director's cut: if atlas falls (pt1)
Aug. 12th, 2023 09:07 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
deargalileoalso this will be split up into a few parts probably because this is just. me doing my own thing and also this fic is longer than i remembered sjdhfs. also by god there are so many typos truly no beta we die like scar in this movie and im not about to fix it now (a later issue for later me)
this is for "if atlas falls" which is a fic i wrote based off of the movie alien versus predator (2004). i watched this movie with my roommates around october of 2022, and wow. it's not a great movie! it's a good movie in the sense of it's a bad cash-grab of a movie. but i loved it and got way too sucked in for a relationship that was decidedly not canon!
at this point, i had never seen an alien movie, or more importantly, a predator movie, all of the information that i used in this fic all came from either the predator wiki, or i just made it up. because its an alien fan fiction. so at some point i just decided to say fuck it and do what i wanted. if any of you guys have seen this movie, there's a bit when we see the predator's spaceship and while watching it i was confidently like "ah yes the aliens" and my roommate was like "no thats the predators" and i had a full record scratch moment and went "THE PREDATORS ARE ALIENS TOO?!?!?!" so. in case you were wondering what my knowledge of any of this was before writing this fic.
Scar was a calculated beast. While he wasn’t at the top of his classes, he knew how to survive. He was born through blood and war- and there is no such thing as a weak Yautja.
He was not surprised when he was chosen for the Hunt. The decision process was out of his hands, and no one knew who was going to be selected until it was announced by the council leaders. The beings on Earth, they called it fate, or destiny. A Yaujta didn’t believe in such a frivolous thing- the things that happened in one’s life happened often for no reason at all. One could try to control their life, to guide it in a certain way, but there was no truth in anything.
Scar was chosen for the Hunt because he worked hard, and fought well. He was an excellent soldier, hunter, predator. That was what the council members had said, at least. Scar knew that he would do his people proud.
The events of the Hunt did not play out because of some fate-wielding diety. Blood was spilled because of errors that were made, calculations that were incorrect.
It was not pure luck that he survived. It was because of Lex and Lex alone, that he survived.
Lex.
Taking her with him, as his people arrived to pick up the survivors, was an easy decision. A rational one, no, but he kept his hand enclosed around her wrist as his leader greeted them. Hohte had been the leader of the council for many decades, but this was her first Hunt of this type under her rule.
Everyone say thank you to the Yautja Name Generator I found online
Scar knew he was losing blood. It took the last of his strength to bow his head in respect to Hohte, before as carefully as he could, brushing aside her curly hair to reveal the mark he had given her.
“Akouh,” Hohte clicked at him. “Report.”
Lex was speaking in a high pitched tone, panicked, but she didn’t move from Scar’s grasp. They had the technology aboard the ship to translate, to allow Lex to understand them, but now was not the time.
“Akouh,” Hohte repeated, but Scar crumpled to his feet, still holding Lex’s wrist. Lex made another panicked noise, and moved closer to him. Hohte growled at her, but still, Lex knelt beside Scar, and put pressure over his wound. Scar couldn’t help the wounded whine that came out, which only increased Lex’s agitation. She was turning between Scar and Hohte, words coming out in a rapid pace, but neither of them could understand her.
I am truly a sucker for language barriers, especially ALIEN language barriers. One of my first ever beloved OCs was born from a alien romance story with a language barrier, it's just so good. I have no idea why but I am just obsessed with one character listening to another character speak and being like "i have no idea what you are saying but preach". Languages just sound so cool to me always. Especially when you consider the Yautjan language (which is comprised of very low clicks made in the throat), and how English sounds to it. It probably sounds so high-pitched and squeaky and so EXCESSIVE.
“Vaiks, retrieve Nadja. Evacuation as soon as possible,” Hohte called behind her. “Akouh, report. Are you the lone predator?”
Yes I named her Nadja after Nadja from WWDITS
Scar nodded. Hohte cursed under her breath, but nodded. Four Yautja appeared behind her, holding a stretcher. Through his increasingly blurry vision, Scar saw their lead healer, Nadja, rapidly approaching.
He could no longer keep his body upright. Scar grunted as his back hit the snow on the ground, the cold already biting through his armor. Lex squeaked as the stretcher was lowered beside him. Scar felt his heart pound as her hand wiggled out of his grasp, but he could have sworn that his heart stopped when she intertwined their fingers together instead.
I think it's funny because when I watched this movie for the first time I was SO BITTER that Scar died. It made me so mad because I was so attached to this random alien dude who didn't even have a name. Once again fan fiction heals all wounds
“Is this human under your protection?” Hohte asked. Scar wheezed through his pain as he was lifted and settled on the stretcher, before the stretcher was lifted.
“Yes,” Scar uttered.
The last thing he saw before his vision disappeared into darkness was Lex’s face, pinched with a human emotion that he didn’t understand, and Hohte, staring cooly at her.
---
He awoke to the sound of Yautja chatter. He had always preferred the sound of his native language to the squeaks of humans. It’s clicks were soothing- it never failed to remind him of being young, and listening to his den mother cluck at him for teasing his siblings. Scar was warm. He could hear the steady hum of the engine, and knew that he was home.
THERE ARE SO MANY THINGS ABOUT THIS THAT I LOVE. Okay I love the concept of dens. One Yautja doesn't have necessarily a biological birth parent, instead the younglings are put into dens with a guardian who then becomes their parental figure, and other younglings who are of similar age or something are also put into the same den. Like big families. Yautja spaceships run super super hot (very humid, if i remember my research correctly) and I just really like the idea of a nursery full of squirming baby Yautjas.
Also, if a piece of media takes place on a spaceship and the constant hum of the engine isn't mentioned, what are you even doing?
Many had tried to discover the home planet of the Yautja, failing to understand that most sects of Yautja were nomadic, always searching for the next greatest Hunt. Their home was where their leader was, where the people were.
It was the insistent prodding that forced him to open his eyes. As expected he was greeted by the white ceiling of the medical center.
“Stop,” Scar grunted. The poking continued, and he growled when the probe got closer to his wound. It didn’t hurt as badly as it did on on the snow of Earth, but it was still was sore.
“Can’t,” a voice clucked back at him. “Trying to make sure you won’t perish right in front of us. Would be a waste of medical supplies, hmm?”
I know I used clucked a lot as a verb a lot in this but it's so good, or at least it's my favorite way to describe the way that Yautja speak to each other.
Scar tilted his head to glare at Nadja. Nadja bared her teeth at him. They had grown up together, in the same den. Now Nadja was the lead healer of Yautja, and Scar was the sole survivor of the Hunt. It was apparent that Nadja hadn’t lost any of her snark.
SIBLINGS !!!!! Listen as a sibling myself I can't stand it when siblings aren't well-written in media. Nadja was an OC that I literally pulled out of nowhere, I do not remember where she came from, but she's seriously to me one of the best parts of this fic.
“A waste of medical supplies,” Scar repeated. Nadja helped him sit up in his bed. The hole that was in his chest was patched up. All of his armor had been removed and was leaning against the wall, still bloodied. A small anxiety inside of Scar quieted at the sight. It was one of the last steps of the ritual, to wash your own armor in the water of the Yautja. “Lex?”
“The human girl you brought back with you? She’s fine.” Nadja said, giving Scar’s wound one last prod before stepping back. “Was human-sick when the gates first closed, but it’s not the first time such a thing has happened. Den-father was every time we left port.”
I did go down a deep rabbit-hole of Nadja&Scar's den-parents, but I ended up cutting most of it out because it began to sort of grow legs of it's own and run away from me. If I ever do continue this series, in the way that I would want to one day, I would want to do a little ficlet or drabble for them because I have IDEAS folks.
“Where is she.”
Nadja pointed to the other side of them. Across from the bed, sat Lex. She was curled up in a chair, head dropped against her shoulder, chest rising and falling with her breath. She was sleeping.
“Lex,” Nadja tried to repeat, but the human name fell flat in her voice. “Leex?”
“Lex,” Scar rejected. Nadja tried again, but when she struggled with the human name once again, she huffed and rolled her eyes.
“Whatever. What is your name, den brother?”
It was another aspect of their ancient traditions. Yautja earned their true names through surviving battle, through great acts of the Hunt. The name that his den-mother gave him would be shed.
Me bullshitting Yautja traditions so I don't have to come up with a name for Scar that wasn't his fandom-assigned name.
“Scar.” At the name, Nadja’s eyes lingered on the mark on his head.
“She has one too,” Nadja pointed out. “Scar-mates?”
Nadja clicked in laughter as Scar swept an arm out at her, trying to bat her away. She dodged easily, before batting her hands back, forcing him back down onto the bed.
I also really liked "clicked in laughter". Have y'all heard the way that the predator's speak because it's seriously so dope. Linking it here because yes it's creepy but also makes my linguistics brain go brrr
“Hohte wants to speak with you. Be calm.” Nadja ordered. “Calm, den-brother.”
“I am calm.” Scar retorted. “Call Vaiks.”
“Vaiks,” Nadja clicked back at him. “He’s been wearing a hole through the ship, waiting for you to wake up. Nearly forbid him from the medical center.” Scar chuffed.
“Sounds like Vaiks. Send him in, mm? And send in a translator.” He had to duck his head to miss Nadja’s hand trying to hit him. “What?”
“Den-brother goes on a Hunt, comes back and thinks that den-sister is dull now. I already have translator tablet set up, just need Scar-human to wake up.”
“Lex.” Scar corrected, but nodded. “Thank you, Nadja.”
I don't know why their dynamic pleases me so much but I am really happy with how it came out
Nadja’s mandibles flared at the use of her proper name. While most other Yautja called each other by their honorific name, it was strange for those who grew up in the same den to abide by that. Everyone else calls her Nadja, and technically Nadja was supposed to call Scar by his Hunt name, it was too formal for the siblings.
That awkward sibling moment when one sibling suddenly gets really serious and genuine and the other sibling is like "what the fuck are you doing" is real as all hell
“Akouh.” Nadja said, walking out of the room. “Scar.”
When the door slid shut behind Nadja, Scar fixed his gaze on Lex. She was small- smaller than any human he had seen before. The only other Earth-human he knew was his den-mother’s mate, but Scar had not seen him in many solar turns. Was he this small? Nadja would easily tower over Lex, if they were to stand next to each other.
I am not immune to a large height difference in relationships
He knew through lessons in his youth that Earth-humans were not only smaller than the Yautja, but the females were often smaller than the males. That wasn’t the case with most communities of the Yautja, but still, seeing Lex curled up on the chair gave Scar a strange feeling in his chest.
I think it was my roommate who told me that typically Yautjan women were larger in stature than men, which I just thought was interesting. Nadja is a BUFF in my head.
There was no danger that was capable of reaching her here. But still, Scar silently swore himself to protect her.
As if she could feel his burning gaze upon her, Lex stirred. Scar held his breath for a moment as she sighed, shifting her limbs in the chair before stretching her neck.
Her eyes fluttered open. She stretched her arms out in front of her, before rubbing at her eyes. Scar remained as still as possible- Lex hadn’t reacted negatively to seeing him without his mask the first time, but that didn’t mean she wouldn’t react negatively now.
Lex finally turned her head enough to see Scar. He watched as her body stilled, her eyes widened, and if Scar had his helmet, he’s sure he would have seen her heart slow.
Lex then burst into a flurry of movement. She was standing at the foot of his bed, hands flitting around, a cacophony of noise coming out of her mouth. Scar hid his wince- he had no idea what she was saying. Before, during the Hunt, he had been able to estimate her words, or guess what she was saying based upon the situation, but now, Scar had no idea what the human woman would want to say to him.
Voices approached the door, but Lex remained where she was. Scar pushed himself further into a sitting position.
Lex did not withdraw when Hohte entered the room, though she did copy Scar when he bowed his head to his chest as their leader drew close.
“Akouh,” Hohte said. If Scar thought that him standing next to Lex created a shocking image of size difference, seeing the female human next to the female council leader was even greater. “Please reveal to me your new name, and thus you will shed the warrior you were before.”
“Scar,” Scar told her, head still bowed.
“Scar.” Hohte repeated, the click heavy in her voice. “With this name, you will now be recognized no longer as a simple fighter, but a champion, the Predator that your people before were.”
“Thank you, Hohte.” Scar said softly. Lex watched the exchange with wide eyes, though Scar knew she wasn’t understanding a word. He knew she didn’t understand the galactic common language, so there was certainly no chance that she would be able to follow in the Yautja ancestral language.
This was all a formality though, for as soon as Hohte was done, Vaiks edged by her, coming to stand at Scar’s side.
“Scar!” Vaiks was smiling, his mandibles flaring in excitement. “Finally awake, hm? If you hadn’t risen sooner I would have had to take care of the human myself.”
Scar knew Vaiks was teasing, his closest friend was rarely ever serious, but he couldn’t stop the low growl from coming out. He immediately regretted it, losing composure for a few slight seconds in front of his leader. Hohte thankfully didn’t comment.
Vaiks only smiled more widely, teeth gnashing.
“I expect a report of the Hunt by the end of the next cycle. Have you invited the human-girl to your den?” Hohte continued.
Scar had to fight to not choke.
Bringing Lex upon the ship had been an instinctual move. It was Scar’s duty to continue to protect her- but he had never met anyone like her, human-ness aside. She was tiny, but fierce. Strong. Even now her shoulders were firm, and she was silently watching Hohte with a calculating gaze.
Scar was drawn to her, that much was undeniable. But he hadn’t gotten as far as asking for her to join his den.
“She can stay in my den-” Vaiks started, but was cut off by Scar punching him in the gut. Vaiks wheezed, clutching at his torso, but he still didn’t leave Scar’s side. Hohte watched the exchange, her face blank. As her role as the council leader, she was not to show any emotion, but Scar knew that the glint in her eye was one of amusement.
“She will stay in my den. If she rejects-” which Scar hadn’t considered, but the thought made his stomach tighten, “then she shall stay with Nadja.”
I don't think that asking someone to join/stay in your den is inherently romantic, but it's certainly intimate, and shows a great sign of trust, one that Scar has never really experienced or gone through before.
Nadja, who must have entered the room after Hohte, clucked in protest, but Scar continued on. “We need a translator, so I may explain things to her.”
“She doesn’t know common, does she?” Hohte asked. They had been speaking in the Yautjan language, but Hohte seamlessly switched to speaking common. “We checked her for injuries, but she seemed fine. Can you speak for yourself?”
Lex gazed steadily back at Hohte, but shook her head before speaking rapidly in the human-language. Hohte frowned, and shook her head back.
Two beautiful women who don't understand a single word that the other is saying < 3
“Human-English is a language that few of us know anymore, myself only knowing a few words. Vaiks, grab the translator tablet.” Vaiks complied, picking up the piece of technology, and the bracer that was laying next to it. Lex eyed him warily as he approached her.
“Here.” Vaiks clicked at Lex. Lex didn’t move until Vaiks did, holding out his forearm. Lex hesitantly copied him, staying still as he slipped the bracer over her wrist and cinching it down. Even from here, Scar could tell it was the smallest size that they had, a bracer made for a child, and still it took more adjustment so it didn’t slide right off.
Fun fact in one of my largest original fiction projects bracers were a huge piece of the story and setting. I don't know why I like bracers so much but I do. Maybe blame TAZ: Balance.
Vaiks hit a few buttons on the bracer, before selecting options on the tablet. He looked to Scar once he was done.
“Try it. You should be linked.”
Scar lifted his wrist, looking at his bracer. It took only a few swipes to send a message to her. Lex was staring at her bracer with a furrowed brow, though when the message appeared, her lips stretching until she was making a human-smile.
[Are you well?] Scar had asked. Lex poked at her bracer.
[Okay,] the response said. [Are you? What is going on?]
[Explain once we are out of medical center.] Lex scowled at that answer, but nodded when Scar looked at her.
This was probably one of the hardest parts of this fic, trying to figure out how to bridge the language gap in a way that made sense (especially since it was going to be in Scar's POV) but also didn't over-complicate things as I tend to do. I spent a long time and made a few different versions of this element, just because I was so uncertain. Yes, the language barrier was a large part of this story but I didn't want the entire thing to just become about languages. While I think that could have been an interesting fic on it's own, that's not what I wanted to write! I really don't remember how I settled on the bracers acting as a digital translator, but it does feel like the easiest answer for this first stage of translation.
“We must get a teacher in common,” Hohte mused. “I’ll see if anyone on the board remembers Human-English, and begin lessons immediately-”
“I’ll do it,” Scar cut in. “I’ll teach her.”
Scar, do not be so uncouth. You don't even know English skdjfhs
Lex was still typing into her bracer. Vaiks’ bracer made a soft tone as his lit up with a message, and Lex whipped her head to look at him, her eyes bright. Vaiks chuffed at whatever message Lex had sent her. Scar tried to shove down the jealousy rising in his gut.
JEALOUSY JEALOUSY JEALOUSY. But also Lex is very smart and already knows how to use this alien technology to do whatever she wants.
“Do you even know Human-English?” Nadja asked, to which Scar lifted his bracer and took the tablet out of Vaiks hands. He didn’t need to- the technology that Yautja teachers used to teach younglings would be sufficient enough. Lex wouldn’t be the first human on board in Yautjan history, either. Hohte nodded.
“Report by end of next cycle.” Hohte repeated firmly. Scar nodded. Hohte fixed her gaze upon Vaiks, who straightened his posture. “Prepare for the disembarkment ceremony. Scar, the elders are prepared for the last ritual of your Hunt.”
Both Scar and Vaiks bowed their head one last time. Vaiks brushed past Lex as he followed Hohte out of the room, with one last nod to Scar, and a quick tug of Nadja’s hair, snatching his hand back when she hissed and snapped his teeth at him.
When Scar turned back to Lex, his bracer was already filled with messages.
[Who is that? Is that your leader?]
[What are you all talking about?]
[Where are we?]
The most recent one read, [Are you certain you are okay?]. Scar sent an affirmative to the last one, but didn’t have time to respond to anything else before Nadja was at his side, pulling down the covers of the bed.
“The elders await, den-brother.” Nadja said. She held out an arm to help Scar to his feet, not commenting when he wobbled. He was exhausted, but thankfully was in no pain. Lex made a squeaking noise when his first footstep nearly faltered, but followed him and Nadja silently.
“The elders have made an exception for the human in the ritual. She is welcome to cleanse your armor with you.”
“She is the only reason that I survived the Hunt,” Scar growled. Nadja rolled her eyes, clucking at him.
“You know the elders wouldn’t agree with that, but Hohte insisted.”
Scar continued to lean heavily on his den-sister, as they walked out of the medical center. The Yautja that they passed on their way bowed their heads in respect of Scar, but openly stared at Lex. Lex held the bracer and tablet close to her chest, and stayed on Nadja’s heels.
Scar snapped at a Yautjan man who tried to tower over Lex, and intimidate her. Lex let out another squeaking noise, but the man heard Scar’s growl and quickly backed away. After that, no one dared to approach them.
“So quick to anger, den-brother.” Nadja chided, but she looked at Lex behind them. “She’s a pretty one, I’ll give you that. If you are into humans, that is.”
They arrived at the Hunt room before Scar could think of a response. Lex had begun to mutter to herself, the long syllables of Human-English slurring together.
The door hissed as it slid open. Inside, the room was dark. He couldn’t see them, but he knew the elders were sitting around the pool, waiting for him. The only noise was the hum of the ship, and the scuffling of their footsteps as they approached the pool.
Scar purred his thanks to Nadja as she helped him settle down beside the water’s edge. She replied with a few clicks, letting him know that his armor was going to be brought to him shortly. Nadja then clucked at Lex, who, though she clearly didn’t understand a word, sat obediently beside Scar. Her arm brushed against his.
PURRING. HUGE FAN OF PURRING. LOVE IT VERY MUCH.
It was humid in the room, as it was in most parts of the ship, yet Scar still shivered.
Lex’s breath caught in her throat. When Scar turned to her, she was looking at the figures across the pool of water. The elders were sitting still, faces fixed forward.
In my head this has a very jungle-esque atmosphere but without anything actually from a jungle. It's just dark, there's water, and it's super humid. Also predators everywhere you look (ha).
The door behind them hissed again, and a youngling brought Scar’s armor forward. A second youngling appeared at Lex’s side, holding an earpiece. When Scar nodded at her, she took it cautiously, and fit it into her ear. It was almost comically large, but as it was made for humanoid creatures, it fit well enough. Scar reached out and tapped a few buttons on the tablet.
“Can you understand?” Scar clicked, once he was done. Lex’s eyes turned wide and round, her mouth falling open, but she nodded. Scar shook his head when she began to respond with a flurry of Human-English.
“Only goes one way.”
Lex frowned, but nodded. She reached up and adjusted the piece, so it would fit better.
They only had to sit in silent for a few more moments before being addressed.
“Akouh,” one of the elders clicked. It was impossible to tell which one, in the darkness, as the sound echoed around the room. “Reveal to us your new name, as you have told our council leader.”
“Scar.”
The elders murmured amongst themselves, the name echoing throughout them.
“Scar, with you, you have not only brought, but honored a human in our ancient ways.” Lex stiffened, but Scar didn’t take his eyes off of the elders.
“It is only because of Lex’s actions that I survived. Together, we ended the Hunt. It was only proper that I honor her with the marking of a Predator.”
Lex’s fingers found his wrist. Scar did not flinch, as she wrapped her hand around him. He wondered, if she was feeling fear in this moment.
“If you needed the assistance of a human in the Hunt, are you truly worthy of becoming a Predator?” Another elder asked, their voice coming from somewhere else to the side. There were more murmurings, and Lex’s grip grew tighter.
Before Scar could formulate a response, another elder cut in.
“The creatures are dead. If you are unsatisfied with how it happened, you are welcome to go on the next Hunt in 100 years time. Understood?”
The elders did not laugh, for that was not something that the elders did, but there was a soft tittering that echoed throughout the room. A glance out of the corner of his eye revealed a small smile on Lex’s face as well.
"Now, if that is settled," the same voice continued. "Scar and his human friend may proceed to wash the armor in the water of their elders. To clean the blood of both the xenomorph, and of the Predator. With this final cleansing, Akouh will now and forever be known as Scar, survivor of the Hunt."
Lex watched Scar as he picked up his armor pieces delicately, one by one, and laid them in the pool in front of them. The water was cool, a shock from the humid air in the ship, but not as cold as the xenomorph queen's final resting place. Scar gently nodded at Lex while she watched him.
Lex furrowed her brow for a moment, before nodding back, and placing her fingers in the pool. Scar had to work to not flinch his claws away at the first touch of their fingers underwater.
Together, they worked to clean the armor. All of the rolling in the snow had worn away much of the grime, but Scar hoped that Lex understood that this ritual was about much more than cleaning of armor.
She did, if the somber expression on her face said anything. She no longer was squinting into the darkness, trying to make out the figures of the elders.
"Thank you elders, for this opportunity." Scar said, once they had cleaned the last piece of armor and set it out to dry. He was worried that his helmet had been left on Earth, but someone must have grabbed it for him before he was transported onto the ship. He ran his fingers over the carving on the top of it.
The feeling of Lex's skin against his, the image of the mark on her cheek flashed in the front of his mind.
"The honor of the Hunt, and the honor of becoming a Predator is a gift from you, and the Predators who have come before me."
He had practiced these words his entire life, dreamed of the moment when he would get to speak them, and yet, he had the feeling that if Lex was not sitting here next to him, they would not feel as right.
Drops a cartoon-avil on Scar's head with the word LOVE on it
“We welcome you, Scar. It is so, that you are now a Predator.”
Scar bowed his head, muttering his thanks. Lex followed suit, though her mouth was still slightly open- in shock, or in an attempt to hold back the dozen questions she undoubtedly had.
Okay that's part one : P this fic is a lot longer than I remembered so either I'll circle back around to this post and add to it, or I will make a second post entirely!! we will see though :)
