All forms of alien spectators crowded the Almira Colosseum. The Godfather of Ash, Razmos, presided over the clash of two titans.
On one side was Eve Andromeda. On the other side, a notorious giant hellhound, born and bred in the Almira's wilderness.
Backstory. Back in the bounty hunting days, Eve had taken a bounty. A son of a demon. At least that's what the aliens called it. It was a mutant. Powerful. Dangerous.
Eve enjoyed her job knowing she was cleaning up dangerous criminals. Mess of galactic age societies. However, when she met the demon's son, she saw he was a human teenager.
Now Millennium 3000 had given birth to many abominations, mutants, species that just didn't make sense. Imagine lightforms, intangibles, creatures made of nanites, and behemoths larger than mountains.
Crossover species were common. The human expansion had discovered many human-like species. And this teenager was one example. Demonish father, human-like mother. Cultural clash.
So the rules were dictated by cultures across planets instead of the law. Human-likes had abandoned the child, but the demons gave him refuge.
Eve infiltrated the building, leaving a trail of chaos in her wake, only to find the surprise awaiting her. She pointed her gun at him and he smiled.
"You are here to kill me too. Cool. Cause I don't know how long I can take this bullshit."
"You don't look dangerous."
"I can wet your pants with my mouth."
"Only if you could kill people for a bad attitude." She holstered her gun. "So why do they wanna kill you?"
He tells her his story.
"Alright kid, here's the thing. I forgot to do my homework and the contractor fucked me. I have already taken the money so..."
He just waited, arms crossed, looking at her unbelievably.
"What? It's not like we get pictures all the time."
"Then why the hell do you do it if you don't wanna?"
"'Cause the usual targets I get are mighty tall or very dangerous. Now we can get through this only if you shut your mouth and answer only what I ask."
"Touche."
"All this protocol? You prince or something?"
"My father used to be chief. I'm a hybrid but next in line... I don't want the throne, but my hands are tied."
"So your uncles are into this conspiracy or those wanting throne... anyway, feels like that kinda story. Alright, you have two options. I can sneak you out, take you wherever you wanna go, or you can pretend you died and never appear in the public eye."
"Where am I gonna go? Look at me, I'm just a teenager."
"Yeah, I was your age when I wandered wastelands. All alone."
"No disrespect, but I can't have your backstory. Got pretty solid of my own."
"Got it. Now how do you wanna die?"
"I'm pretty fragile. Just tell 'em you threw me out of the window or something."
"Where will you hide?"
"In here, they'll definitely line me up for the throne. I've got friends up in the mountains though. The jungle."
Years later... centuries later. They eventually found the demon's son. Breaking news. Hunter's Clad. A union of bounty hunters who overlooked bounty contracts and made sure contracts are honored. An organization big enough in itself that it could give likes of Syndicate a tough time.
And it had happened in the past. Assassins versus bounty hunters. The Syndicate caved in 'cause hunters never cared for their lives.
Human-likes took their plea to the Clad. The Clad knew Eve, now a High Space Commander, was out of their league. But they came down to her anyway. Not as enemies, but friends.
"You have been there. If you won't help us out, the whole system's gonna fall apart."
Word keeping. Eve was a keeper. Bounty hunters took out universal trash that the lawful side won't touch. Without them, the universe would look a lot more different. So they agreed to do it the old school way. Almira way.
Before, Eve had challenged Razmos to buy Jax's freedom. This time, she did it for the random boy out of the goodness of her heart. She wins, human-likes forget the boy. She loses, then she has to kill the demon-borne. There was one condition though: she can't use her powers.
Back to the arena. Eve held steel blades. Battle began.
Eve fought. Eve won. It was a tough fight. She definitely gave the crowd a good show. But the results were out.
Human-likes left the arena cursing Eve. The representatives of the Clad thanked Eve and left as well, except one. Razmos invited the guests to a celebratory party. The demon's son, who was a chieftain, also joined.
"I had thought the Clad would catch up one day, but they did surprise me by putting you on the front."
"Now don't be like that. With or without me, I knew you wouldn't let 'em down. You loved bounty hunting, it wasn't a bad career choice."
"Same job, different frame. I feel like I'm still a bounty hunter, just with the badge."
"See. It's in your genes."
"So the Hunter's Clad gave you a seat in the union. Before or after..."
"Still doing your old Papa favors, lightyears away."
"Glad to know I have been of service. How's Noora?"
"Same old. A little grumpy now and then."
"Still collecting ships?"
"The best of 'em. But enough about me. How come you not visit us anymore? Did monarchy really get to you?"
"It's not like that Mario. There's always something and I've got a people here to look after. There was this little rebellion—you must have heard about it. I mean there's always something. So now that you are in the Clad, they give you perks?"
"More contracts. Better deals. Business is great. I let the boys handle it most of the time."
"Now that you are here. You must come to Nomad with me."
"Maybe some other time."
Just then a handsome man comes to them holding drinks, "Here's our poster girl!" He cheered as he passed a flask to Eve, then looked at the man in suit in his sixties, "Who's your friend?"
"Mario, this is... I don't know his name. And this is Mario, my friend, whose friend gave me the contract to kill you."
"Oh, this is the guy I should be thanking! And I do sir. If it wasn't for her, I would have been a princess trapped in a castle forever."
"How did they find you?"
"Does it matter now, 'cause I'm the chief and it's forever fit in my neck like a necklace."
Just then a grumpy old demon walks by, taunting the chief, "Chief Meerkat, we must return to Yakhzaer at once."
"Meerkat? Your name is Meerkat?" Eve asked him in surprise.
"How many times have I told you to call me Meer, not Meerkat."
"Don't be disrespectful to a name your father gave you," he said and grabbed the Chief's by arm, hustling him away.
"Bye bye Meerkat!" Eve cheered.
Meerkat yelled over his shoulder, "Thanks for saving me again Queeny! If you ever need any help! Remember, Yakhzaer!!"