-1Disclaimer: I don't own aliens. If I did I would probably have this really huge mansion, a cool sports car, a PS3, and my own private army.
Author's Note: Once, again I suggest all newcomers to the Scar saga, head back and read the first stories. Starting with Scarred.
Chapter 1
Public Relations
The Lilith glided silently through the void of space. The ship didn't stand out too much size wise, but it was equipped with a large amount of turrets and concealed missile hatches. There were several large antennae that also rang along the outer hall of the ship, whose function was for anyone to guess.
Inside the bridge, a computer screen flickered on.
DESTINATION REACHED, the computer screen flashed in bright green letters. AWAKENING CREW.
Down in the cryo hold, the lids of the pods raised open with a hiss. One by one the crew members all woke up and began getting dressed.
Soon, the crew were down in the mess hall, enjoying themselves and carrying on like old time friends. Their first meal in months was surprisingly good for marine chow.
"The president certainly didn't spare any expense," Private Daniel Powers laughed as he scooped up another spoonful of oatmeal-like substance. "Guess they're finally starting to appreciate us bug hunters."
Colonel Leeson, just happened to be walking past on his way over to the officer's table at that moment and stopped and growled at the private in his gruff voice. "This isn't just a bug hunt, we're here to recover some stolen tech from them."
"The Devil's Light?" Corporal Evelyn Serbin asked. "That's just a bunch of crap. The pres must be getting loopy in his old age."
"Trust me," Leeson growled. "It's real."
"You believe this malarkey?" Powers asked.
"I don't need to," Leeson answered. "I've seen it in action. It's real."
With that said, the colonel continued on towards the officer's table.
"Yeah, right," Powers laughed.
Serbin shot him a glare and said. "Shut up."
The colonel sat down at the officer's table, across from Captain Timothy Alda, who had recently joined his unit. Leeson didn't trust anybody new. His group was like a family and they didn't approve of any outsiders coming in. Especially officers.
"Eat up, marines," Leeson shouted. "We've got a long day ahead of us."
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(How true.)
Down on the planet's surface, in the Meadix Colony to be precise. Professor Shawn Artemus was busy with his research. So busy that he did not notice the door to his lab hiss open and the large black and flesh colored alien that silently stepped inside. The praetorian slowly and silently crept across the room toward the unknowing scientist. Finally, the alien was right behind him and had opened its mouth to deliver the killing blow.
"What do you want, Mrs. Renee?" the professor sighed.
Snarl's mouth snapped closed. (How'd you know I was here?)
"Believe it, or not, I've learned to expect you to try and sneak in here and try and scare me out of my wits every day," the professor said calmly to the alien, not looking away from his work. "I've learned what to listen for."
(Yeah, whatever,) Snarl sighed. (So find anything new?)
"Yes, indeed I have," Artemus replied. "Your change into a praetorian has made use of your leftover human DNA. Hence, the flesh like markings which kind of have the appearance of eyes."
Indeed, the markings did look sort of like eyes.
"This is probably to confuse predators, make them think you have eyes in the back of your head," the scientist sighed. "Fascinating, I don't know how the mutation managed to make such a change be an advantage. Perhaps it is related to the chesrtburster's ability to assimilate only the beneficial DNA of its hosts. Also, there are several differences between your and Mr. Anthony's DNA and the local hive's."
Snarl smirked. Professor Artemus had been an associate of her mother's. She had known the scientist for as long as she could remember. She was rather delighted when she learned he was part of the colony and since then had been fetching bits of xenomorph DNA for his research.
Xena, at first, hadn't liked this idea and thought that the humans could use it to develop some sort of weapon against the xenomorphs, but when the peace between the hive and colony had held, she had approved of the research.
The professor quickly continued. "These differences are only slight probably because of your human DNA and the DNA of whatever the xenomorph from which the Devil's Light copied."
(So that's all?) Snarl asked.
"Yep," Artemus nodded, turning back to his work. "Sorry."
Snarl turned and prowled out of the room. Artemus smiled as she left and slid another skin sample under his microscope.
The colonist had grown accustomed to having xenomorphs coming and going in their halls, but still tended to give them a wide berth when they passed. The only colonists who visited the hive frequently were Jean and Marley. Lenny sometimes accompanied Marley.
Snarl looked up and saw both Marley and Lenny approaching. Both so intensely wrapped up in their conversation, they didn't notice the praetorian.
(Hey! Where are you two headed?) Snarl asked, standing in front of them.
"Down to Mitchell's burger stand," Lenny remarked. "It's the only real restaurant around here."
"It's fine, Lenny," Marley said.
"It's no place for a proper date," Lenny argued.
Lenny and Marley had been going out for sometime now. Now that Marley wasn't interested in Scar anymore, Snarl had developed somewhat of a friendship with her. Scar had occasionally talked with Lenny, but the two of them were just acquaintances. Though Scar had threatened Lenny with being devoured if he didn't treat Marley right. Lenny had just laughed… nervously.
(Yeah, see you later,) Snarl said carefully stepping around the two.
Snarl continued on her way back to the hive. As she left the colony she noticed the far off stretch of blackened forest. Scar had had the idea of getting the colonists ship into orbit and then dropping a nuke on a portion of the forest and then if any government people showed up. They'd claim that they had nuked the hive and show them the destroyed stretch of forest as proof.
She jogged back to the hive. The distance between the colony and the hive was only a short run for her. Soon, she was back within the walls of what passed for her home. She descended the tunnels toward Xena's chambers. Xena had moved into the same room that her mother had used for egg-laying. Xena was suspended from the ceiling, a long egg sack stretching out behind her.
(Scar back from the hunting trip?) Snarl asked as she sauntered in.
(No,) Xena replied. The new queen looked uncomfortable. Of course, Xena was used to being active and didn't like being suspended from the ceiling and being cared for by the hive's drones. (We lost a lot of drones battling Imperia's hive. We need to increase our ranks fast.)
(Want me to lead another hunting party?) Snarl volunteered.
(No, not just yet,) Xena said.
