The Hunter General Part 6: The Lessons of the Hunter General

Jericho wiped the blood from his mouth with his sleeve. The blasted creature had moved into the corridor ahead, tearing doors from the cabins in its search for more civilians to rip apart. He had hit it only once more – it was terrifyingly fast, and getting close enough to shoot was dangerous. Elise had tutted in disapproval when he showed her his shotgun. He had been determined to prove to her that it was a powerful weapon, but he was not fool enough to risk his life for the sake of pride. It was simply not working in this situation, but he was not in a position to be picky.

He peered around the doorframe where he had been hiding, The Incarnate had stopped at the last door, a large steel-bound one that could concieveably withstand some punishment. It lasted a full ten seconds before buckling like putty. The creature charged through, roaring in triumph, and Jericho realised with some horror that it had entered the engine room.

The crashes and thumps and screech of tearing metal began to echo through the ship as Jericho dashed forward. He nearly lost his head to a thrown sheet of crumpled metal, and settled for crouching by the twisted door.

It was going to destroy the engine, and at this distance to the atoll the airship would crash into the piers. Jericho could feel his heart pounding in his chest, and the horror of what could happen clutching his mind. The cool metal of the shotgun barrel felt deathly cold against the skin of his hand, and he winced with the sound of every sharp crunch from inside the room. He had trained for this, abeit against his will. Focus. Keep your mind on the job, on the target.

His hands still shook with fear.

“Are you quite finished, Mr. Jericho?” A clear voice rang out over the sound of the destruction, and Jericho nearly jumped out of his skin. Lady du Moine walked calmly towards him, her revolver held at the ready and her cane tapping on the floor. She surveyed the wreckage, and her supposed partner’s cowering form.

“Where the bloody hell have you been?” he snapped, trying to disguise how glad he was to see her. “It’s already killed two people!”

Elise only watched him, her diamond hard stare looking right through his gruff exterior. Jericho couldn’t bear her gaze; it judged his cowardice, and found him wanting. He hauled himself to his feet, his back still to the door, and fumbled with another shotgun shell.

“A Hunter does not consider what cannot be changed,” she said. “The number of deaths and the level of damage are not relevant. There is only the target.” Her eyes narrowed, and Jericho had to stop himself from leaning away from her. “Is the target still active?”

He grimaced, and nodded. Lady du Moine took a single breath, seemingly gathering her strength, and stepped forward into the doorway.

Jericho lurched forward, his first instinct to protect her. But Elise was already walking fearlessly into the engine room, and all he could do was stumble after her. The Incarnate was beating the giant engine with a huge steel pipe, and jets of steam already gushed from half a dozen places. It screeched in victory like a rabid hyena.

Elise drew its attention. It snarled, slobber dripping from its long, deformed jaws, and dropped the huge pipe in favour of leaping forward to rend her in two. Jericho screamed in warning, unable to shoot the thing with her in his way.

The Incarnate suddenly stumbled, and slithered to a halt on the slick floor barely a yard from the Hunter General’s feet. All semblance of strength and cunning vanished, and it shakily tried to stand on weakened limbs. In the mind’s eye of his Hunter senses, the blazing fire of the creature was suddenly eclipsed by Elise herself as she glowed with brilliant blue light. Even as Jericho watched in astonishment, it began to crawl away from her, mewling pitifully.

She did not give it a chance to move any farther. The archaic pistol boomed, and the Incarnate shuddered once before falling still. A pool of thick, dark blood spread out from what remained of its head.

She was already slipping her pistol back into the folds of her skirt when Jericho found his voice again. “What… how did…” he spluttered, while she pointedly ignored him and walked towards the door.

“Follow me,” she called out to him, and he obeyed with several worried glances at the body.

They walked up to the higher decks. The crew took orders to clean up the mess with nervous hope in their eyes, but Lady du Moine did not stop until she had reached the aft deck, where the body of the woman had been covered over. Her former friends were crying hysterically over the still shape. Elise laid a gentle hand on one shoulder. The woman turned to her with puffy red eyes and a handkerchief to her mouth.

“It is gone,” she said softly. “She will be buried with all honours by the Guild, and her family provided for.” Elise pulled out a small, gilt-edged card, and offered it to her. “This is the Guild liaison in Kinstower. Contact them as soon as possible.” The woman took it with a sniff, and a quiet muttered thanks.

Jericho watched the crew lift the body onto a stretcher. He and Elise had retreated to the guard rail at the end of the aft deck, and observing the passengers for post-Incarnation stress.

Lady du Moine spoke quietly, her eyes never leaving the faces of the people around her. “It is something they cannot train you for, Mr. Jericho. It is something that breaks some Hunters.”

He tried to pick a shard of metal out of his sleeve distractedly, and did not reply. Elise continued in the same quiet, flat voice.

“You can be afraid, but the instant you allow your fear to prevent you from acting swiftly and decisively, you have failed. With the Incarnates, there is all too often only one chance, and only one shot. Nothing must prevent you from taking it, or you will die.”

“But how did you stop it?” Jericho blurted out. “They never taught me -”

“Of course they didn’t,” Elise said a little sternly. Her patience was wearing thin with him. “Do you think you can run before you can crawl, boy? Did you think you could acquire the skills of a Hunter General in only eight years? I have preyed upon Incarnates since your father was a child, and you are barely six months out of the Fortress!” She tapped him on the shins with her cane for emphasis, prompting him to jump back with a sharp oath. “I will teach you what I can, but we have a duty to perform and that will be your first priority,” she said. “My first lesson, you already know. The second, you have observed.”

He looked at her in confusion. Lady du Moine pulled a couple of small cards from her pocket, and handed them to him. “We must show compassion for those left behind, and for the family of the poor soul that was taken,” she said in a much gentler voice. “It is a great blow to their honour, to see a beloved relative taken by an Incarnate. They must be cared for, and their shame must be hidden if it is possible.”

He took the cards, and stared at the small gold lettering as he absorbed her words. “Thank you, my Lady,” he said in a shaky voice. “I think I understand.”

Part 5: The Command