Author's Note: This is a little ficlet that I'm writing alongside my current aliens story. (Don't worry, I'll be updating both this and Infection.) It takes place between the last chapter of Changes and the rest of the story.
Dedication: This fanfic is dedicated to Xeno the Hedgehog, without whom it probably wouldn't exist.
Disclaimer: I, like, totally don't own aliens, dude.
Chapter 1
Strange Patterns
(Are you sure this is a good idea?) Renee asked as Scar led her down the tunnel. The Queen had decided it was finally time for her to meet Renee face to face. Needless to say, Renee was slightly scared of the alien monarch.
(You've got nothing to worry about,) Scar said, his voice calm and reassuring. He navigated the passageways with ease as he had spent a lot of time memorizing them. He stopped and glanced at two separate tunnels. Of course, he still got lost occasionally.
(Now, which tunnel was it?)
Fortunately, a pack of drones emerged from the left tunnel and Scar asked one of them for directions. The drone flicked its tail and pointed it toward the right tunnel.
(Okay, thanks.)
The drone growled in reply and followed the rest of the group. Renee gave them a wide berth as they passed, barring her teeth at them, until they had disappeared.
(Come on,) Scar said.
(Huh? What?) Renee asked in surprise.
(I said, 'come on,') Scar repeated in annoyance. Renee hurried after him, he was already halfway down the tunnel.
As they neared the Queen's chamber, Renee could feel the Queen's presence. It was like a fog had suddenly appeared out of nowhere. Scar paid it no mind, while Renee found herself feeling very claustrophobic. She pushed back trying to keep the fog from enveloping her. The Queen's presence recoiled as though surprised and then disappeared.
Renee looked up and saw the entrance to the Queen's chamber. Her heart beat sped up as she neared it.
(Okay, well, this is fun, but…,) she turned hoping to escape, but Scar grabbed her tail before she could move too far.
(Don't be such a chicken,) Scar said. Renee glanced back at him with an expression of dread. (You're practically best friends with Xena, what's so different about the Queen?)
(She's a lot bigger!)
Scar made an expression that Renee had come to associate as the alien equivalent of a human rolling its eyes. (The way you killed that last komosloth was enough to make even Sonar turn his head in disgust, now…, come on!) He pulled on Snarl's tail and swung her around and into the Queen's chamber.
The Queen watched as the human turned xenomorph went tumbling head over heels into the cavern. She landed facing away from the Queen and pulled herself to her feet. Renee glanced back at the Queen and growled at her. The Queen tilted her head in surprise at this action.
Scar entered the room and noted Renee's behavior immediately. She was standing defensively with her claws and tail raised.
(Renee, calm down,) Scar whispered in alarm. He glanced nervously at the Queen who was staring inquisitively at Renee.
Shaking her head, Renee recovered her sense and stared up at the Queen. The Queen was a massive creature, many times the size of normal aliens. She was suspended from the ceiling by bands of resinous material. Her large yellow egg sack stretched out behind her.
(As you are aware,) the Queen began. (You will be allowed to remain in this hive if you can prove that you are adaptable to living by our standards.)
(Standards are pretty low,) Renee muttered.
The Queen made no move to indicate that she had heard her and continued. (All I ask if you manage to adapt to the hive is that you assist us by supplying hosts and food. If you can not adapt then I'll be forced to take drastic measures.)
Scar winced as she finished, while Renee did nothing.
(Now, defend yourself.)
(What?) Renee had barely finished speaking before Scar had flung himself onto her back and pinned her against the ground. Renee tried to hit him with her tail, but he grabbed it before she had managed to swing it.
(Not good,) the Queen remark as she watched Scar let Renee back up.
(I can do better,) Renee growled. (He's just lucky he got to ambush me.)
(We'll see,) the Queen growled.
Scar pounced again, but this time Renee was prepared and managed to jump out of the way. Renee swiped her tail at him, but he backed out of range. The two jumped at each other and crashed together in midair. The two fell into a tangle of thrashing limbs and when they finally pulled apart, both were severely winded and Scar had several scratches.
(Enough,) the Queen said, satisfied with Renee's fighting abilities. Her three mentors had taught her well.
Scar dropped his defensive position, but Renee did not and seeing a weakness in her adversary's defenses pounced. She barreled into him and knocked him to the floor. He grabbed her throat and pushed her head away from his as her inner jaw snapped shut inches from his face. Her tail came down and narrowly missed impaling his head.
(I said, 'enough!') the Queen shouted. Renee roared as the Queen forcibly took control of her mind and forced her off Scar and then knocked her unconscious.
Scar jumped back to his feet and stared in shock at the unconscious drone. (What was that!)
The Queen shook her massive head. (I don't know.) She bowed her head for a moment in thought and then asked. (Has she been acting strangely lately?)
Scar nodded, still jumpy. (Yeah, she's been keeping to herself a lot, is acting really nervous. You should see what she did to this komosloth the other day. It was a mess. Took three of us to tear her off it. She's also having trouble hearing.)
(I was afraid of this,) the Queen said. (We should introduce her to the hive mind.)
(Already?) Scar asked, slightly alarmed.
(Yes,) the Queen said, slightly more calmly then her adopted son. (The only reason you were kept separate for so long was because I didn't know whether you could cope with the assimilated consciousness.)
(So why did she attack me like that?) Scar demanded.
(I'm not sure,) the Queen said, still calm. (But let's hope this fixes it.)
(Fixes what?)
The Queen ignored him as she stared intently at Renee. (I want you to keep a close eye on her.)
(Why me?) Scar asked. (Why not Xena, they get along a lot better.)
(I thought you wanted a human companion,) the Queen said.
(We don't get along too well,) Scar said disappointedly.
(Well, this is your chance to get to know each other,) the Queen growled.
(So what's wrong with her?) Scar asked.
Once, again, the Queen ignored him, but he could feel her anxiety. He tried to glen what the problems was from her thoughts, but she sensed him and her mind snapped shut like a steel trap. She gave Scar a reprimanding look.
(So, I guess I should take her back to Xena's den?) Scar asked, looking down to avoid her intense gaze.
(Yes, you should,) the Queen said evenly.
He nodded and picked up Renee's unconscious body and slung it over his shoulder and left.
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