"This planet has been in use by the Predators for a long time. For Hunting purposes. Not just bugs, either, but other beasts. And apparently there haven't been the slipups that would have created a bug world either . . . ."

"But the bugs are no strangers here."

"Precisely. As for the Hunters, though-apparently, some years before Evanston and company arrived, the Hunters crashed a s.h.i.+p here. All aboard were killed, and the s.h.i.+p was considered a monument to their lives. The Hunters left for a while, as is their wont. When they returned to this world, they discovered an entirely new situation. This continent had been settled. And the monument to their dead had been plundered and taken apart. Alas, there were apparently preserved bodies of bugs there too.

"The Hunters bided their time. They watched and waited and, of course, Hunted. Eventually, they came to realize what we'd speculated. They realized that Evanston was turning this into a hunters' planet: a perfect place for them, an ideal situation in which to operate. They could prey on hunters, their favorite source of amus.e.m.e.nt, a perfect way to derive honor and excitement from kills."

"And they killed that augmented bug we found?"

"Yes. But not before it killed their leader with a gun. Seems to have been an escapee. Crazy and out of control.

"So we can a.s.sume that this brand of bugs-let's call them the 'b.u.g.g.e.rs'-is not quite perfected yet. The Hunters spoke in rather intuitive terms-no concrete evidence."

"However, they did not take this news well."

"No. They are incensed. They spoke of revenge, destruction, terror-trophies. They see great honor in store for themselves here . . . ."

"And the eradication of a threat to the galaxy," Machiko added.

"Yes. They see themselves as the biggest threat to the galaxy, and that's apparently the way they want to keep it."

She nodded. "Yes. The yautja, the way I know and love them. The biggest bada.s.ses on the galactic block."

"No great intellect here," Attila observed. "However, I didn't care to point that out."

"And they've agreed to help us."

"Yes. We need to formulate a plan that we can present to them."

"We'll get to that in one moment," Machiko said. "What we need to talk about now, though, old chum, is this progressive improvement in your abilities."

"I thought we'd get around to that."

"When I purchased you, you were guaranteed to have been wiped and then programmed to my specifications. Apparently this is not the case. The question is-who are you, Attila? And are you my friend, still . . . or an enemy?" A chagrined look pa.s.sed over the face of the android. "A friend. A dear friend, of course, Machiko."

"An enemy would say the same. What was it your beloved Art of War author said about spies being the most important part of winning a war? It would seem that you, my friend, are the spy. The question is, what war am I in?"

"You must realize, this is all new to me. This programming has just kicked in. However, I will try to explain." He sighed, an odd affectation for a creature without lungs. "There is more to human civilization than the Company ....".

"Yes. Of course. Like Evanston."

"Evanston? Livermore Evanston has deep ties to the Company. Who do you think has allowed him to grow and prosper? He is not independent. He is a puppet. And, in an ancillary sense, so is the program."

"The Hunter's World?"

"Masquerading the preparation of new warriors to confront threats, to destroy civilizations that stand in the way of the Company's galactic conquest. Why do you think it was so easy for Evanston to get you out of your contract? Because the Company felt you were needed here."

"Okay. a.s.suming all this is true-where the h.e.l.l did you come from?"

"Machiko, when you returned from your lark with the Hunter Pack, do you think that your work for the miners on that world was not noted?" Attila asked.

"Of course it was noted. That's what saved my b.u.t.t. Otherwise the Company would have crucified me."

"As I was saying, there is more to present-day human civilization than just the Company. There are people, groups of independent thinkers within the Company itself-and without, of course-who do not agree with its policies and philosophies for the future of humankind."

"Subversive groups?"

"Yes. And there is a selective group, linking these loose and very different people .... I will not burden you with their true name. Call them X Group."

"Okay. X Group. Now what the h.e.l.l does X Group want with Machiko Noguchi?"

"Your maverick tendencies were noted, as well as your loyalty to the human race. More important, your ties with this mysterious race of Hunters were noted. X Group realized that you had been noted by the Company as well-or at least by significant members therein. When you made inquiries concerning a training a.s.sistant, an android companion, that information was noted-and one was especially programmed for you."

"Namely you."

"Programmed to help you should just this kind of situation become reality.

But also, ultimately, to contact you and induct you into its cause."

"Wonderful. And I'm supposed to believe this garbage?" Machiko asked.

"Believe what you like. Right now I have sourced all my latent abilitiesand am here to help you do what you know in your heart is right: Stop this awful menace to humanity, to civilizations everywhere."

"The b.u.g.g.e.rs, you mean," she said, mulling the notion over. "Yes, you know, Attila, I must admit: I can't think of something more worth stopping. And as much as I hate working for some secret subversive group . . . the present cause seems just and right . . . and about my only recourse now."

"So you trust me, then?"

"You've really given me no cause not to, have you? Except perhaps hiding oodles of information from me."

"That information was hidden from me as well," Attila pointed out.

"Yeah. So you say." Machiko looked back at the group of Predators. "What other resources do we have besides these boys?"

"This is not the only group. All told, they say they number fifty."

"Hmm. Still not a whole lot. There are only fifteen mercenaries, true, but there are hundreds of armed security forces in Evanstonville. And I'm certain that now that they know I know what's happening there, they are going to be on the cautious side."

"They haven't searched for you."

"No. And probably wisely," Machiko said. "Where am I going to go? No place but back, eventually. The question is, When? The sooner the better." She shook her head. "The d.a.m.nable thing is, some of the other mercenaries, if they knew what was going on, would help me."

"Like dearest Ned?"

"Ah, that personality of yours remains sparkling, despite the new programs."

"Twinkle twinkle."

"Yes. Ned Sanchez would help."

"He's in this for the money, just like the others."

"Yes, but there's more to it, too. You can only take cynicism so far."

"You're absolutely sure about this?"

"Yes." She shook her head. "How can I communicate with him, though?"

"If you could communicate with Sanchez, do you really think he'd help us?

Because, believe me, we need all the help we can get, brilliant warriors or no. I've got the feeling that even as we speak, Evanston and Zorski are putting all their trumps in a row, just m case."

"Yes. Yes, I'm certain."

The android head said, "Fine. Because we have a trick up our sleeve as well. And I can play it tonight."

"Is it a trump?"

The head smiled. "Oh, and more. That is, if it works."

Chapter 23

Leader!

Bakuub was the Leader now.

As he stood in the stark control room of his s.h.i.+p, he gloried in his new position exactly one second, allowing the pride and thrill to swell in his chest.

Enough.

There was important work to be done.

Bakuub turned to the communications controller.

"Open the lines to all fellows in the vicinity. Be sure it is on a wavelength not monitored by the oomans."

"Yes, Leader."

Leader!

There were moments of static, and then slowly the acknowledgments of contact began to come in.

Finally, when full communication was engaged, Bakuub began.

"Lar'nix'va is dead. I am the new Leader of this pack" He paused for that information to be a.s.similated. "The oomans in the settlement have begun a dangerous program transforming Hard Meat into warriors. It must be destroyed.

We shall need to join together for a ground a.s.sault upon their program, under my direction."

Questions poured in. Defiance. Disbelief. Tactical advice.

"The evidence was presented earlier. We cannot utilize our s.h.i.+ps. The airways above the settlement are secured by weapons we cannot match. However, we have allies within the compound." He paused for a moment and his mandibles clicked dramatically, like the clas.h.i.+ng of daggers. "It shall be a Hunt of Great Honor, Great Glory, I promise you."

Growls and snarls of enthusiasm.

This was language that the yautja packs understood.

Chapter 24.

The sun set.

All day long Machiko Noguchi, expecting some sort of attack at any moment, had watched it rise in the sky, then slip down through the afternoon. She requested a scout be set up. The yautja had a.s.sented. Silent and inconspicuous surveillance, after all, was one of their specialties.

However, there was no sign of active pursuit.

According to the relay of information, another scout had seen a couple of copters trolling through the air, but this was absolutely casual compared to the kind of military manuevers that she was expecting.

There was nothing more, though, and it made her a little nervous. When the last of the sunlight slipped down over the edge of this beautiful world, the new Leader of the yautja, the warrior named Bakuub, came to them.

He informed them that the warriors were ready and that they would prefer to do battle as soon as possible.

"Please, Attila. Explain to him that the preparations are not quite ready."

Attila had acquired a much larger vocabulary that day, and by now he was able to speak with greater facility and diplomacy. Nonetheless, it did not take much understanding of his language to realize that Bakuub was not happy at the news.

The warriors were straining at the bit. They hungered for action. They longed to avenge this slight upon the sanct.i.ty of their place in the universe.

Eventually, Bakuub went away, but only after a great deal of rea.s.surance that soon they'd be on their way to scoop up many trophies.

They had collected, all told, fifty Predators for the attack This was not as many as Machiko would have liked, but at least it represented several packs. Against this kind of opposition, they certainly would need more than a pack, no matter how excellent their battle skills were.

"Look, I don't know how long we're going to be able to stall these guys,"

said Machiko. "What's going on back at Evanstonville?"

Even though she'd had some sleep during the day, she felt tired. Unusually tired and ill at ease, and eager to get at this thing herself. They'd spent half the night planning it with the help of Ned Sanchez and the three others he had corralled to take part in the rebellion. She'd been surprised that he'd been able to get so many. d.i.c.k Daniels hadn't been difficult. From the very beginning the man had not liked this particular setup. "Fishy to the extreme"

were the words he'd used. It was Daniels, though, who'd seen the opportunistic value of a rebellion such as this. "s.h.i.+t. You knock out this c.r.a.ppy genetic-lab operation, you whack the bosses-you're in charge. You got the s.p.a.ces.h.i.+ps, you got the whole friggin' world. I've always wanted a world to myself."