The Boatman

Captain Zen was head of the Knox X F30 and was in the heat of battle. Engines were compromised, life support was failing, and Aufan Zen felt alive. Warlaxs, which Aufan Zen was one of the Elders of, had thick hides made for war and the camouflage’s ability to surprise their prey. He lost his gun in battle with the Sheonke, a squid-like species known for eating their prey alive, who was trying to eat him and his crew with their malleable physical form.

The Warlax bared his teeth and claws with all the aggression his people were known for and lunged at the squid-like creature. Tentacles quickly wrapped around the ten-foot war machine's middle and limbs. The Warlax was not phased by the tentacles or the teeth digging into his flesh by the suction cups. Warlax men were strong creatures with broad shoulders so Captain Zen quickly ripped the limbs apart with his claws and rammed his horns into the creature's center.

The elder Warlax heard a squishy crunch as his horn impaled the creature blue blood drenched his head but the Sheonke kept squirming. The creature was shrinking and cursing in his mother tongue. Captian never learned Sheonken but could guess the words were curses. Dislodaging his head Zen grabbed two sides of the Sheonke and pulled. The creatures fleshed ripping with a SQUICK noise. Blood covered everything and fell onto the Captain like a bucket of cold water.

As one of the elders of his clan, Captain Zen was in charge of training a crew of young Warlax. Their mission should have been simple. A young Pardus had a warrant by the Acinonyx. Acinonyx had been at war with the Pardus for two centuries now. This particular Pardus, Rahpur, was a spy and was enough Acinonyx to pass in society.

Once the elder Warlax reached the ship's helm, he demanded a status report. The Co-Captain, Zen's Oldest Friend and the second eldest Warlax, was killed earlier in the battle. As he looked around the helm, he noticed most of the crew was missing; worse, some of the missing was in pieces around the helm. Luckily his pilot was alive with little damage so the ship took off while Captain Zen got reports. The casualties were overwhelming and Captain Zen sighed. Children, the ship was full of inexperienced soldiers who barely reached adulthood and were brought children to slaughter. The most experienced Warlax has a hard time fighting Sheonkes and most fighting manuals state that two Warlaxs could take one Sheonke.

He brought children to slaughter and even worse the living ones couldn't enjoy the taste of victory because the damn spy was dead. Captain Zen sighed and looked at the damage report. His engines were barely working, medical was working with half the crew and overrun, and there were several breaches throughout the ship. They couldn't afford another attack, but the Sheonke always attacked in three.

"Zett." Captain Zen's voice was heavy as he called the pilot's name. The Warlax was young, tall, and lanky. Zerr's horns were curvy and his skin darker than the captain's. He came from the same home clan as Captain Zen but no relation. "Fly through the belt as we make repairs." The helm was quit after that. The tension was so thick a knife could cut it and serve the pieces to his damaged crew.

"Yes sir."Zen was going to send out more orders when Mert stood up and looked Zen in his eyes. Like most Apex predators looking into the eyes is a challenge something that must be taught to most Human recruits. Mert wasn't a human recruit. Mert was a Warlax with his red-pink skin, tall horn, sharp teeth, and claws to match every other Warlax on the ship. The only difference is that Mert is an entitled brat from an influential clan and the son of said clan's war leader.

"Sir."Mert kept eye contact and Captain Zen kept his eyes level but didn't stand. He saw the boy's fear and didn't want to be too tired to play the game. If need be he would kill him and his clan to prove his point. Captain Zen was too old to play with brats. Mert broke eye contact first and bowed his head as he spoke."The belt is too dangerous and will lead to more casualties. We should go back Arapax."

"No."

"Why not!" The young Warlax bared his teeth as the older Warlax texted his orders to the crew. Zen didn't want to have this talk with the child and his authority wasn't in threat.

"You should know why." After sending his orders the Captain turns his head to his pilot. "Zett, explain why we are going through the asteroid belt."

"The Sheonke always attacked in three, sir." The skinny Warlax stated as he drove which brought pride to his captain. " We will be using the asteroids to blend and protect our base. "

"Correct," the Elder said, then stood and stalked toward Merit. Never forget your manners again, Cub. I am the third eldest in our world." As the words left his mouth, he realized he had misspoken. Since Gar had died, he was now the Second Elder. Mert sat back down at his station as they flew on.

It turned out he had lost over half his crew by the time Medical called up to report with a fourth stabilized. Engineering called with the damage report. Repairs would take over an hour, and that was jerry-rigging it. Luckily, life support and gravity control weren't damaged, so all hands could be on the drives and engines.

"Captain!" Zett bellowed in panic as his fear dropped Captain Zen's stomach fell. "There are six Sheonke ships following us." Fuck! Who was Rahpur and why were the Sheonke so desperate to get him back? Not like they could anyway because their first attack Rahpur was shot by accident by one of the guards. The Gaurd's name was Madrett it was his first mission and was from the same clan as Mert. Madrett was currently in a comma and lost an arm.

"Cut the lights," The elder Warlax roared as he stood. "Landed on an astroid than activate camouflage." Zett nodded but a low growl could be heard from Mert. The young Warlax kept his mouth shut otherwise but, Zen was keeping an eye on him. The ship was silent as everyone watched the monitor the ships were oval-shaped which made them look weak. That would be a rookie mistake and unfortunately, Knox X F30 was full of rookies so, it shouldn't have surprised him that Mert tried to shoot the Sheonke ship.

Mert tried to hack into the flight controls with a sigh The elder took the young cub's neck and snapped it. Mert's body crumbled with a thud. Several crew members flinched at the gruesome scene but stayed silent. They watched the ships move and the elder Warlax knew where they were. He didn't know how or why but he knew.

"Code red, everyone prepares for battle." It was too late. Three Sheonke teleported onto the ship and tore through Zett. Tentacles wrapped around the young Warlax as the suction cup teeth bit through his neck, and his head rolled off his shoulders. The initial shock wore off, and the crew started to attack, but as each Sheonke fell, two took their place. Each ship had at least 32 members, and the scan showed at least three, but there were most likely more.

That is how the battle went for hours the elderly Captain tore through the Sheonke as his crew fell one by one. He was covered in cold copper-smelling blood that stained his red skin purple. He headed out to help his crew and what he found should have made him sick but he was too old for such notions. His crew, the young Warlax barely adults, bodies littered the grounds. The Sheonke lay dead as well but his crew is what bothered him.

Zen was old and pointless death bothered him now more than anything. The farther he went the more death he saw and no Sheonke was left living. There was a sick pride in that but the guilt ate at him. The Elder Warlax started cleaning. He chucked the Sheonke in a bay to blast them into space while taking his crew to the med-bay for proper burial when they made it back home. This wasn't the first time his entire crew died before but, he did hope it was the last.