Five Things That Never Happened to Ellen Ripley

by BonaFideHobbit

For of all sad words of tongue or pen, The saddest are these: 'It might have been.'" -- John Greenleaf Whittier. The chapters follow the Alien movies in chronological order--all AUs.

1. Chapter 1

1. Tousled brown curls fell over the young woman's eyes as she studied the document before her.

Employment Contract

Weyland-Yutani Corporation

Ripley wanted this job. She had trained for years to pilot spacecraft and was overjoyed to be offered this position. But now she frowned as she read the pages and pages of fine print. Company orders must be followed at any cost? Any transmission must be investigated or all shares would be forfeited?

Ripley chewed the tip of her pen and drummed her fingers on the table. One of the suits before her gave a laugh that did not disguise his irritation. "Miss, we don't have all day."

This doesn't sound like a company; this sounds like a brainwashing camp, Ripley thought. At this rate, they'll make me take some kind of loyalty oath! She smirked at the ridiculous idea. Then she turned the page. There in bold letters was a statement of loyalty to Weyland-Yutani Corporation, with a line ready for her signature.

Ripley threw back her head and laughed. Swiftly she stood and slung her purse over her shoulder.

"Thank you, gentlemen, but I'm sorry," she announced, "I have received a better offer!"

That evening she telephoned her boyfriend to accept his marriage proposal.