Better Alive Than Dead Ch. 003

In the living room stood Aiden, his face pale and bloodless, with his hands extended, gripping an electroshock gun.

Khogoshh snarled in rage and clawed at the long metal projectile, trying to pull it out, while walking with strained steps towards Aiden. The pale kid stood frozen in place, his arms still extended. The intelligent projectile embedded in the reptilian's back sensed its mark was not incapacitated and released another electroshock wave through Khogoshh's body. The powerful shock finally forced the powerful reptilian to its knees.

With adrenaline-induced strength, Jack forced his punished body across the kitchen floor towards the combat shotgun, confident that the electroshock projectile would not keep Khogoshh down for long. However, the other Kinto, whose kneecap Jack had dislocated, had forced the bone back in place and was carefully rising on bloody and uncertain legs. The Kinto growled angrily, while supporting his weight on the counter.

In his eagerness for payback, the Kinto lost balance and fell on top of Jack, crushing him under his massive weight. In anger, Jack pushed a thumb deep into the Kinto's left eye and pushed away with his feet. However, the Kinto's strong hands grabbed his legs and forcefully pulled him back across the kitchen floor, while Jack futilely grasped for the gun.

In the living room, Khogoshh ripped out the long projectile and tossed it aside, even as it crackled with paralyzing electricity. The reptilian's breath was labored, and heavy saliva fell from his mouth. His eyes were bloodshot and filled with rage, as he defiantly willed his stunned body towards Aiden. His heavy clawed hands clenched and unclenched from the excitement of the coming bloodshed. Aiden looked desperately around for anything to stop the massive reptilian intent on crushing his skull, and in desperation, he grabbed a floor lamp and held it in front of him like a poor man's polearm.

Jack curled his right hand to a fist and hit with all the power he could muster from his prone position. The powerful punch, strengthened by adrenaline and bio-enhanced muscles, slammed into the Kinto's defined jaw. Jack could feel his hand break from the impact but felt no pain as combat adrenaline shot through him. Not hesitating, Jack crawled towards the shotgun as the Kinto groggily and angrily tried to grab his legs again.

In a fluid and rushed movement, Jack grabbed the shotgun, cocked it and fired, just as the Kinto came at him again like a rabid dog, frothing from the mouth.

The shot from the shotgun rang loud as it blasted off the Kinto's head in a violent explosion of blood and skull fragments. The heavy reptilian fell limb on top of Jack's legs.

Khogoshh spun around from the sudden blast, his slit eyes opened wide, and his mouth twisted in a terrible snarl. Defying the paralyzing numbness in his body, the herculean Kinto pounced toward Jack in a furious desire to finish him off. Using the sofa as a ledge, the heavy Kinto sprang into the air.

Khogoshh was in mid-air with his powerful clawed hands extended, and his strong maw open in a vicious roar, when, in another rushed movement, Jack cocked and fired. The shot hit Khogoshh's left leg, blasting it to smithereens, and the force of the shot changed the reptilian's trajectory, so he fell crashing into the living room furniture.

Khogoshh roared in wrath and pain, as his clawed hands grabbed at the bloody stump that seconds earlier had been his left leg.

Jack pushed the headless Kinto off him, and dragged his beaten body up from the floor, the shotgun held firmly in his unbroken hand. He nodded at Aiden.

"Thanks kid, you chose to come at a really fortuitous time".

Aiden looked as pale as a ghost, and simply stared at the wounded Khogossh.

"You can let go of the lamp." Jack said amused, and the kid put down the lamp, somewhat embarrassed.

Jack winced in pain, as he sucked in air. He had no idea how many bones were broken, and how much damage his internal organs had sustained, but judging from the pain, it would take even his bio-enhanced physiology a fair amount of time to heal. He limped over to Aiden, and passed him the shotgun, who accepted it with bloodless hands.

Khogoshh breath was labored, as his slit eyes watched them both hatefully. Jack knew that Khogoshh was well aware that Jack would never let him live after this, and even if that were not the case, Khogoshh would never degrade himself by begging for his life. Kintos were a proud species.

"You wanna be a hunter kid? Lesson one, don't let Kintos with an unresolved grudge live." he said, motioning to Khogoshh, who stared at them both with intense hatred.

"He's right," hissed Korgoshh, his sibilant voice strained. "I will find you and fill my hands with your entrails." He made a croaking laugh, that was quickly replaced by a gurgling cough. A stream of blood and saliva fell from the corners of his mouth, and he loathingly spat the blood on the floor.

"Take aim, cock the shotgun, and shoot." Instructed Jack, with a hand on the boy's shoulder.

Aiden nervously lifted the weapon, trying to keep the barrel still enough to aim.

Khogoshh laughed mirthlessly "This one will never be a hunter Jack. I have seen children in the Warrens slit throats for a meal, or a shot of Hexameth. This one is not a killer."

Jack ignored the mocking words, staring intently at the pale boy.

"Khogoshh came here to kill me boy, as he has killed countless before. You know this to be true. It's him or us."

Khogoshh snorted loudly.

"He cannot. He is not like you and me Jack. Killing is as natural to us as breathing."

"It's him or us. Take the fucking shot!" Jack yelled pushing the kid harshly.

Khogoshh began another croaking laugh that was suddenly cut off as the shot from the rifle rang aloud. The poorly aimed shot blew the upper half of Khogoshh's head off in a powerful blast, that painted the back wall in blood and brains. What little brains there were.

Khogoshh mutilated body twitched weakly, the jaw still attached to the neck. It was a gruesome sight, yet Jack had seen much worse. Aiden however, swiftly passed the shotgun back to Jack, before he turned around and vomited on the floor. A spew of sickness fell from the kid's mouth, filled with chunks of barely digested food.

"Oh my, what a mess. This will most definitely reduce the property value. Even in this neighborhood" came VIC's sudden elocutionary voice.

"Where the fuck have you been?" Jack asked annoyed.

"Running errands on your request Captain," VIC answered while floating through the air. He stopped suddenly "Is that Kogoshh? He has objectively looked better. I was wondering when he would attempt to settle his debts."

Aiden looked up at Jack meekly. "I did well didn't I? I proved I have combat skills."

"Although I do appreciate it kid, that was hardly combat. All you did was electrocute somebody from behind, before resorting to lamp-jitsu." He put a hand on his sore neck and added: "But I do appreciate the effort, and the timing."

"I proved that I can react in dire situations," Adrien retorted "If it weren't for me you would be dead." His cheeks where sunken and his lips were pallid, with small chunks of vomit. But his eyes were shining with an almost feverish light.

"Maybe." Jack shrugged and unscrewed the whiskey bottle that had somehow miraculously survived the battle and took a deep swig. He enjoyed the warm smooth sensation as the whiskey washed down his throat.

Aiden stared at him, his eyes determined and hopeful. Jack filled a glass and passed it to the boy. Aiden drank and coughed.

"You did alright kid. But you hesitated. You can never hesitate."

Aiden shook his head "I won't."

Silence fell between them for a while. Jack looked around at the crashed furniture and the three dead reptilian gang members sprawled on the floor. Including the new paint job from Khogoshh. Time to move I suppose.

"You feel bad about killing him?" asked Jack, motioning to Khogoshh's body that had finally stopped twitching.

Aiden shook his head "No. I know what he was, and that he probably deserved death. But it was my first kill, and I didn't find it as easy as I thought it would be."

"Good. Killing shouldn't come easily to anyone."

"If it is any consolation Kintos are on average spawned in 6.2 specimens by their broodmothers, so most likely they all have 5 siblings roaming about." VIC interjected.

The prospect of Khogoshh having five identical siblings, made the already ghostly pale kid turn a shade whiter.

"Shut up. And go get the credit chit." Jack commanded.

He looked at the weak kid in his oversized clothing. He was as far from a hunter as Jack had ever seen. Yet the determination that burned within the kid's eyes could not be denied.

"Alright kid, I'll give you a chance. Go gather whatever belongings you need. VIC go with him and get him settled."

Aiden's eyes lit up and a faint hint of color came back to his face.

Then Jack grabbed the kid's collar just as he turned to leave.

"Whatever belongings you need. Necessities only. Don't drag your whole Warren trash collection."

Aiden nodded "I won't."

"And what will you do Captain?" asked VIC dropping the credit chit from the small magnetic field under his orb-like form.

Jack caught it and clutched it in his unbroken fist.

"I will go find Achara. We need a job. A big one."