Author's Note: The John Carpenter film The Thing was released in 1982, and presumably set in that year, however I have decided to change the setting to the present day which I hope isn't a problem. I'd also like to point out a few sites that have helped in the writing of this fanfic: The United States Antarctic Program Webportal, Antarctic Connection, and the Big Dead Place which is a tongue and cheek site created by actual Antarctic workers and features their takes on The Thing and all things Antarctic. Also I have to give credit to Australian author Matthew Reilly for writing Ice Station which provided me with inspiration. Additionally this story contains violence, profanity, and disturbing imagery so if you've read my other stuff you'll notice that this is more graphic.

Chapter 1: Who Goes There?

"Trust not too much to appearances"-Virgil

MacReady and Childs sat there in the dark, freezing Antarctic night and faced one another with trepidation. The two had been sitting there, passing a bottle of whiskey between them, and watching the fire of the burning camp die down. It had been close to half an hour since MacReady had caused the camp to blow sky high along with the creature that had been killing off Outpost 31's crew. A couple of minutes after the explosion MacReady had watched as Childs walked out of the darkness and took a seat across from him. Childs had claimed that he had run off into the dark after believing that he had seen something moving in the night.

MacReady could feel the icy cold biting him through his heavy clothes and knew that it was only a matter of time before he would succumb. He looked over at the dying fire, frowned, and took a swag of the liquor that Childs had passed back to him. He glanced to Childs and broke the silence, "Won't be much longer."

Childs knew what MacReady was talking about: death. They wouldn't last much longer out in the open. The thought pissed him off. He didn't want to die and even more so he knew he had to make one hundred percent certain that MacReady had actually killed the Thing, unless of course MacReady was the Thing, he couldn't be sure. If it gets to the mainland…He looked hard at the pilot and said, "We might actually stand a chance if we go down into the tunnels," he said referring to the tunnels that they had found when they had discovered that the Blair-Thing had been attempting to build an escape vehicle.

"With you?" MacReady asked skeptically, "All because I shared a drink with you doesn't mean I trust you."

"If you're concerned that I'm It you don't have to worry."

"How do you know I'm not It?" MacReady asked with a smile.

"I don't," but I think I'd rather take my chances in the tunnels then up here. At least there I'd go down swinging."

"Suit yourself Childs…I think I'm just going to stay right here and enjoy a nap."

"Stubborn ass."

MacReady smiled, "Better a stubborn ass than a dumb ass."

Childs cracked a smile at the comment; MacReady wasn't going to let death stop him from having a sense of humor, he then noticed that MacReady was looking right passed him at something. He turned his head and saw what MacReady was looking at: a figure was approaching them.

"What the hell?" said MacReady, "Who goes there?"

"Hey! Who is that?" yelled Childs to the approaching figure.

"Hey guys it's me!" came the reply.

"That's Nauls!" Childs said, "Nauls don't come any closer!"

"It might not be him!" cautioned MacReady who stood up and looked around for anything that could be used as a weapon.

"I swear to God guys I'm OK!" pleaded Nauls, "I'm me!"

"How'd you survive Nauls?" asked MacReady.

"I hid in a storage locker. The blast knocked it over but I made it!"

Childs turned to MacReady, "He could've survived in one of them," he said referring to the heavy duty metal gear lockers, "They're metal and pretty tough."

"How did you two live?" asked Nauls, "For all I know you're not you."

"Same goes to you Nauls," said Childs, "It might be one of us…Then again it might not be any of us."

"I'm not taking any chances or trusting either of you," said MacReady who started off toward the tunnel's entrance.

"Where do you think you're going?" asked Childs.

MacReady turned and looked over his shoulder at the two men, "You two could talk this over, I'm going to go and get out of the cold."

"I thought you were going to fall asleep and die."

"I changed my mind," said MacReady as he turned and walked off while muttering under his breath, "It was getting a little too loud for me to sleep with you two around anyways.

Nauls watched as MacReady headed off toward the shelter of the tunnel. It was now him and Childs, "We could survive down there...maybe."

"How do I know you're not It?" said Childs.

"I swear to God I'm me Childs…what about you?"

"Oh I know who and what I am," Childs said and then looked to the tunnel entrance just as MacReady disappeared out of sight, "I think I'll take my chances in the tunnel, besides Mac's got the booze."

Nauls watched as Childs walked in MacReady's footsteps then the young man shrugged his shoulders and followed.