AVP Ultimate Prey 34

A low whine caught Abe's attention, somewhere past the stern of the yacht and growing louder. It sounded like an aircraft engine. Abe turned his head, following the sound. A gray shape approached, flying low over the water with the mid-morning sun behind it. Abe didn't recognize the silhouette of the aircraft, but it definitely wasn't any of
the colony shuttles. And there hadn't been enough time for anyone to call for help. He turned and knelt down to accost Bevetoir, who had been crawling away from the bow while barking orders into his wrist-comm.

"Hey! Are those the Company's private military contractors? That looks like an armed dropship-" Abe pointed at the same time that the craft banked into a steep turn, heading toward the steel and glass levels built into the island's cliffside. "--and it's heading for the lab facility-"

Now that the craft was no longer backlit, Abe could see more details on its surface. It definitely wasn't a human-built vehicle. No markings of any kind. Its curved shape seemed almost organic.
Something flared at the top of the cliff. Two missiles streaked toward the craft. A moment later, white flashes flickered in midair. Both missiles exploded without making contact. The teens still on the deck made astonished noises. Abe grabbed Bevetoir's collar.

"Why does a science lab have missile launchers? What the fuck is going on here?"

Bevetoir scowled. "You think the Company invested in a whole colony on this shithole just to farm novelty melons and breed giant rats? You bumfucks are camouflage. We're here to study their shit."

He pointed at the alien aircraft.

"I guess they're taking exception to that."

"The Company is stealing from aliens?"

Two pulses of bright blue light shrieked from the front of the aircraft and struck the lab. Dirt and rock exploded outward in a ball of fire. Debris and bodies tumbled into the ocean. Everyone on the yacht deck watched, speechless.-pg.274 275 chpt.10

Shortly before the yacht sank, as Lily peered through one of her lifeboat's portholes, she saw a dark shape being lifted up to the hovering alien craft on a cable. The aircraft tilted down and fired its energy weapons again, obliterating what was left of the yacht. Then the hunter's ship revved its engines, headed upward, and disappeared into the gathering clouds.-pg.286 chpt.10