Waiting Shapeless

Chapter 40. Space, unknown location

Hud: Pardos

There were multiple Rhaa there, all eager and ready to see him kill Gaunth.

He hadn't slept for days. As he had made his way over to the location Gaunth had sent him—a gigantic Rhaa station Hud had never been to before, his attempts at sleep resulted in long nights of listless twisting and turning. His mind could not be settled. Every time his exhausted body forced him down to rest, his mind kept him awake with the haunting reality of what he was about to do.

He had to kill Gaunth.

Now he was here. Although Hud had never before been to this station, he knew exactly what it was the moment it came into view of his little freighter. It was a main Rhaa vessel, a huge barge that was used as a base for all of the Rhaa's biggest dealings and projects. All of the most illegal transactions happened in this station; it was a hub for the entire Rhaa species.

Hud couldn't imagine why Gaunth thought this was a good place to hide. It was a trap waiting to happen.

And now it had happened.

Hud wearily eyed the Rhaa that turned to watch him as he was marched down the polished white hall. The spindly Welvet aliens were there as well. They had intercepted him as they neared the station and were now escorting him through the white halls, each of them holding a loaded weapon aimed towards Hud.

He was slightly shocked to see the large Operious among the Rhaa, bent over a large screen lined with dials.

"Well, well, well." Operious turned and grinned wickedly at him as Hud was marched into a smaller room filled with Rhaa. "Look who we have here."

The pale skin around Operious's large grinning mouth was wrinkled and creased in a vile manner. It made Hud sick to look at.

He kept his head down as he gripped the gun they had given him tightly, keeping it hidden in a large pocket of his pants. The eerie Welvet walked Hud past the groups of hulking Rhaa.

They entered a larger room that was already filled with some Welvet lined quietly against the wall. The thin, tall aliens then situated him in the midst of their group, so as to keep Hud outnumbered and surrounded.

Hud avoided the eyes of the sneering Rhaa as they joined them in the open room. He kept his eyes on the floor in front of him.

One of the doors on the far side of the room opened and another group of Welvet pushed a flustered looking Gaunth through the door.

"I demand to know," snarled the smaller Rhaa as he entered, "what the hell is—"

Gaunth fell silent the second he saw Hud on the other side of the room.

They shuffled him forward so that he was directly in front of Hud.

Gaunth scanned the room, looking from Hud to Operious and the other Rhaa.

"What's going on Hud?" He asked gruffly. Hud could hear a slight panic in his voice.

Some of the other Rhaa in the room started to chuckle in delight, eager to see the punishment of a traitor.

"Rhaa Gaunth." Stated one of the Welvet on Hud's side of the room. "You are charged with attempted treason against the Rhaa race. The penalty to which is tortured death."

Gaunth stared at them in disbelief. Then he looked at Hud, realization spreading across his face.

"You..." Said the bewildered Rhaa. "Hud, you... you turned me in?"

Hud stood in silence, unable to even look at Gaunth. His tired eyes were fixed on the floor in front of him.

"Did you rat Hud??" Gaunth yelled.

Hud could not speak.

The head Welvet slowly turned and looked at Hud. "This is where you make the choice, Hudaryous."

Anger and hate burst through Hud. He hated the Rhaa for the way they were, and he hated these strange Welvet for working with the Rhaa.

"Remember Natilliea." Smiled the Welvet.

Hud gritted his teeth. He wanted to sink his fist into the alien's face, telling him to never mention Natilliea's name again.

He also just wanted this to be over.

He wanted Natilliea back so badly.

Hud slowly pulled out the gun from his pants and raised it, pointing it directly at Gaunth. He could see the observing Rhaa grinning from the sidelines.

The room was filled with silence for a moment as everyone watched Hud.

Then a cackle echoed through the room.

This time it was Gaunth.

"You're going to kill me Hud? You're going to gun me down huh." The stout Rhaa snarled.

"You are filth. So kill me. Just do it. That's what you're good at."

Hud's hand began to shake slightly as he kept the barrel aimed at Gaunth.

"Ruo, Pardos." Growled Gaunth, cursing at him. "Can't even do a simple job. Everyone knows you screwed up with the Circuit too." He spat.

Suddenly there was a gun in Gaunth's hand, aimed directly at Hud.

There was a commotion in the room as beings began to realize things were not going as planned. But Gaunth was acting too fast.

"Goodbye Hud." He said distastefully.

The sound of the gun blasted through the room. Hud felt the projectile hit him directly in the chest.

The room sprung into motion. Several Welvets whipped out weapons and shot Gaunth multiple times, his large body tumbling over motionless.

Hud's dead body fell to the ground.