he knew it only had one way in and couldn't be outflanked. As he continued the advance he knew he would have to leave someone behind but he didn't know if he could bring himself to sacrifice anymore men. He had lost so many already.
Vlemiars, second in command, suddenly broke formation and took cover preparing for the inevitable confrontation.
Another man took notice and took up a position opposite him.
Vlemiar and his soldiers exchanged a glance before the rest of the group continued heavy-heartedly knowing these men would die so they might escape.
The young gangster who stayed behind steadied his breathing as he looked down the sights of his weapon. He knew his comrade was just a few feet ahead doing the same. They both awaited the approaching soldiers.
Every single instinct in his body was telling him to run. Since he was a little boy he was told stories designed to keep children away from the lower levels of the hive. Stories of the monsters that lurked below. He knew they were nothing more than myths designed to scare him but now he was even more terrified than he was as a boy.
For several minutes all he could think about was the dogs. The howling just kept getting closer and closer and clo-
A silhouette filled his reticle and he felt his whole body tense as he pulled the trigger without thinking.
The world seemed to move in slow motion as the body fell to the floor and the dog held tightly against leash was let loose from dying fingers death-clutch.
Its evil red eyes shimmered and fangs glisend with a ravenous hatred. One, two then three bullets ripped through the creature but it either didn't notice or didn't care. They only could tell they had struck true from the blood spraying out with each successful hit. In the seconds-long mad scramble the hound had been shot multiple times leaving holes throughout its albino skin yet still carried by primal instincts it rapidly approached teeth gnashing.
Finally a lucky shot had managed to find it's mark and pierce its heart just feet away from sinking teeth into them both. The dog's body crashed hard against the cement and twitched violently, even in death the beast was still hungry for blood, all it would taste was its own blood in those final moments.
The young man hardly had a moment to think before they were being struck with automatic fire from down the hallway. Taking cover and returning fire came instantly but did little to stem the tide of the assault.
“grenade!” Screamed the older gangster beside him before he snatched it from the ground and hurled it back at the sender.
The explosion shook everything and disoriented them both for a moment but what was more important was the explosion far in the distance, they had successfully bought Vlemiar enough time to reach the second gate to the heat sink.
“cover me while I move!” The young gangster hollered while pulling the pin of his smoke grenade and rolling a few feet away.
Breaking cover and going into a full sprint after that intense firefight felt relieving, especially after his comrade rounded the corner a good distance behind and followed his lead in running.
He knew they could make it, they could run and make it in time, they could-
The gunfire suddenly subsided behind them and only heavy stomping of boots served as chorus to heavy labored breathing.
Corner after corner they made more distance and for a moment he felt as if they were safe. It was an illusion that came crashing down as soon as the first howls were heard.
The dogs were onto them.
In a panic they ran faster but it did nothing but delay the inevitable. The young man turned his head as he ran and saw his comrade running with everything he had but what caught his eye was the beast emerging through the dark. Those same horrid red eyes stared back at him.
Red eyes pierced dim tunnel light behind them.
His friend was already dead, the dogs would catch him in a few moments and tear him limb from limb.
He thought of an idea as an open ventilation shaft crossed his path. Ducking inside and began crawling while begging to himself that they wouldn't catch him.
He pleaded for his mother, his father, anybody to keep those things away.
Tears rolled down his face as he crawled on all fours, discarding his weapon. His only concern being escape.
Patrove put a bullet into the head of the gangster who had been bisected by the dogs. The only thing holding his two halves of his body were his intestines.
The dogs laughed and howled in delightment as they pulled him apart, their handlers redirected them to continue the hunt and find the one that got away.
“Sargent! We need to pick up the pace, we cannot allow these terrorists to reach the Heatsink. It's built like a damn fortress and we'll be in for a hell of a fight.”
“Yes sir!” Echoed the Sargent as he rallied his men and pushed deeper into the darkness.
Following close behind Patrove was met with the fate of the second gangster, his still living body being set upon by the dogs. He had been dragged from the ventilation shaft he was crawling in and had his feet gnawed. The bones of his feet could clearly be seen shooting through the chewed apart boots he was wearing.
Screaming and crying the dogs couldn't hold back their excitement as flesh was rendered from bone, he tried to fight back with his arms but they were seized and severed from his body.
Patrove took mercy on the man and shot him in the head, ending his torment in a moment.
Once more the formation was reformed and the advance continued.
Patrove knew the enemy had one more door to breach before they would reach the highly defendable Heatsink.
I felt the massive elevator shift groan in displeasure as it was once more brought out of retirement to bring me and my daughter to the deepest pits of the planet. Miles beneath the surface in what had once been a bunker for Nostromos ancient ruling class would be my destination. Secluded from all the world except for this one entrance.
The dying light bulb flashed a deep red before flicking a few seconds signaling that we had arrived.
I stepped into the chamber that held the great vault door behind which would be my son.
Alarms blared and deeply rusted ancient machinery came to life as the vault was once again unlocked and with the might of dark age hydraulics the door weighing hundreds of tons was forced open.
With dramatic deep screeching the seal was broken and an unnatural fear washed over me, it had felt like a panic attack from deep within my soul.
Regia felt it too, she screamed in agony as I tried to comfort her, but I knew there was nothing that could be done to relieve whatever it was radiating from within.
Entering I spotted Svtla, she was deeply emaciated and looked horrible, her naturally pretty face was ghoulish and her eyes sunken deeply.
“M’lord…” she struggled to croak out.
“How have you been holding up?” I asked, feeling deeply sorry for Svtla and her current condition
“I'm holding on M’lord… the Prince… he seems to have taken a liking to me, he believes I'm his mother” painfully laughed Svtla.
If only his true mother was as kind to him as Svtla was, I struggled to imagine enduring this pain for more than a few minutes, but Svtla would stay down here for hours or days at a time. I hadn't needed to ask her more than the first time. She truly loved my son despite her condition.
I placed Regia into her arms, still struggling and desperate to escape. It would only be a few more minutes before I would send both of them away, Svtla sorely needed time to rest.
With bated breath I readied myself to hold my son once more, peering into his crib. I struggled to breathe as terror raked my body, with shivering hands I took my infant son from the crib.
Rationality seemed to collapse around him as everything in my body told me to drop him and run, there was something deeply ingrained in my psyche warning me of the darkness within this child. Like throwing yourself from a building or cutting yourself, something was hardwired in the mind to stop you from doing what I was doing.
With great effort I held my son with the same tender love I did with Regia.
Unlike Regia, my son Garth did not cry or show any emotion. He simply gazed curiously at his sister who was having a conniption fit.
“It's your sister… say hello Garth.” I whispered but was met with no response.
A few moments passed and I hoped they would bond in some way but it became clear Regia hated him just like everyone else did.
“You should leave, get someone to replace you, Svtla, and get some rest. I'll stay down here until then.
“Yes M’lord” she said, relieved that she could rest for a moment.
With that they both left and soon without anybody else to distract me the hallucinations, or premonitions or whatever supernatural force that seemingly poisoned my mind began,
first slowly and then all at once. Horrific visions of death and destruction flooded my mind, the faces of everyone I knew warped in pain in their final agony filled moment, ending with the destruction of our world, Nostromo cast in fire and breaking apart. The galaxy torn apart in a war I was yet to understand.
Just as the gangster's made it to the final door before the safety of the stronghold they found themselves presented with another door, this time Vlemiar realized he didn't have the explosives to break through like before, instead they would need someone to override the system. This would take precious moments they didn't have.
“Get that damn door open. Now!” He commanded and defensive positions were taken.
Screaming was heard from down the hall before ending with a single gunshot significantly draining the morale of the men around him, they all knew those left behind had met a grizzly fate.
Locked and loaded the enemy would be met with a wall of gunfire long enough for them to get inside.
Vlemiar looked away for one brief moment to give a command to a subordinate before the world around him exploded into that of chaos and gun fire.
With steeled nerves the dozen remaining gangsters gave one hell of a fight, but cornered and outnumbered they stood little chance for anything longer than a few minutes.
Vlemiar ran from cover to retrieve the submachine gun carried by one of his dead comrades and layed down a hailstorm of hate down the tight corridor, discarding the weapon once the ammo ran dry.
Back and forth shots were exchanged and both sides pinned down.
Finally the door opened with an aggressive hiss and the fight ended in that exact moment.
they were in.
All at once the remaining men flew into the highly defendable Heatsink, it's massive complex creating a impenetrable fortress for anybody but the most insane or suicidal.
Vlemiar shot the control console as they fled leaving the bulkheads locked open inviting anybody stupid enough to follow them inside.
The complex was huge and mostly empty, nearly a mile wide circular underground vertical tunnel sinking an unknown distance into the crust of the planet.
A single narrow steel gantry stretched like a bridge into the darkness. Above and below were many dozens or possibly hundreds more just like it.
From a dozen angles of various heights along the stairwells running the circumference of the cooling tunnel Vlemiar would place his men.
Anybody entering through the choke points would draw fire from a dozen angles, from above and below.
Vlemiar and Patrove both knew it was suicide to enter. And that's exactly how Vlemiar wanted it.