The Void was an everlasting night. Thick with phosphorous vapor that would kill them without their portable oxygen masks. Ordinary light couldn't pierce the veil of darkness that descended upon their world two hundred years ago.

The world, no longer hospitable for humans, now contained strange flora and fauna grew to accommodate the Shrieks alien anatomy. Trees that
really couldn't be called trees, grew everywhere. They flourished in the dark, glowing with a phosphorus tint that was equally as toxic as the air.

Instead of carbon dioxide intake and oxygen released, these plants took in toxic components from the air and released a white phosphorus like substance that caused the vegetation to glow.

Regular light didn't penetrate the Void. Infrared was key for them to be able to navigate the inhospitable alien environment into which humans had been thrust into two hundred years ago.

From everything to sensors navigation to hunting gear, infrared was at the heart of the technology. The Ghosts relied upon it as much as they relied upon the portable oxygen masks. They were useless without them.

Life, if it could be called that, would cease to exist. Bagging Shrieks was initially a protective venture. Keep the population down in order for humans to thrive. Now it had become lucrative.

The Throps that bagged the most Shrieks received better technology with which to use on their hunts. There was only so much of it to go around and the Ghosts who made their quotas and then some, got the best of the best.

Another, albeit more fun way of obtaining the Tech, was through a contact combat fighting sport. Jaxson excelled at this as well. He won most of the fights with the exception of a couple that went sour when the other Throp cheated. His prowess at fighting and hunting had put him on the top.

Fame and fortune seemed to be his lot in life which is why Frank hated him so much. Jaxson's abilities was what made Frank so suspicious of him even when Jaxson's winnings benefited everyone.

It was no secret to anyone who resided in the Throp. But people took it with a grain of salt. Just a friendly rivalry they said. Entertaining they remarked. It kept the never ending night at bay. Made all their lives more exciting.

Regardless of public opinion, Jaxson kept on fighting. He kept on bagging Shrieks too.

Usually, this was about the time the adrenaline kicked in. When his sharply honed reflexes went up a notch.

Not this time.

Jaxson expected the edginess to wane as it usually did when they entered the Void. If anything he became more nervous. Normally, Jaxson thrived in the dark. He hated the artificial light in the Throps. It was as if Jaxson were part alien himself. He became more alive when he was out here away from the Throp.

His fingers tapped the console. His leg jiggled up and down. Nerves keyed up, he was ready to jump out of the Skimmer.

What the hell was wrong with him?

He itched to pull the trigger. Blasting some Shriek heads to smithereens would make him feel better. Ugly things. Their heads were triangular with the apex serving as a chin. Four orange eyes occupied either side of their heads. Two on each side.

They had no nose but their mouths contained needle sharp teeth. They breathed through slits on their elongated necks. What passed for limbs on their bodies were long and thin. Instead of knees and elbows they had flexible joints that allowed them greater range of motion.

What all that boiled down to was they were lean, mean and super fast. The fact that Jaxson had so much success in bagging Shrieks made him quite popular among the Throps.

The edginess intensified until he felt like screaming. Stay calm. Be cool. There was only one thing he could do that helped his nerves. He tapped onto the console and music flooded his ears.

Relief caused his body to sag into the seat. The edginess confined itself to the back of his mind. Peace reigned. Kind of.

Jaxson sensed Mick was looking at him with concern but kept his gaze focused on the screen.

Mick tapped his shoulder. He removed the headset. "What?"

Mick gestured at Frank. Jaxson removed the headset. "Yeah?"

"Turn it off grunt," he hollered, "You want to attract their attention?"

Jaxson rolled his eyes. "Yeah. Yeah." He turned the music down, not off. "No appreciation for the classics."

"You wouldn't know good music if it bit you in the ass grunt."

Jaxson gritted his teeth. Frank was starting in early. He'd already proven his worth to the team but Frank insisted on calling him grunt despite the fact that he bagged more Shrieks than anybody on the squad. "You wouldn't know when a Shriek was in the vicinity unless it farted in your face."

Jaxson wasn't wrong. Frank had poor eyesight to begin with yet he insisted on joining every hunt. He rarely bagged a Shriek anymore. The man needed to retire and soon in Jaxson's opinion.

Mick let out a loud laugh. "He got you there Frank."

"Good one Jax," Aris praised.

Frank turned away muttering, "Goddamn grunt." His seat squealed in protest as he lifted his gargantuan bulk up and out. He banged on the hatch to the turret with his rifle.

"Hey, Dean. Sound off."

The hatch opened and Dean poked his head through. "That's my ass you're hitting Frank."

"Yeah. Yeah. Sound off."

Dean extended his middle finger. "No sign of Shrieks boss."

"Keep that up and I'll have you scrubbing latrines with your tongue when we get back ."

"I'd love to see you try." Dean closed the hatch.

Frank clenched his fists. He made like he was about to climb the ladder then changed his mind. "Not worth my time."

"Be lucky you could climb the first rung," Jaxson said.

"What's that you said grunt?"

"You heard me. Or maybe you didn't. You could be going deaf. Old age and all." Beside him, Mick choked back a laugh.

"You want to clean the latrines too grunt?"

"That's Lieutenant grunt to you."

Frank stared at Jaxson who didn't waver. Not one second. The tension in the Skimmer became so thick, Mick swore he could slice it with his knife.

Frank broke first. "Sound off."

"Confirming Dean's statement. No sign of Shrieks."

"Not hearing them either," Mick added by way of diffusing the tension.

"Shield strength is down three percent," Aris reported after a lengthy glare at Jaxson who was grinning. He always seemed to push the line just a little bit further every day.

"Compensate," Frank answered.

"Copy that." Aris fiddled with the controls. No matter what she did, she couldn't locate the cause of the dip in shields. "Still at 97%."

"Find the source of the power drain."

"I am. I know we have some extra power stored somewhere. Oh yeah, my heinie." Laughter echoed in the Skimmer diffusing the rest of the tension that continued to hang thick in the air.

A greenish/gray shadow flashed across the screen refocusing Jaxson's attention where it belonged. "Hold up. I'm getting activity."

"Where?"

"North by North-west. At the base of the mountain."

"All right. Lock and load boys."

At the location, Trent parked the Skimmer. He faced the front end toward the general direction of the Throp for a quick retreat then left it on idle.

Jaxson, Frank, Mick and Trent donned their armor. As Mick was closest to the gear, he handed out the infrared goggles and oxygen masks.

"Safety check." Each man flicked on the goggles and tested the masks.

"Check," Jaxson said.

"Check," Trent added.

"Check," Mick intoned.

"All right. Check. Equipment is functioning. Helmets."

Mick doled out the helmets then the rifles. After ensuring the rifles where filled with the proper number of plasma bullets, they strapped the rifles to backpacks.

Each pack, made of light and durable material, contained ration packs, extra bullets, med kits and water.

"Here you go," Aris said. She handed them one syringe each. "Just pop off the cap and stick the needle anywhere in their skin. According to the instructions the serum should work instantly."

Jaxson stowed the syringe in his jacket pocket. "Thanks Aris."

"What if the serum activates in the middle of the hunt?" Mick asked.

"Not possible. You won't accidentally activate the serum, the syringe has to be in contact with Shriek skin in order for it to work. It won't work on humans."

Mick eyed it skeptically. "You sure about that?"

Jaxson slapped his hand on Mick's shoulder. "Relax. I know you're a bit accident prone but even you couldn't mess this up."

Mick offered Jaxson a glare. "Thanks."

Jaxson grinned. "No problem."

"Absolutely positive," Aris answered with a cut it out glance at Jaxson. "Come back in one piece or I'll kill you all myself," she threatened.

"Copy that, Mom." Aris rolled her eyes.

"Copy that," Frank said without a trace of humor. His resting pissy face said it all. "Move out."

Jaxson shut up. He'd managed a few digs at Frank's expense so he was happy. Eager to bag Shrieks, he jumped out of the Skimmer first.