Aliens: Termination

Full Summary: What if...Gormon was able to rescue Vasquez? What if...Ripley managed to catch Newt before she fell into the vents? What if they escaped earlier, and the ship never crashed, but instead headed back to Earth? Though everything believes the situation is over, no one knows how truly far it is from 'over'; especially when onboard the ship, a special guest has snuck on board and got a freeway ticket to Earth.

Rated: Strong T for violence, language, gore, and some sexual scenes (Not too descriptive though.)

Pairings: Ripley/Hicks, and flashbacks and a twist to Vasquez/Drake. (NOT Drake being alive, because clearly he was killed. But a different kind of twist. You'll see...;)

Author's Note: This is obviously AU. Basically, a major re-write too, because I felt like the ending to Aliens was already complete after Ripley destroyed the Queen and her eggs. I wasn't around when they came out in the theaters, but before I saw Aliens 3, I figured Ripley and Hicks married and they adopted Newt and then had their own kids. As it turned out, totally wrong. Personally, I thought it was blasphemy to kill off Newt especially, because Ripley wasted half her fucking time to protect the kid only to end up having Newt killed within the first ten minutes of the film by a ship crash. Boo! =P

Also, I happen to adore the couple of Vasquez/Drake. Clearly they had a strong bond towards each other, maybe something more but it is never mentioned whether or not their Bond ever got to something of a romantic relationship or not. I wish it would be romantic, so I'm adding that in as that they had a secret relationship, and that it was kept a secret because their was a rule of a 'professional relationship' only. (again something I just made up in mind about the rule.) So when the twist comes, you'll all see what it is...oh yes. You'll see...hee hee hee!

DISCLAIMER: I own nothing of Aliens. Not the characters or Xenomorphs, I just only own most the plot I came up with in my head for this fic or recieved inspirations from friends. Oh, and I do not make any money off of this fic, it is only a story I am making this for the fun of it.

And a last note...I wouldn't say I'm good at writing actions like some of the amazing authors here that I've seen. So please don't get angry with me if the actions scenes suck. Or if the characters go OOC. I'm trying to keep them in-characters as possible, but it is rather difficult when you're making an AU fic. Hey, anything's possible!

Enjoy!

.000.

"I'm going back for Vasquez." Gormon stated Hicks at the two men ran through the vents, with Ripley and Newt ahead. Hicks didn't respond audibly, but he did nod in permission. And before Gormon knew it, his mind was caught in a race against his own running legs and time itself as his eyes peered to find Vasquez. He knew she was alive, but it was only a matter of time before she wasn't.

And he was right. Those things were inching towards her as she laid helpless on the ground, her leg injured by some sort of a substance that almost looked like acid, but Gormon was no scientist and couldn't tell, nor did he bother to guess as he fired from his guns to distract those creatures while attempting to grab Vasquez. Vasquez flinched as she was forced to put pressure onto her injured leg, but shook it off. She had most certainly been through a lot worse.

As Gormon fired, his hands began to shake as they held down on the trigger, fearing that his ammo would run out or one of those things would sneak up on him form behind. As he and Vasquez slowly moved backwards, Vasquez's chestnut brown eyes peered to view the surroundings, which obviously was only just walls upon walls of vents. But she was really looking for was in case if one of those things, which moved like shadows, were coming up from any other direction.

It seemed that within that moment as Gormon finally got a good hustle on Vasquez that his ammo started to go low, but kept firing. Though he didn't want this to be the end for the both of them at all. He knew Hicks wasn't going to wait for forever, and those things would all gang up on the two of them like predator and prey. But he didn't carry any other weapons as far as he knew...until his hand trailed down to his pocket to find a grenade. He kept inching backwards with Vasquez, but placed the grenade towards his mouth and ripped it open, throwing it towards them.

Eat that motherfucker! he growled at them as he slumped Vasquez over his shoulder and picked up his pace to the point where he looked like a fool panicking as he ran as fast as he could, the heat of the explosion coming close to the both of them as they ran, and the vibrations managed to send them flying forward, knocking Gormon over his feet and he and Vasquez landed hard on the floor of the vents.

Breathing steadily after nearly escaping what could've been a horrible fate, he looked to Vasquez, who was panting almost as she smiled at him.

"You always were an asshole G-"

"Yeah. I know." he winked to her, cutting her off as he helped her up, having her weight supported by him as she limped. The two raced to catch up with the others at a quickening pace

.000.

Hicks managed to trail a bit behind Ripley as Ripley followed Newt. It was as if Newt memorized the whole vent system and knew when to turn and where not to go. He thought of how impressive that was for a nine year old, and how motherly Ripley truly was, being so protective to her. It made him view her as a hero, being so willing to place her life in danger for others.

The problem was though, she wasn't doing that good of a job. Though most of the fault fell onto the burden of Burke (a nickname of 'Burke the Jerk' he thought up of in his mind for amusement.), there was a small percentage that fell to Ripley. He knew her plan was crumbling; fast. And now it was either do or die in the matters of survival. He remembered Gormon going back for Vasquez when he felt the light distance away of the harsh vibrations of a grenade, and feared for the worse when he heard padded footsteps following behind him. His hand trailed down to the trigger of his gun when a voice stopped him from doing so.

"Wait! Hicks don't!" a Spanish woman informed, worry for being shot obviously in her tone. Hicks couldn't make out the Figures for a minute until memory jumped at him and he realized who it was, and slowly lowered down his weapon.

"V-Vasquez? Gormon?" he asked, just to be certain. Gormon nodded slowly, not saying a word as Ripley and Newt ran back, and in Ripley's eyes you could tell the wanting to leave was strong. And Hicks couldn't blame her, after all the hell she had been through, it was mostly enough for everyone else as well.

Ripley's eyes flickered to Vasquez for a moment, seeing her injured leg and nodded. "Come on. We need to hurry." she told the rest of them as she nodded to Newt to continue leading on.

It wasn't long before they reached the end of the vents, towards an escape ladder. As thy carefully avoided the moving machine that lead them towards another vent, Ripley went forward, and helped across Vasquez with Gormon's assistance, with the two of them leading up to the ladder first while Hicks and Newt followed next.

But because Newt's grip was so tiny on the ladder, her grip wasn't enough and she slipped, landing on the machine as it turned. It only took Ripley not even a second ton realize that as she almost jumped right after her. she shouted as she reached to grab the screaming girls' hands. Ripley's hand finally managed to get a good hold of Newt's jacket. Newt struggled a bit as she felt herself slipping, and Ripley knew it.

"Give me your other hand sweetie!" Ripley's voice croaked as she kept trying to hold tight to Newt, as she felt the seams of the oversized jack starting to rip, and Newt herself was starting to slip out of it herself. It almost seemed like she was about to fall, with Ripley, Hicks, Vasquez, and Gormon watching helplessly; until it all changed as Newt threw her hand up for Ripley to easily grab, and was then able to pull up the small girl back safely into her arms and get away from the moving machine, and back towards the ladder.

Newt snuggled against Ripley, holding tight but carefully as Ripley carried Newt up the ladder, under Hicks's watchful eyes to see if any of those things survived the blast from the grenade. Though of course he and everyone else knew there were more, it was only a matter of time, especially with a nuclear bomb about to go off.

As they successful climbed to the top where the hanger roof was without anymore interruptions, the escaped ship lowered carefully in a smooth lanfding as the rest of the base rumbled and shook in preparation for the explosion. Vasquez looked up, her face silent and not saying much, though she didn't exactly know what to say. She only gave Gormon a nod and a light smile within her eyes as a quick 'thank you' before she could later on thank him properly. With the cold wind blowing past, and the heat of the vents inside from before, she suddenly felt a bit naseous to her stomach. She placed a hand on it, before looking up and seeing Gormon help her up towards the ramp, since by now her leg was completely limp. She wanted to complain about her inability to walk, since she hated being seen as weak, but judging from how tense Ripley was about how she barely managed to save a quarter of the original group, Vasquez decided it was best not to say at all.

"This place is going to blow in about fifteen minutes. Let's go!" Hicks shouted, in his eyes he wanted to leave badly. It was bad enough that the base was swarmed, but he remembered how Newt had told them that those things, whatever the hell they were, were apparently active at night, and could strike at any minute. He kept his guard up, just in case, as Newt followed up, heading to the ramp under the watchful eyes of Ripley. Ripley turned to notice Hicks under guard duty and made a light smile.

"Coming, Hicks?" she asked, her voice snapping him out of his stare. He didn't say much, bu he made a breathless smile and nodded, following Ripley at a quickening pace, as the ramp closed, and the ship took off.

Hicks collapsed on one of the co-pilot's chair, with Bishop turning over and looking with a light smirk. Hicks caught this and nodded breathlessly as he panted with Ripley smiling as well in relief. The stress had eased, and Hicks spun himself a bit in his chair.

"Let's get out of this hell hole." he pleaded to them all. Ripley nodded, acknowledging what he had just said.

"I personally couldn't have agreed with you anymore, Hicks". she breathlessly said as Newt laid against her. As the ship took off, no one bothered to look outside and see the nuclear explosion. No one wanted to look back at all, back at the horrible memories that were going to haunt them all for the rest of their lives. Though no one wanted to think about that, since they were busy with their own chores: Gormon was helping Vasquez lie down on one of the medical beds, placing a breathing mask over her mouth though it wasn't truly necessary. She frowned and made a light cuss under her breath, making Gormon chuckle. Hicks stood close as Bishop piloted the ship for a little while, while Ripley was whispering some words of comfort to Newt.

And though it didn't necessarily mean it truly was proven for a fact, it seemed like the whole situation was finally over.

Right?

Wrong.

.000.

Unbeknown to most, the Xenomorph Queen remained, taking a hide on board the ship. Though it was a crucial she was to survive, it was a sacrifice to leave behind her eggs. Though there would be more to come, with new victims to destroy.

Ignoring the explosion as well like it were nothing, she kept her guard up in case if any foolish humans dared trail down and stand in her path with their useless weapons that rarely took much of an effect for defense for them. Once the ship would arrive, it would all be over for them.

It was like the humans were doing all the dirty work for her, and they didn't even know it.

.000.

Alright! I would say a good chapter right there to start things off. Though I would like to place in some information to those curious and confused.

For Gormon rescuing Vasquez: In my theory, if he was carrying a grenade all along, I simply don't understand why he could've simply used that to them before his gun ran out. I'm not all that smart in weapons, so I don't want to hear anything about how far a grenade can cause damage. Though their deaths were actually at least non-painful ones, I still wished they could've lived as well. So for my theory, Gormon uses the grenade to kill the aliens that tried to gang up on him and Vasquez, and managed to scramble to his feet, grab Vasquez and sling her over his shoulder, and catch up to the others in good timing. Hopefully that can be at least partly believe-able. If not, sorry!

For Ripley saving Newt: I know that because of the explosion from Gormon and Vasquez's suicide was what caused her to slip and fall, but think about this as well. Newt is a small child, her grip on things might be different as well, and with the materials on the others' boots (especially since they were out in the rain at some point), perhaps it was what made gripping the ladder difficult for Newt, and that's how she could've fallen instead. And at the part it was because she slipped out of her jacket, I had a theory she was able to pull her arm up to the sleeve so Ripley could get a hold of her before she fell.

Also, I know that the personalities to everyone was rather boring, and for that I apologize. I was trying to squeeze in all that info on starting off the AU idea, I forgot to add in some personality to the characters. I promise that I'll pick up with the characters becoming more or less interesting, rather than just being overelieved that they were able to all escape alive with their lives; Which is something understandable to my opinion but I probably drove out all of your patience here with reading this fic, didn't I? Sorry!

And, the action probably sucked too. Like I said, I'm not a very good action writer, except with Star Wars fics, they're actually rather easier for some strange reason. But with here, it's different for me. This is a whole new experience level of writing, where everything should be truly believeable, with everyone as in-character as possible, and of course I shouldn't leave you all bored now, should I? :)

I really hope to get a lot of reviews so I can become encouraged enough to continue. I mean, some of these fics here get over 400+ reviews, and all because it's a predator/oc human romance fic. (To tell the truth, I don't like those fics at all except for Scar/Lex. Don't ask why, I only like that couple next to Ripley/Hicks and Vasquez/Drake.)

Another update should be up soon! The Queen will strike, and secrets will be discovered! I hope I can leave you all with a nice beginning!

-Isabella a.k.a Izzy