I do hope you enjoy this second chapter!! :)
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The sight of an alien egg was enough to unsettle most people on a primal level. But for Enzer, this was familiar territory. Far from being repulsed, he approached the eggs with a smile, reaching out to touch their surfaces and feel the faint pulse of life within. Indeed, from the moment of their hatching, all the aliens would forge a mental link with him.
Typically, within the alien species, only the Queen possessed the innate ability to command all other forms. Even newly emerged facehuggers were instinctively subservient to her will, a dominance woven into their very genetic code. "Absolute command... After my trials, even the Queen's authority pales in comparison to mine." Enzer glanced at the alien standing beside him. While the skulls of typical aliens were elongated and smooth, this creature's head formed a distinct, crown-like structure, a clear indicator of its majestic status: Queen. Within a hive, only one alien possessed the reproductive capability – the Queen.
"Thank you for your efforts," Enzer said with a smile. "The transformation into a Queen took considerable time, and laying these five eggs couldn't have been easy." Xenomorphs were not bound by traditional gender roles. Should a hive lose its Queen or an alien find itself isolated, their genetic programming would kick in, unlocking dormant potential within their DNA, triggering a spontaneous evolution into a Queen capable of reproduction. Thus, Enzer had remained with the alien for an extended period, patiently awaiting its transformation into a Queen and the subsequent laying of her first clutch of eggs. Only then did he finally exhale in relief.
Bred for combat, Xenomorphs were indiscriminate parasites, capable of hijacking and integrating the most advantageous genetic traits of their hosts. In theory, this made each subsequent generation potentially stronger than its predecessor. These five eggs would hatch into five facehuggers, each requiring a host to parasitize in order to mature into a full-grown Xenomorph.
For a fleeting moment, Enzer's heart quickened at the thought of Blade. The Daywalker was already an exceptional specimen. If he could be captured and parasitized, the Xenomorph that would emerge from his chest would undoubtedly possess formidable power. But Enzer quickly dismissed this tempting, yet morally dubious, idea. "For now, cats and dogs will suffice as hosts. It's a start, a way to build up my forces." Enzer glanced at the Queen, who stood silently awaiting his command. Compared to the imposing Queens depicted in the films, this one looked almost frail, pitifully thin. She'd need a substantial amount of protein to build her strength.
The local wildlife soon paid the price. For several consecutive nights, a terrifyingly swift figure stalked the shadows, each appearance marked by the sudden, brutal end of another small creature. Initially, it was a solitary dark shape, but as the days passed, the number of these shadowy hunters began to multiply. The killings grew more frequent and savage, the blood of various animals staining the ground, eventually drying into gruesome, mottled black patterns.
This trail of carnage eventually led to the arrival of several police officers, responding to a report. "Boss, we're on the scene," a young officer grumbled. "According to the call, a bunch of wildlife's gone missing around here. Seriously? We've got a million things happening in the city, and we're wasting time in this dump because some tree-hugging activists are raising a stink?" "Let's not forget our duty," George Stacy, a more seasoned officer, cautioned, his gaze sweeping over the surroundings. Besides, he thought, the report didn't come from any animal rights group. "Ever since that Iron Man guy reappeared, things have gotten a whole lot busier," one officer muttered. "Yeah, better to be on your guard in this city. Always some kind of weirdo popping up." Another chimed in, "At least we're not dealing with that rich idiot flying around in a tin can again."
George mentally clicked his tongue, recalling the restricted news from a while back. As someone within the system, he had access to information the public didn't. The Stark Tower explosion wasn't some accident; it was a brawl between two armored figures. The outcome was clear: Tony Stark was the victor, and Obadiah Stane, Stark Industries' missing second-in-command, was the loser. Since that incident, it felt like a volatile fuse had been lit. A surge of bizarre cases had flooded their precinct, pushing their workload to an unprecedented high.
Shaking off his musings, George focused on the task at hand. He donned gloves, retrieved his evidence kit, and began meticulously collecting any discernible traces. "It's eerily quiet," he observed. "Like all the animals just vanished into thin air." Another officer pointed out, "And there's blood spatter all over the place. Something definitely attacked them." George frowned. The sight of the blood stirred unpleasant thoughts. Soon enough, they'll have more pressing concerns, he thought, sensing an approaching presence.
"Gentlemen, what's the situation here?" a voice called out. "Freeze! Hands where I can see them!" Several officers instantly drew their weapons, their eyes narrowed. But the figure didn't halt; instead, he advanced with alarming speed. The beam of a flashlight caught his face, revealing a predatory grin and rows of sharp teeth.
The officers fired in unison, the bullets impacting the pale man's chest, leaving momentary holes that almost instantly began to knit themselves back together. With grotesque ease, the bullets were forced out by the rapidly healing flesh. With a sickening whoosh, the man moved with impossible speed, leaping thirty feet and sinking his teeth into a nearby officer's neck.
Vampire? The chilling realization struck George like a physical blow. "Boss, we've got multiple hostiles!" another officer yelled. Several more figures with the same deathly pallor emerged from the shadows, descending upon the fallen officer and tearing into him with savage hunger. The gruesome scene sent a wave of icy dread through the remaining officers. Their bullets, they now realized with horror, were woefully inadequate against these creatures.
The apparent leader of the vampires wiped his mouth with a languid gesture, his eyes glinting with predatory amusement as he assessed the remaining officers. "Well, well," he drawled. "Looks like we're not the only ones interested in this little corner of the city. What brings the NYPD to a place like this? I don't recall issuing any invitations." "Like hell we take orders from bloodsuckers!" George spat, taking a steadying breath. "You have no concept of our influence," the vampire sneered, licking his fangs. "But no matter. You're insignificant. I'm not here for you." His attention drifted, a thoughtful expression crossing his features. "I'm more interested in whoever supplied the Daywalker with those potent acid weapons. Highly corrosive, effective against even the half-bloods… yet, strangely, I can detect the distinct scent of blood within that concoction."
Dennis, a scion of one of the Thirteen Clans, bore the weight of expanding his family's dominion. The recent raid by the Blade Warrior had decimated his stronghold, a significant loss of life, but not a complete setback. Whether by design or oversight, the Daywalker hadn't been particularly subtle in his movements, leaving a trail of surveillance footage and motorcycle tracks that Dennis had meticulously followed, narrowing down his possible locations. This blood-like substance intrigued Dennis immensely. Vampires drew their strength and sustenance from blood, so the possibility of consumption was tantalizing. Unfortunately, the strange liquid seemed to rapidly dissipate upon exposure to air, denying him the opportunity to taste it.
"Dispose of these snacks," Dennis commanded with a dismissive wave.
"What in God's name do you think you're doing, slaughtering people on Vortanex property without my say-so?" A voice echoed from the distance. In the flickering beam of a flashlight, Enzer's figure became dimly visible about a hundred yards away.
"That Blade is a real pain in the neck. This isn't exactly how I envisioned acquiring a few vampire specimens."