The beast was tall, bulky, and terrifying.  Jordan Reid activated her medical tricorder under cover, alarmed at the readings.  Whatever the Vorethians had done with the Klingons, they had exceeded whatever their original intent had been.  As it stalked forward, she could see elements of Klingon physiology together with rippling muscles that appeared Orion. The computer reported readings of Gorn DNA along with Nausicaan.  Park shifted to sit next to Reid.  “Is that a Breen rebreather?”

Jordan nodded imperceptibly, keeping Chuki, the Klingon, in her peripheral vision.  “The tricorder is having a hell of a time identifying more.  There’s more than what we can see – that thing has at least two hearts, and the lungs make little sense to the computer.  This isn’t a mineworker.  This is a killer.”

As if to answer her, the seven foot tall beast rounded on the first Klingon.  Chuki stood from his seat and cheered on his warrior, shouting his encouragement.  Twin Bat’leth blades were in the hands of the menacing defender.  He growled and advanced on the beast, making a run at the creature.

He got about halfway.  The attack was quick.  A bloody arm flew across the arena, crashing into the metal mesh as blood splattered across the stands.  The creature quickly ripped the other arm from the body and brutally ate it.  The Klingon barely had time to scream in defiance before the beast leapt forward, seizing him.  Legs kicking, the monster tore the gurgling remains apart, flinging the remains furiously, eyes focusing on the two remaining warriors. 

J’Klast had stood up, his hands resting near his weapons.  “Chuki – what have you done?”  Reid, Park and Kali followed his lead and inched towards the exit.

Chuki’s eyes had lost their confidence.  “They must have done something to it.  It wasn’t supposed to be this…good at it.”  He shouted at the remaining two warriors, “Get out of there.”

It was already too late.  The beast had taken a running start at them and closed the distance in terrifying time.  They sliced a few times with their Bat’leths before the beast picked one up and slammed it against the opposite wall with a sickening crack.  The other Klingon roared, and his Bat’leth hit true and deep twice only to be backhanded across the arena, his body thudding like a skipped rock on water.  Black as night, the beast’s eyes turned to the crowd.

J’Klast groused, “Chuki, you fool.  The Vorethi scientists built it to kill.  To kill you and the rest of us.”  He turned, gesturing to the others.  “Time to go.”

Chuki, his voice shrill, whined, “It’ll kill the Vorethi too.  Why would they do this?”  The sick roar of the beast as he feasted upon the living and the dead in the arena made all of them wince.  It was the sound of death.

J’Klast shook his head as he turned away, following his team up the stairs and into the corridor.  “I don’t think they care much for anyone anymore.  You seem to have that effect on those around you, Chuki.”  The petulant Klingon remained where he was, watching the massacre unfold in the arena.

“You think he’ll break out?”  Park broke her silence as they worked their way back to the dock.  Her heart was racing with the image of the violence.

“I don’t think; I know.  They built that thing to kill, to murder.  Chuki and his mentor likely made more than one, because they are not known for making slow and deliberate choices.  That arena will not hold it, or whatever else is deeper in this base.  Ah, as expected.”  He grinned, a maniacal light growing in his eyes. A group of Blood Guild officers were walking towards them, energy weapons drawn.  “Time to throw off our disguises.”  With little fanfare, he drew the ornate blasters, and fired ahead, sending the Vorethi scattering.

The loud growl ‌behind them startled the group.  Reid groused, “Still a few levels down, but he’s coming.  With a few friends.”  She drew her phaser, and Park did the same.  Jordan sighed. “Looks like we’re fighting our way out of here.”

J’Klast chuckled.  “Welcome to the party, Starfleet.  Let’s secure this corridor and hurry.  Chuki’s beasts will be in pursuit.”  With Kali in the rear, they pushed forward.  The Klingons took point, sending Vorethi bodies sprawling across the corridor as they went.  The ground shook, signaling the progress of the monsters from below.  Reid turned and shouted a warning as farther down the corridor ran the beast, bloodied but unbroken.  They turned a corner and found a massive door to secure behind them.  It fell with a resounding crash, and J’Klast clicked the several locks secure.

Reid was working her way into the corridor ahead and found a dead end.  She shook her head. “You’ve got to be kidding me.”  Park sidled up next to her while J’Klast and his niece finished the work on the door.

The XO murmured, “Vents.  We need to find vents.”

Reid cringed. “I stand by my previous statement.  You have got to be kidding me.” The massive door behind them shuddered in place, followed by a guttural roar that made them all cover their ears in reflex.  Jordan grumbled, “Let’s find some vents.”