Rylan

The nav system on my rented pod chimes, waking me from my slumber. I groan and shift in the small bunk. I don’t want to get up. I was having the most delicious dream about a green-eyed female with long dark hair.

In my dreams Faith never snuck away in the night. She never stole my ship. No, in my dreams she wakes me with her kisses, or sometimes I wake her with my tongue on her cunt. I scrub my hand over my face and sit up abruptly, only to slam my still tender forehead on the low ceiling.

“For fuck’s sake,” I lament, rubbing my head. Ducking out of the small quarters, I don’t even take two full steps before I have to sidestep to get into the nav chair.

I miss my ship and, like a fool, I miss Faith. She did nothing but hurt me from the moment I met her, I am not too stupid to see that. Still, I have to believe there was something real between us. I don’t think she did what she did out of malice or for the sake of manipulation. No, there was something Faith wasn’t telling me. I wanted to trust her. I did trust her. It just hurts she didn’t trust me enough to let me in.

Looking back now, it is clear she was running scared. If only she had confided in me. I would have found a way to help. If I had known her situation was serious, I would have brought her with me to The Hunt. I would have done anything to protect her. Unfortunately, it’s hard to help someone if they never ask for your aid. I can’t help but wonder if she didn’t lean on me because I am Aragrandani. If I were a male with more status, would she have thought I was more capable of protecting her?

I mindlessly work the control station, engaging with the planet’s auto-drive so it will pull me into dock. I am late to the festivities, but I have arrived. The feast has already begun and first thing in the morning The Hunt is on. I worry my thoughts will distract me from the prize, but the other edge to that blade is the anger and frustration I carry with me. I hope it will work in my favor as I hunt.

Before I realize it, I am already docked. I look around the small pod, but I have no possessions here to unpack. All I have are the clothes on my back. My muscles tighten and flick in irritation. The hatch to the pod opens and I step out onto the platform, only to be met by Pable, the spineless and perverted tech lord I bribed to get into The Hunt.

Pable’s people are tall and slender with a hunched back that nearly folds them in two. He wrings his hands worriedly. “Graz Bregen, finally! What took you so long?” he hisses at me.

“I had ship problems,” I say, indicating my pod.

“Never mind! I don’t actually care what took you so long! Where are your clothes? You aren’t even ready for the dinner!” The spineless Pable pulls at the wiry tufts of hair around his ears. “You are going to embarrass me, I knew it,” Pable whines.

“Calm yourself, Pable, the only one who is going to embarrass you tonight is you. Just point me towards the nearest synthesizer and I’ll be ready in no time.”

“Synth? Synth?” Pable repeats incredulously. “Gods, he is going to wear synth to the most important event of the year?” Pable wrings his hands once more. “What have I gotten myself into?” I scrub my hand over my eyes. I should be asking myself the same question.

“Don’t make me regret getting you in here,” Pable says, wagging an accusing finger at me.

“I have no patience for this shit tonight, Pable.”

“Then…uh, perhaps we should remain at, uh, opposites sides…of the, um, event?” the pallid alien mumbles.

“Tech lord or not, I have no interest in your company this evening. Nor do I think I ever will have interest in it.”

“Good…that’s good,” Pable says with a stiff look on his bent face. “I’m glad we’re in agreement then.”

I grunt in response and Pable hurries off, shooting furtive glances down the halls to ensure he hasn’t been seen with me. This is the life of an Aragrandani, I lament.

Not long after that I have donned the synth suit Pable complained about and followed the sound of music past the docking platforms and into a brightly lit dome. This massive piece of architecture juts from the forest and is the only structure on an otherwise wild planet. The exterior is heavily guarded, I presume to keep the native creatures we will be hunting from finding their way onto the grounds.

While everything outside the dome is wild, everything inside is the picture of extravagance. Servants see me approaching and are quick to escort me in. I feel tense and awkward in the interaction as they keep their heads down, not venturing to speak with me. After a short walk from the entrance I’m deposited outside a grand ballroom and a doorman asks me to wait while I’m formally announced to the other guests.

“That isn’t necessary,” I tell him.

“The Host insists,” he replies with a placid smile before he turns to call out my name and race into the crowd. I cringe as I walk into the room, but it seems that alcohol has been flowing steadily long before my arrival and hardly anyone even bothers to look up.

For a moment I almost believe I might be able to get away with secluding myself in a corner the rest of the evening and not speaking to another soul. I’m not here to make friends anyway, I’m here to win a prize. But that dream dies when I see a massive Itharene approaching me. I’m shocked when I see him. He’s nearly my size, but never have I seen an Itharene of such proportions.

“Rylan Graz Bregen! Welcome to my home and welcome to The Hunt!” he says in a booming voice. I extend my arm to the male and we clasp shoulders briefly as he leads me deeper into the room. He doesn’t introduce himself to me, and I wonder if I should know who he is.

“Tonight is a night of celebration, my friend. Eat and drink your fill. The females here are for the taking, barring those two warriors there”—he motions toward two purple-hued women who sit apart from the crowd—“and of course my good friend Kalmut Ruo’s wife, though that one might be open to debate.” I follow his gaze to a female shrouded in jewelry, whose features are tight and pinched despite the fact that she carries herself like she is three sheets to the wind. “Or, if you prefer males, I have had my people ensure there are plenty of options readily available.”

Looking around now, I become aware of the beginnings of debauchery along the fringes of the room. Aliens lean close to one another with exploring hands and no concern over who might see them. I recoil a bit at the idea that these are not bots offered up for pleasure but sentient beings. This is beyond illegal and yet it is occurring regardless of the fact that there is more than one prominent politician in the room.

I bite back a frown, hating that the Aragrandani were once a proud people, yet here I am in a place like this. These aliens have the lowest morals I have ever seen and I have bought my way in to sit at their table. The thought adds to my misery.

“If there is anything you need, any special requests you would like to make, please see one of my attendants. It is my goal to ensure each guest enjoys their experience to the fullest. I must make an address to your fellow guests soon, but if I recall correctly, it is your group who will begin the first wave of the hunt. Along the windows here is an observation point. You will be able to get a view of your assigned target after my speech. And by the way, Graz Bregen.” He leans in close and lowers his voice. “I am aware of the circumstances surrounding your addition to my guest list and I do not want you to think for one second that I resent your presence. As a matter of fact, I admire your tenacity. If you perform well in this hunt I would love to invite you back next year. Please, make yourself at home. If you’ll excuse me.” He gives me a quick pat to the shoulder before hurrying over to a small group of his attendants and it looks as if they are coordinating the impending events.

I am happy that the strange Itharene has left my side, but without him I worry someone new will approach and try to engage in conversation. No sooner than I have the thought, the female shrouded in chains and jewels latches onto my arm.

“Fresh meat,” she slurs, gripping me tightly with cold, sharp fingers. “You are new here, precious? Let me show you around. I know all the fun hunters, stick with Kalmut Hui and this will be the best week of your life. What’s your name, boy?” she asks, and though her aim is sultry, her tone is as cutting at her features.

“Graz Bregen,” I tell her as I try to extract myself from her grip. A waiter walks by and she snatches a drink from his tray with her free hand and shoves it into my face.

“Loosen up, Grazie,” she says, guffawing. “Kalmut! My dear!” the female calls to her husband. An aging and obese Makaan looks up and waddles over to us.

“What’s this? A new toy or a new hunter?” Kalmut Ruo laughs.

“New hunter,” she informs her husband with a giggle. “But the night is still young, perhaps it is too soon to tell?” Kalmut Hui glides her sharp fingers up my arm and the sensation makes my skin crawl.

“Stop, Kalmut. You will embarrass the boy. We should be making Grazie feel welcome,” her husband says, before turning to signal a waiter. “More drinks for our party here,” he says, motioning toward the three of us even though I have yet to drink from the glass Kalmut Hui has forced upon me.

“Walk with us, Grazie, we’ll give you all the best gossip.”

“Thank you, but I should probably—”

“Nonsense. This is our gift to you. We have been coming to The Hunt for many years now. Let us share our inside information, it will make us feel important,” she whines in my ear. “Besides, do you really want to go out there without knowing your fellow hunters first?”

I look out through the glass walls at the heavily forested planet. Night is falling and the trees are a sea of black silhouettes against the blue-black sky. The female has a point. I concede with a nod.

“Lovely!” she squeals and grips my arm tighter. Kalmut Ruo squeezes in on my opposite side and I’m sandwiched between the pair. “Let’s start with the biggest players,” the female whispers conspiratorially to me. “Over there, the male practically blockaded by his guards? That is Galdesh.” A sly smile cuts across Kalmut Hui’s face and she appraises my reaction from the corner of her eye.

“The Galdesh?” I ask. To be honest I did not think Galdesh was truly a person but more of an idea or perhaps an organization. The male Kalmut Hui is referring to must be the most evil and dangerous criminal this entire region of space has ever heard of. Parents even tell their young children frightening stories of Galdesh to dissuade naughty behavior.

“The one and only,” Kalmut Ruo agrees with a huffing laugh. “Do not try to rub elbows with him tonight, boy. I’ve seen his guards kill a drunken guest for stumbling too close to their master.”

I venture another look at the criminal. He looks every bit the monster he is said to be, with a scarred face and cold eyes. His guards create a perimeter around him, but one stands close to his side. He is slightly younger than his master, but looks nearly as murderous, with tattoos trailing up his neck and his hair shorn close over his entire scalp. The pair talk quietly to one another as they assess the room.

“Really, though, despite his name, Galdesh is quite the bore. He never mingles and there’s only been the one death.” Kalmut Hui rolls her eyes and pulls me over toward an Ihasa male who hovers near a small table covered in raw meats.

The Ihasa remind me of raw meats as it is. There is no outer layer of dermis that covers their sinewy muscles. I used to think this would make them vulnerable or fragile to the touch, but I once got into a fight with an Ihasa on a space station when I was still quite young. I learned then that there is nothing fragile about the species.

“Visakha!” the Kalmuts call out, greeting their comrade.

“What did you bring this evening?” Kalmut Rui asks, finally releasing me to gleefully admire the spread on Visakha’s table.

“My latest kill,” he says proudly, puffing out his chest. He snatches up a wet piece of meat and holds it out for Kalmut Hui and she sucks it off of his fingers. Blood drips down her chin and I cringe at the sight. It was not long ago that Faith and I were feeding one another, but something about this interaction makes me sick to my stomach.

“Oh Visakha! This is delicious! Kalmut Ruo, you simply must have some!” Kalmut Hui exclaims. She hurries to feed her husband strips of uncooked meat and bits of entrails while I struggle to maintain a neutral expression.

“Partake,” Visakha offers. I look at the unappetizing mound and try not to frown at it.

“I am saving myself for my own kill,” I lie, hoping to avoid offending anyone.

“A noble decision,” comes a deep and booming voice from behind me. Our group turns to see a reptilian male, who looks something like a Nh’Rudi, yet still not quite. Whatever he is, he is large, muscled, and looks as if he could kill his prey with his bare hands. Curiously, I take in his attire. It almost looks like something one would wear into the fight pits. “I also fast until I can drink the warm blood of my prey,” he tells us with a proud conviction.

“Grazie, allow me to introduce He’Rokvska Naa. He is new to our little club as well,” Kalmut Hui tells me, looking at He’Rokvska Naa with hunger in her eyes.

“Do not call me He. I am He’Rokvska Naa, master of the ninth house of Braga Faro Sintra,” he says roughly.

“Oh, don’t mind him. I called him Hehe earlier and it drove him crazy. Luckily, I like that sort of thing,” Kalmut Hui laughs and sidles up to He’Rokvska Naa. Her hands run up his arm in an attempted caress, but the warrior brushes Kalmut Hui away from him with a look of disgust curling on his lip.

“I am the chosen gladiator of House Sarran, I have bathed in the blood of the dhiragoni who killed the great Eriona and claimed my right to the ninth house. My presence here will win me glory beyond the arena. I have been called upon to rise from this hunt victorious, bathed in the blood of a worthy opponent…” He’Rokvska Naa continues with his speech, but I am quick to tune out his fervent and bloodthirsty rant. Though I don’t fail to notice the bloodlust it seems to be inspiring in the others.

Bright lights suddenly illuminate a courtyard outside the glass walls and I extract myself from the group of hunters to get a closer look at what is out there. Looking down, we seem to be about two floors higher than the ground level outside. Under the glaring spotlights I can see a pile of supplies in the center of a packed dirt ring surrounded by numerous wooden cages, which likely house our prey. The cages are larger than I expected, big enough to contain a being my own size, and it makes me wonder what creatures might be inside.

Of course I hunt on Aragran, but my people never disturb larger beasts. We hunt only for what we need to eat and nothing more. I look around at the hunters in the room and back at the number of cages. There will be much meat going to waste after this is finished. That is why Visakha brings along his kills to share, I suppose, as I try to catch a glimpse of what might be inside the cages. Unfortunately, the placement of the lights casts a dark shadow over their interiors.

Then, for a split second, I see something flutter over the bars. It is small, pinkish-olive in its tone. Perhaps my eyes are playing tricks on me, but it almost looked like a hand. I press closer to the glass, trying to get a look.

“I see you are hungry for the hunt. Soon enough, boy,” Kalmut Ruo says, breaking me from my thoughts as he joins me at the window.

“Thank you for showing me around this evening,” I tell him, but Kalmut is looking back at his wife who has turned her attention to the more receptive Visakha. The pair continue to feed one another raw meat and I stiffen when I see Kalmut Hui lick stray juices from Visakha’s chin. My eyes cut to her husband, but his reaction is jovial.

“She likes to get worked up before the hunt, fuck a few of the young hunters,” he explains. “It’s all in good fun. We’ll share some of the whores tonight too, but the main attraction for my wife and me is our prey,” he says, turning back to the window.

“Your wife participates in The Hunt as well?” I ask conversationally, but I am taken aback by what Kalmut Ruo was telling me. Mate sharing is unheard of on Aragran.

“She hangs back while I find our prey, but she joins me once I catch it. That’s when the real fucking begins,” Kalmut Ruo tells me, breaking off into a raucous laugh. Now I’m blown away. I can’t quite seem to process what this male is telling me. Does he mean to say that he and his wife fuck the animal they are hunting?

“Do not discount the ferocity of this planet!” Visakha says behind us, taunting the enthusiastic warrior and garnering some of my attention. “This is a wild and untamed place. There have been many times when prey have died from stupidity or exposure before their hunters can even find them.”

He’Rokvska Naa looks outraged at the possibility. “I demand to compete against a worthy adversary!” he bellows. “It would be a disgrace to champion over the weak. There is no glory in such a kill!” Some of the others laugh mockingly at the warrior’s indignation.

“There is no glory in such a kill!” he roars, and I begin to slink away from these completely insane people. By the gods, what have I gotten myself into?

“Hell, that’s not the only thing you need to worry about during a hunt. You’ll have us to consider too, Gladiator. Sometimes I pay no heed to who I have been assigned and instead see how many of them I can bring down!” Visakha teases scornfully.

The warrior flexes and his muscles seem to swell under his scales. A fearsome growl tears from his throat, making my blood run cold. I tense, wondering if I will have to break up a fight, but luckily, there is an interruption in the escalation going on between these two.

“Esteemed guests,” a voice says suddenly, booming over the din of the ballroom. It is our host, the Itharene male and he stands on a stage at the head of the room. “Welcome to my home and welcome to The Hunt!” The room erupts in applause. “Many of you have been here before, but for the benefit of new guests, allow me to go over the festivities. First and foremost, indulge! Live tonight like gods, for tomorrow the intoxicating power over life and death will lie in your hands. Shortly, we will be releasing the first round of prey. They have the duration of this night to gain a head start before hunters begin searching. In the morning—”

“Or whenever we wake up!” Kalmut Ruo shouts, causing laughter to reverberate off the glass walls.

“Indeed.” The Itharene smiles. “When you’re ready, you will be equipped with supplies and your hunt will begin. Take as long as you’d like to complete your task. Monetary prizes will be awarded to each finisher as well as accolades for especially deserving kills, such as most creative. Now gather at the windows, my friends, and let us gaze upon this year’s prey!”

Everyone moves to press close to the glass. The excitement emanating from the crowd is like a physical thing, making me feel uneasy. I look over to see Visakha’s hand up the back of Kalmut Rui’s dress, working as they eagerly peer down into the dirt courtyard.

My personal comm chimes.

“Do you hear that sound, my guests? A file has been uploaded to your account pertaining to your pre-selected prey. It bears information on their species, crimes committed, and any known strengths or weaknesses,” the Itharene announces.

His words strike me as odd. Their crime? What could he mean by that?

“First prey to exit their cages belong respectively to the following: Visakha, Galdesh, Veil, Kalmut Ruo and Kalmut Hui, He’Rokvska Naa, Rylan Graz Bregen…” the Itharene continues to list off names, but his voice becomes drowned out by the pounding of blood through my veins. With each name he calls, a gate snaps open and a being emerges. But these are not wild animals. They are not beasts from faraway worlds. They are people, like any of us here in this room now. They are sentient.

They run for the supplies, some scooping up as much as they can carry, others running off without anything. If my shock was not powerful enough, it intensifies when the Itharene calls my name and a cage opens. My heart stops dead in my chest when I see who emerges. It is my Faith, looking more fierce than ever.

She wears the same clothes as she did the last time I saw her. Looking up at the windows, she scowls at the crowd watching her before sprinting over to the supplies. She does not see me, I don’t think. The lights are too bright and blinding in her eyes. I try to pay close attention to what she grabs as she hovers over the pile. Is she making smart choices, taking things that will not weigh her down? Things that will aide in her survival? But I have no view. All I’m able to catch a glimpse of is the direction she heads before vanishing amongst the trees.

I am still recovering from the shock when He’Rokvska Naa’s roaring shouts calls for everyone’s attention. “That is the prey I claim!” he demands, pounding so hard on the glass that I think it might break. Others seem to share the same opinion and guests jump backwards to safety.

“Is there a problem He’Rokvska Naa?” the nameless Itharene asks, approaching the warrior.

“That is the one I want,” he demands again. “The one with the war paint. I will take no other.” He crosses his scaled and imposing arms over his chest as a nictitating lid flicks over his yellow slitted eyes.

“Have you ever seen a human female before, He’Rokvska Naa?” Visakha asks, laughing. “Do you even know anything about them?”

“There is nothing I need to know. I claim the one with the war paint. It is final!”

The Itharene begins to interject, but Visakha interrupts. “I will trade with He’Rokvska Naa. The human female was meant to be mine, but I have no preference and clearly the gladiator does,” Visakha says, biting back a smile.

My mind reels. There is more than one human female being hunted. I need to get down there. I need to help them, to help Faith. I turn to get away from the bloodthirsty crowd, but bump into a hard body.

“Excuse me,” I say, looking up to see one of Galdesh’s men, the tattooed one who lingered close to the dangerous criminal. The alien nods at me, but his gaze is fixed outside on the people running for their lives.

“Where do they think they will go?” he wonders aloud, and it seems as if he is talking to himself. Still, Kalmut Hui turns to answer.

“That’s part of the game!” she delights. “They’ve been told they’re being hunted and have only tonight to run, but they’ve also been told there are three escape pods to the north and if they can make there, they’re free to go.”

“So, they have a chance to escape?” I ask, feeling relieved. If anyone can make it to those pods it will be my Faith.

“No, of course not! The escape pods are there, they just don’t work! None of these creatures are making it off this planet alive.” Kalmut Hui’s laugh turns into something nearly hysterical and the other hunters all join in. The sound is unnerving, as is the realization that all these people are mad.

I need to find Faith, rescue her, and get us off this godforsaken planet before the both of us are killed.