The Hive was completely still; a group of aliens lay asleep in the middle of the Hive, surrounding a reserve of alien eggs. But, in the corner, there was slight movement coming from the Queen. Her giant head shook as she swung it back and forth. Then she raised her head and let out a long hiss. At that instant, a young man-around 25 years of age- stepped out of the shadows and approached the Queen. The blue headband he wore on his forehead did little to keep his hair out of his eyes and he had to twitch his head to make his long black hair shift out of his eyes. He looked up at the Queen and asked, "What's wrong?"
Timothy, I need you to do me a favor, The Queen said; not out loud, but in the young man's head.
"What is it?" Timothy asked.
I want you to go out hunting and bring me a creature that walks on four legs, The Queen said.
"Why?"
I will explain once you have returned, The Queen said. Timothy pressed her for more but she refused to say anything else. So Timothy had no choice but to fulfill the Queen's request.
Finding the creature was, luckily, not a problem; there were a lot of stray animals wondering around the streets at night. Timothy caught a cat first but changed his mind when he saw a dying dog lying under a tree. Timothy approached the poor creature slowly and reached out a hand. The dog didn't seem to mind him so Timothy gently picked it up; it lay limp in his arms. He decided that this was the best animal to use since it was going to die any day now.
Returning to the Hive, Timothy laid the dog in front of the Queen. Some of her Warriors were awake now and one brought forth a large, leathery egg. The warrior placed the egg in front of the dog and stepped back. The dog raised its head slightly to sniff the egg as it blossomed open. Then, small fingers poked out over the top and a small creature seemed to stare down at the dog. The facehugger flew forward and hit the dog in the face. The dog didn't let out a sound as the facehugger's tail wrapped around its neck. Its head fell back to the ground and it went limp as the facehugger forced it to lose conscious.
Timothy watched the dog and the pulsing facehugger for a moment longer before turning back to the Queen, "Will you just tell me what this is all about?"
You are just like your mother; so little patience, The Queen said but she wasn't the least bit mad. The reason I need a Runner Alien is because I am losing contact with Heather's Hive and David himself.
Timothy stared at the Queen in shock, "What do you mean?"
I have been trying to make contact with Heather's Hive but neither she nor the Lesser are answering my calls; either the Queen is getting stronger somehow or something happened to them.
"What about David?" Timothy pressed.
The Queen shook her head and said, I do not know what is going on there. I can communicate with the Lesser just fine. But for some reason, I cannot talk to David.
"What do you think it means?" Timothy asked.
I do not know. The Lesser cannot even communicate with David. It is like he has been completely cut off from our world.
At that moment, there was a yelp of pain and Timothy turned to see the dog's face bare. The dog howled in pain and a loud crack split the air as the dog's ribcage snapped. Then, the dog's chest exploded outwards and a small creature screeched as it pulled itself into the world. Timothy walked over to it and picked it up, rocking it gently. A thought just occurred to him and he turned back to the Queen, "How are you going to find out what's going on if you can't communicate with them?"
I am sending you out, The Queen replied.
"But, who will help you look after the Hive while I'm gone?"
Ali, The Queen said.
"Mom?" Timothy asked, "You know where she is?"
A mix between a gargle and a purr rose up in the Queen's throat as she laughed, Have you forgotten that I was born from her? I keep communication with her and I can find out where she is by speaking to her. The only problem is; she cannot respond back to me.
Timothy didn't know what to say. His mother and father had left when Timothy and his siblings had grown old enough to take care of the Hive's themselves. TJ, the Runner Alien, who had been close friends with Ali, had left with them.
"So, even if you know where she is, how are you going to get her to come?" he asked.
The Runner Alien will go when he becomes an adult, The Queen replied. The chestburster in Timothy's arms let out a shriek and jumped down, running over to the body of the dog.
"Why not just send out a Warrior alien to get her?" Timothy asked.
The Runners are faster; I do not have any time to waste, The Queen said.
Timothy sat down on the ground and placed his head in his hands as he waited for the chestburster to finish eating. As he thought about it, he realized he hasn't seen his parents or his siblings for two years. When it was time for them to take a Hive, Timothy had stayed at the orphanage while his parents and siblings made their way to the mountains to drop off Heather at her Hive and then to drop David off at his Hive. That was the last time he had seen them; he wouldn't admit it to anyone, but he missed his siblings and was happy to be getting a chance to see them again.
A hissing scream broke the stillness and Timothy turned casually to see the chestburster shaking on the ground. It had grown considerably and its skin was pulled tight over its body. It struggled to its feet and rubbed its head against the wall to break away its dead skin. Finally, it shook its body one final time and the dead skin came off in flakes. The Runner shook its head and swung its tail. It turned and stared at the Queen for a moment before turning and running back out of the basement.
"So, how long until that alien can get Mom over here?" Timothy asked, still sitting on the ground.
It is rather fortunate, they are closer than I thought so the Runner should be back in a few days with your mother and father, The Queen said.
"So do you need me to do anything else while we wait for Mom?" Timothy asked.
Actually, as a matter of fact there is something that we could do, The Queen said.
