The Real Savior, and Monster

2K-Dragon collapsed to the ground, the electricity from the stun gun, in the hands of a Military Uniformed man, surging through him. He grinded his teeth as he groaned in pain.
‘They really are as painful as they look.’
The thought echoed in his head as he looked up to the man…General Hunter. He was a tall guy, not as built as most soldiers, but definitely held the appearance of an experienced one. And then there were the scars on the left side of his face. Scars from a Beastie.
This human before him was not only a high up in the Army…he was the original fonder of Project HUNT which became what everyone now called; National Synthetic Reinforcement...Hell’s Hand’s branch of the Military.

“So what your plan? Break into my facility…my office…and what? Assassinate me?!” Hunter shouted and pulled the trigger to already fire stun gun. It sent another charge into 2K’s body.

2K yelled out, groaning and fell to his side.
‘Shit…one of those models, huh?’
He shook his head, trying to ignore the paralyzing numbness. Trying to force his body to get up.

“I might be blind in one eye, thanks to your kind, but I’m not blind from this kind of scenario happening. Only more obvious that YOU’D be the one to try and do this.” Hunter walked over and knelt before his would-be attacker.
“To think…you’re just a kid really. I’ve seen much footage of you, 2K-Dragon. But could never believe you were only in your early twenties. Not to mention you still look like a teenager.” He shrugged, he talked a lot right now, but unlike many of 2K-Dragon’s enemies, he was having no thrill from it.
“So tell me, why are you here?”

“Because…if you go, your funding goes…” 2K growled.

“Oh…I see. Then of course if the other founders don’t back off right away, they soon would. And then, good bye N.S.R…Right?” Hunter asked with a glare and threw his stun gun to the ground. “Do you have any idea what was etched into stone thanks to my foundation of Project HUNT?! To ensure the capture and not kill on sight of Beasties! You understand what that means?”

Hunter now grabbed 2K-Dragon by his hair and glared into his eyes.
“To keep the body count for your race as low as possible.” He growled at him.

“…Why?” 2K asked in a snarl. “Out of pity?”

“Yes.” Hunter nodded, releasing 2K’s head and walked away to his desk.
“I was one of the first to fight them, back when it was just soldiers running around chasing shadows. Rumors. Then one day, my small squad were ambushed by one of those Bear Class Beasties. Hence the scars.” He pointed to his face, but his voice grew calm.
“After we gunned him down, we searched his home…and what did we find? Not some cave like he was an animal. Nor a shit hole of a home…A modern home with a human wife, a daughter…and a teenage boy who as well had the Beastie gene, he had his father’s claws.”

Hunter turned around; arms folded and leaned against the desk, watching 2K-Dragon stand back up to his feet.
“I saw something in that home. Something Hell’s Hand and many others refuse to see…they were just people. And the man we killed was just trying to protect his family, by any means that his body was capable of…and we killed him for it…” Hunter shook his head. “So, Project HUNT was drawn up. A plan that would make capturing Beasties a top priority and only kill if given no choice. Because I felt sorry for them. No matter what class of animal they had inside them, they were still sentenced to death out of fear. And thanks to me, N.S.R. was created and that fear lessened when the people saw that non-lethal apprehension was a reality. And Beasties stay alive, and safe.”

“Yeah…behind bars and striped of their freedom!” 2K-Dragon roared.

“Some sacrifices will always need to be made…regardless how long it’ll take to correct them.” Hunter looked right into his eyes. “But now…You. The Dragon Beastie who has done nothing but try and disrupt the plan…You want to kill me…let N.S.R. crumble. Let all of your kind loose and become target practice for rookie soldiers who will point and shoot just because someone told them too. You risk the lives of so many…Humans and Beasties.”

Hunter reached to his side, grabbing an actual pistol off his desk, turning off the safety and pulling the hammer back.
“So who’s the real savior…and who’s the real monster?”

“…If it’s monstrous to prefer a risky freedom over safe imprisonment…Then I’ll be the Monster…” 2K spoke in a husky tone then roared as he changed into his primal form, lunging at Hunter!

A muzzle flash lit up the office in the night, the bullet echoing the silent facility.

Despite Hunter’s advantage in expecting the attack and his skills as a General…he was still only human and didn’t last long against 2K-Dragon.

The original founder was N.S.R. laid on his desk, dead. With 2K looming over him and gazed at the photos on the wall behind them. No family…no friends…just professional and congratulated ones.

The man he killed was like him…trying to prevent war…while taking a darker path to make sure the conflict ends sooner…and they were both alone…

2K-Dragon sighed and took one last look at Hunter’s body. “See you on the other side…Maybe we’ll grab a drink.” He held no regret for taking him out…but no joy from it either. He wasn’t a mad man fueling the power to stop Beasties.
He was just a man, doing what he could to protect those around him…by any ways he was capable of.