Derelict

By THE Xenomorph (aka Xenomorph666)

I own only the character of Vile.

Star Trek Voyager is © Paramount

Aliens vs Predator is © Fox

Forced to land

"I just hope this planet doesn't end up like the demon class planet did…" Harry Kim sighed as the shuttle craft landed with a thump on the forested floor of the odd planet.

"I still can't believe we got swindled." Tom scoffed. "If we ever find those aliens I hope the captain orders a photon torpedo right into their hull. Besides, we got nothing to worry about here, we're in transporter range and Voyager kinda had to land to conserve energy."

"I know, I know it's just that after that whole being copied thing, I kinda get nervous when we go down to seemingly uninhabited planets." Harry said as he headed back to the other two crew members that came with them. "You guys ready?"

"As ready as we'll ever be." The female crew member smiled.

"All right, let's head out." Tom said. "Fan out or stick together."

"Stick together." Harry said nervously. "This place gives me the creeps."

"I say fan out." The female member said.

"I agree." The other crew member said. "Better chance of finding that deuterium pocket."

"All right then." Harry sighed. "You two go north, we'll go south."

"Meet back here at 02:00." Tom said as the two groups went off.

A few hours later Tom and Harry were back at the shuttle, both were out of breath and panting.

"That was cheap." Tom gasped.

"Oh come on Tom, I can't help it if you're out of shape." Harry laughed. "Hey we're fifteen minutes late…"

"Yeah I noticed." Tom sighed, "Wait, where are Flores and McGinn?"

"I was kind of hoping you'd notice that." Harry said as he tapped his com. "Kim to Flores, where are you two?"

Silence responded.

"Kim to McGinn, this isn't funny guys." Harry frowned when the same silence greeted him. "Kim to Voyager, can you locate Flores and McGinn?"

"Lost them already Harry?" Captain Janeway asked jokingly.

"They're not responding." Harry said.

"They're a few hundred meters to your north." Janeway said. "They aren't moving; we're beaming them to sick bay. You two get back on the double."

"On our way captain." Harry said as he turned to grab his container. "Let's go Tom." He expected Tom to respond, but was shocked to see him lying on the ground with an odd crab like creature attached to his face. "CAPTAIN! We need an emergency beam to the sick bay, Tom's been attacked by… something."

"Acknowledged, we're pulling everyone out immediately!" Janeway ordered over the com.

When Harry found himself materializing in the sick bay he looked around to see three other members with the same creature wrapped around their faces.

"What are they?" Harry asked.

"A parasite." The Doctor said. "And they are very deadly if you try and cut them off." He pointed to a melted hole in the floor. "Compressed molecular acid for blood, the perfect defense."

"Are they eating them?" Harry asked with a worried look.

"No, that's just it; they seem to be keeping their host alive." The Doctor said with more than a hint of confusion.

"Why?" Harry asked.

"To breed…" A voice said over the com.

Harry looked around quickly and he saw Flores' com was missing.

"Who is this?" Janeway asked over the ship's com.

"Oddly enough, I at one time called myself a human, much like most of your crew." The voice said. "Do your crew members a favor captain; kill them before those things plant their embryos, because then it's only a matter of time…" The com then went silent.

"Doctor, can you get these creatures off of them?" Janeway asked.

"With some transporter manipulation most definitely, but I'll need at least twenty minutes to do so." The Doctor said.

"Need any help?" Harry asked.

"Normally I'd need Mr. Paris' help, but in his absence you'll have to do." The Doctor said.

"Just tell me what to do Doc." Harry said.

"For starters try and isolate the creature into a containment field using the transporter system and its bio signs." The Doctor said. "If it works Mr. Paris will be able to assist in the removal of the others."

"Shouldn't we remove the others first, who knows how long they've been on there." Harry said.

"True, but for all we know the creatures could be the only thing keeping them alive at this point, at least with Mr. Paris we know how long it's been attached and can hopefully intervene before anything major happens to complicate his vital systems." The Doctor said as he scanned the creature's with his medical tri-corder. "Amazing…"

"What?" Harry asked.

"The creature is providing oxygen for them…" He went over to one of the others.

"Doc." Harry smiled. "I got it."

"Excellent." The Doctor smiled. "Computer; erect a level ten containment field and transport the unknown parasite attached to Mr. Paris into it." The computer beeped in acknowledgment and the creature vanished from Tom Paris' face.

"Doc, he's coming around." Harry said.

"Oh…" Tom grasped at his throat as he shot straight up. "Ugh, why do I feel like I've gone a few rounds with Chakotay?"

"You were attacked by this." The Doctor pointed to the alien which was skittering inside the containment field. "It's a parasite."

"Someone has Flores' com, whoever they were said they breed by implanting embryos." Harry said.

"Doctor." Captain Janeway came in. "Tom, you're okay?"

"Yeah…" Tom rubbed his neck. "Feels like my throat's been plunged though."

"What?" Harry asked.

"20th Century device for unclogging toilets…" Tom let it rest.

"What about the others?" Janeway asked.

"You should kill them…" The voice from the com said, this time however it was from the doorway as it slid open and several security officers were tossed inside, unconscious but alive. "And if you won't do it, I will." The form that stepped in through the door was beyond the words of most of the crew.

It was almost seven feet tall with a blue exoskeleton running all over its body. Its arms were longer than normal proportion would expect and they ended in an over sized hand with razor sharp claws. Its legs were just as out of proportion, the creature even had to bend them to walk in through the door, which made it seem larger than it really was. It had a tail seemingly designed like a crocodile's and at the end was a spear like tip. However, despite all of these monstrous aspects the most frightening aspect was its almost completely normal human head that only had a few streaks of the exoskeleton running up along its left cheek to almost look like a claw mark.

"Who are you and how did you get on my ship?" Janeway asked in her most intimidating voice.

"My name?" The creature seemed to pause. "It doesn't matter, but as for what I am, the best and simplest way to explain it is, I'm a mutation."

"Of what?" The Doctor asked, the creature seemed to jerk its head in surprise at the sudden voice and it stalked closer while sniffing the air.

"Artificial, interesting…" The creature said.

"I'm a hologram." The Doctor said. "A Mark one EMH for Starfleet, with enhancements."

"Starfleet…" The words seemed to echo on the creature's voice as he scanned over the people before him. "Things have changed since my father's Captain got us stranded in this lost section of space."

"You're from Earth?" Tom asked hoarsely. The creature quickly leaped at Tom and grabbed his head on one of its massive claws where it carefully sniffed around his face. Then he dropped Tom with a disgusted disinterest and then it began to sniff the others. "What was that about?"

"You're lucky, they aren't." It said after a few seconds. "They're hosts."

"Then we'll remove the embryos." Janeway said defiantly.

"Yeah, transporter tricks." It sniffed. "My father tried that, ended up ripping the captain's guts out."

"How unpleasant." The Doctor fried. "May I ask when this was?"

"Depends, is that jerk off Archer still an admiral?" It snorted in disgust.

"You've been alive for over three hundred years?" Janeway asked.

"Apparently." It smiled viciously. "No way to tell time here you know."

"Well then you should know transport…" The creature interrupted Harry with a glare.

"It doesn't matter, the embryonic fluids bond with host organs and incorporate DNA from the host." The creature snapped.

"Then we'll have to wait out until these creatures emerge." The Doctor said. His comment provoked a loud laugh from the creature.

"They're born by ripping through the host's ribcage. Then they grow and then they start hunting for their queen." It said flatly as it leaned over Tom. "Now do you get how lucky you are?" It headed towards the door and was surprised when several yellow suited men were standing there with weapons aimed at him. "Smart…" The creature dodged to the side before the team could fire and he ended up slamming Janeway and Harry to the ground while leveling his tail with the back of the captain's neck.

"What are you doing?" The Doctor asked.

"I don't intend to be an experiment for Federation scientists…" It growled.

"We have no intention of turning you into such an experiment." Tuvok said in his usual manner.

"Vulcan." It seemed to ease up its tail but kept its eyes locked on the security team.

"He's telling you the truth." Janeway said.

"Yeah, that's what the others who keep landing here tell me. Then they try to take me along with an egg…" It snapped. "All anyone is ever interested in is using these monsters as weapons. I won't be a weapon." The sudden sound of a transporter caused the creature to jerk around where he came face to face with Seven of Nine. "Borg?" Before it could react several phasers knocked it to the ground.

"Captain, Ensign Kim?" Seven of Nine extended her arm as she pushed the unconscious creature aside. "Are you all right?"

"We're fine Seven." Janeway said as she got up.

"I will transport him to the brig." Tuvok said.

"No, that will only make him more afraid of us." Janeway said.

"Captain?" Tuvok asked.

"He's terrified of being used." Janeway said then she noticed Seven glancing at the alien in the containment field. "You recognize this creature?"

"Species 1392, the Borg were unable to assimilate this species due to its acidic blood." Seven said. "They also avoided planets infected with this life form."

"Because of its breeding methods, right?" Janeway asked.

"That was only a secondary concern. They were mainly avoided because the Borg considered them to be a biological equivalent to themselves. They were, respected." Seven said.

"And what about our guest?" Janeway asked.

"More than likely a genetic mutation occurred during the gestation of an embryo." Seven said, "I will look into this further."

"Tuvok, help me get him on one of these beds." Janeway said.

"Yes, captain…" Tuvok said with an uneasy look.

"Something wrong?" Janeway asked.

"This being will undoubtedly be ready to attack when it awakes." Tuvok pointed out.

"Which is why we'll have a level four force field around it." Janeway said. "Besides, I'm not convinced he's the real threat here."

"You are referring to the parasites?" Tuvok asked.

"Something's odd about them." Janeway said, "Something I don't like." As she and Tuvok stepped to the side of the bed, the Doctor came over.

"This should wake him up slowly, but surely." The Doctor pressed the hypo spray into the creature's neck only to have a small jet of red shoot out and melt the end of his device. "I don't believe it. He has the same blood as those creatures, only it's red."

"It would seem Seven's assessment is highly likely." Tuvok said.

"Doctor, let's let him rest." Janeway said. "I have to go see what info Seven has on these creatures."