Chapter 62 – Taming the Predator

The Void Stalker's breathing was slow and rhythmic, its chitinous body rising and falling within the containment unit. The wounds it had sustained during capture had already begun to close—faster than I'd expected.

I stood there, watching it through the reinforced glass. It was a predator through and through, built for killing. No fear. No hesitation.

And I was about to attempt the impossible.

Turning a monster into a weapon.

Ray's Ultimatum

A heavy bootstep behind me signaled Ray's arrival.

"We need to talk." His voice was low, controlled, but I could hear the underlying frustration.

I didn't turn. "I figured you'd come."

Ray exhaled sharply. "This is a mistake, James. You know it. I know it. Hell, even Daniel knows it. Keeping that thing locked up is one thing, but taming it?"

I finally turned to face him. His jaw was clenched, arms crossed, the tension radiating off him like heat.

"I don't expect you to understand," I said. "But we can't just keep fighting these things forever. If we don't find a way to gain the upper hand, we're dead."

Ray's nostrils flared. "And your brilliant solution is to keep one in our base? To train it like it's a damn dog?"

I didn't flinch. "It's more than that. We don't just need a defense—we need something the creatures fear."

Ray shook his head. "It's not fear, James. It's instincts. These things don't have loyalty, they don't have control. You can't reprogram a killing machine."

I met his gaze evenly. "We reprogrammed humans to be soldiers. Trained men to become weapons. Why not this?"

Ray exhaled through his nose. "You're playing with fire."

I turned back to the Void Stalker. Its body barely moved, but I knew it was aware. Watching.

"I know," I said. "And I intend to control the burn."

The First Attempt

The system had already given me blueprints for what I needed. A neural disruptor—something that could override the Void Stalker's natural aggression, dulling its survival instincts just enough for influence.

Not control.

But guidance.

I prepped the device, a sleek metallic collar infused with the technology the system had granted me.

No one knew where it came from.

No one could.

The lab was cleared except for me and Daniel, who had insisted on staying to monitor vitals. He didn't trust my plan either, but at least he was willing to help.

"This is insane," he muttered, checking the sedative levels. "You know that, right?"

"I've heard," I said dryly.

Daniel glanced at the Void Stalker, his expression tight. "And what happens if this thing wakes up and decides it doesn't like your new fashion choice?"

I didn't answer.

Because I didn't have one.

I stepped forward, collar in hand. The Void Stalker remained motionless, still under sedation. Its form was impossibly sleek—made for killing in the dark.

I had seen what it could do.

The way it moved. The way it adapted.

And now, I was about to strap a piece of tech around its throat and hope it didn't rip me in half the second it woke up.

Carefully, I fastened the collar around its neck, locking it in place with a soft click.

The moment my fingers left the metal, the creature twitched.

Daniel swore under his breath. "James—"

I took a slow step back. "Stay ready."

The Void Stalker's breathing shifted. It became erratic—shallow. Then, suddenly, it stilled.

My pulse hammered.

For a second, nothing happened.

Then its eyes snapped open.

The Standoff

The room went deathly silent.

I could feel the weight of its gaze pressing against me, like the stare of something that had already calculated every possible way to kill me.

It didn't move.

I didn't move.

Then—slowly—its head tilted.

It was watching me.

Assessing.

Daniel's fingers hovered over the security override. One wrong move, and he'd flood the chamber with enough gas to knock out a rhino.

But that wasn't my plan.

I needed to test the disruptor.

I raised my hand slightly—no sudden movements.

The Void Stalker's head followed, tracking.

I let out a slow breath. "Good," I murmured.

It didn't react to my voice. That was expected. Its kind didn't communicate the way we did.

But it understood.

Something was different.

I took a cautious step forward.

The Void Stalker stiffened. Its muscles coiled, the natural instinct to lunge flickering behind its eerie, unreadable eyes.

Then the collar blinked—soft blue light pulsing.

The creature hesitated.

I could feel the moment of conflict in its body. The instinct to kill warring against something new.

Restraint.

It wasn't obeying.

But it wasn't attacking.

My fingers tightened at my sides.

This is working.

Daniel exhaled sharply. "I can't believe this."

Neither could I.

The Warning

Hours later, after ensuring the Void Stalker was stable, I met with Ray again.

He was waiting in the command center, arms folded, expression unreadable.

"Tell me it's dead," he said flatly.

I didn't blink. "It's not."

Ray's jaw tightened. "You're doubling down on this."

I nodded.

His fingers tapped against his arm. "What's the endgame here, James?"

I chose my words carefully. "We learn from it. Use it. If we can figure out what makes them tick—what drives them—we can stay ahead."

Ray exhaled slowly. "And if you're wrong?"

I didn't hesitate. "Then I kill it myself."

The silence stretched between us.

Ray studied me for a long moment. Then he shook his head, muttering, "I really hope you know what you're doing."

So did I.

Because if I was wrong—if this thing couldn't be controlled…

We were all dead.

And I'd be the one to blame.

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Things are heating up! Do you think James can actually tame the Void Stalker, or is he making a deadly mistake? Let me know your thoughts in the comments!