"So, you want me to just leap at him?"
I looked up from where I was crouched behind the bushes, my tail wavering to-and-fro. Legacy was standing beside me, the muscles in his arms braced for impact. We'd captured two Marines the day before and were toying around with them a bit.
Legacy found toying with Marines amusing, so whenever I had the chance to, I'd go out and fetch him a few, and then we'd eat. I had to admit, I really loved my clever new friend!
He was kind and clever, at least to me, he had a bit of an attitude when it came to other "annoying" Xenomorphs that "got in his way." I made no bother whenever he lashed out viciously at an enemy, I knew what those were like.
Besides, he was very sneaky as well, and nearly as good a fighter as I. He learned fast, and made tactics that I never even knew would work that proved to be better than the recommended maneuver. I was proud of what he was becoming. Whenever I was off doing nothing, he always offered to go toying around with a few of the captured Marines, and I would never disagree.
"No, don't leap. Try stealth." I waggled around behind the bush a bit, to prove I wanted him to be sneaky. "Lure and deceive your opposition. We're Xenomorphs, not Yautja."
Stunned by my teasing joke, I watched his handsome black-and-green-tinted frame as he backed off of the bush and slithered onto a tree with his majestic claws furled into the rough, ancient wood. I swore I heard him under his breath hiss, "I am no Yautja!"
Legacy crouched over and swooshed his tail side-to-side. He seemed determined, his "gaze" narrowed to his destination. He let out a dull growl like a cat trying to reach prey that was desperately out of reach.
I watched with interest as he flexed his muscles and slender body, creeping down the swirling, winding trunk of the tree to snatch the enemies that were stranded in the middle of the woods. Of course, they were unarmed, and they could not run away. We had a major advantage from this side of the field. They never got away. Not once we had used humans for training sessions, had they ever gotten away.
Legacy wrapped his fore-claws around the limb of the twisted tree and narrowed his way along it. Soon enough, he was standing above his opponents with his tail dangling low, but just out of the prying reach of human eyes.
The two Marines were crouched beside a failing fire, eating hickory nuts and smoked salmon and venison. They had deerskin wrapped around their burly shoulders to keep themselves warm, and in their arms held vegetables from onion bulbs to potatoes. Bits of turtle and fish, rank and heavy-smelling, were positioned beside the fire for warmth and cooking. Raw, shredded bits of turnips and radishes were peeled off in the corner, as well as meat from a wild boar or big. Chips of berries and nuts were clasped in the arms, altogether with oats and wheat and nun bread. Kettles of milk and steamed water and green tea were fixed up beside the two as they tried to face survival in the worst of places, the smoke of their fire raising into the sky.
Legacy narrowed his gaze to the two as he started to climb along the limb so he was facing upside-down. I watched with intent as he swerved awkwardly on the perch for a moment or so, and then he was still and deathly quiet, a tinge bit of drool dripping off of his vehement, menacing fangs.
If I were those Marines, I would have been terrified.
Still lacking boredom, I peered out at my "trainee" as he clasped the bark of the ancient wooden log for stability, before he lifted both of his fore-claws off the top of the bark and wrapped his tail around the limb as well, so he seemed to be standing upside-down on the thing.
Interesting, I thought.
The Marine was plucking off some hickory nuts and acorns as he urinated in the alders, a disgusting human practice for waste removal, and kept on his lookout. The other Marine was tending to the failing fire, cursing low under his breath as he could not quite figure out what the Hell he was doing.
Legacy forwarded on the two Marines, before he accidently startled a branch. The two humans looked up and saw the flailing, hissing Xenomorph above them. The Marine crouched beside the fire gathered up the meat, nuts, fruit, wheat, oats, and vegetables before he raced into the jungles behind him, screeching. The Marine doing his business gasped in alarm, zipped up his pants, and raced off after his fleeing companion.
The Xenomorph I was training dropped onto the ground and snarled. "I was close," he offered as he watched me slither out of the brambles, shaking off anything that clung to my exoskeleton like a burr. "Shall we proceed?"
I nodded and said nothing. Before we'd taken so much as three steps Legacy halted and had his face down into the side of a puddle, dark yellow in color, almost brown.
"What's that? Is that the excretion of a Marine?" The handsome, tall Xenomorph stepped out of the way so I could get a quick whiff of it, which I immediately regretted as I drew a face to my burning "nose".
"I think so," I dared, glaring at the stupid little puddle. "Disgusting humans. Let's not waste any more time…"
Legacy was more than obliged to agree as he started pelting off into the jungles thick amid him, following after the fleeing Marines. This was certainly not the first time this had happened, in fact, this occurred most of the time an Alien toyed around with its prey. My trainee was not a fool, in fact, I had liked where his tactic and instinct were going.
Racing quickly after my trainee, who was now behind me for I ran faster than he did, I swerved through the bushes and continued on the trail of the much slower Marines. They had not gotten far for they now wanted to stop for a rest.
"Is it gone?" asked the Marine that had been by the fire. The other one that had left behind that stupid little puddle in Xenomorph territory shrugged stupidly, fumbling around in the leaves for a weapon.
"Dunno, but the next one that shows up is going to be smacked into nothing." Nonthreateningly, at least to me and Legacy, the dumb little creature began to pound leaves and sticks all over the place. The Matriarch Overlord's first mistake – human beings. So vulnerable and ugly little newborn, baby birds.
After he was done with his tantrum, he asked the smarter Marine, "Should we set up camp here?" He gestured to the woods and thick jungle around them, and the other human nodded. He had already been picking through sticks and wood to see which ones would fit best in his planned fire, scraping aside debris so had could have more room for his bonfire. Or should I say failing trickle of flame that wouldn't cook hair if it were close enough.
Finally, when the fire-Marine was content, he gathered back up his nuts and venison, keeping off of the smoked salmon and trout for now, and started to burn a few of the human goods. Of course, that stuff tasted hideous to Xenomorphs. Yuck.
I could, and I was sure Legacy could, smell the wavering scent of hickory nuts and acorn pie as it brewed, the tea they had used with kettles of sugar set up for a fancy dinner. I wondered why humans didn't just eat like most creatures, with their mouths, not their hands. Xenomorphs surely ate with their mouths. We were fond of fat humans that provided us enough meat for a week or so, before we had to go hunt another time and get perhaps a scrawny human that would suffice for mayhap a day or two before the next leave. If we were that unlucky, we would get a baby human, or young human, and get an hour or so worth of energy before hungry again.
These two, the fire-Marine and the dumb-Marine, were both scrawny as if hickory and oats and pieces of nun were not enough for their taste. I noticed little poultry. I knew if they tried to get the Refinery's birds they would never catch them, or even like them. Humans were fond of weird, disgusting, tasteless things but our birds were bitter, large, and smelled like an oil dig. Gross, huh?
But humans' sense of smell fails them anyway. Why ever did the Matriarch Overlord, or to humans, "Mother Nature", give them such a weak sense of smell? How as it an evolutionary benefit? Sometimes, the great Overlord makes mistakes on these things. I'd hoped.
Legacy found his way up a tree and offered to me with his swerving tail to join him. Hopping up on a limb that stuck way out over the Marines to intersect with another tree ahead of it, I kept my head low so that I would not blow the Warrior Dome's cover. He seemed focused, as if this time we wanted to get it right. I admired him for that.
He beckoned for me to stay still and watch as he made his way across the tree. He furled his claws into holds in the ancient bark as he peered down over the waft. He avoided the leaves and sticks that were brittle and would not support his weight. Expertly, like a true Warrior of the Hive, Legacy was making his way surely and slowly down the limb as if he were gliding. Another thing I thought was clever.
Soon, he stopped over the dumb-Marine, and waited for the scrawny creature to get out of range of his friend, which I had been calling in my head the fire-Marine. I just hoped that he would not be off to excrete again. Oh, boy, please no.
But he seemed to just wander off into the woods to collect scraps of bark and nuts that he probably didn't even know what were as he crouched over in the sand and leaves to scratch things off the ground. He picked up stones, sticks, shells, rocks, shells again, leaves, roots, bulbs, patches of grass, flowers, dirt. It was not a very good day, I could note.
Legacy seemed less-concerned in what the human was doing. He kept his tail poised behind him for trouble this time, more certain in every footstep that he took. I could see the Xenomorph's lip curl up into a sneer as he edged across the wooden hold. He seemed focused and determined still, and I was proud.
The Xenomorph I was training dropped down into a crouch with his head held low, a bit of drool wavering off of his teeth as he bared it back into an unkempt snarl. The saliva of Legacy landed in a little pool to the Marine's right, but the pattering was silent enough to not be heard.
Finally, after the Marine was done scratching useless things off the floor, he got back up, brushed himself off, and started to find his way to wherever his friend the fire-Marine was setting up the camp.
The human was loud and clunky as he stepped, despite his weight. I noticed how heavy-sounding Marines and humans, and ever Androids were as they walked. Balancing on those unstable two legs of theirs was bad enough? I had seen things worse than human walking, but this was certainly among that. He seemed so unstable compared to Legacy the Xenomorph who was following cautiously behind, his tail wavering in the air, his teeth bared back into a feral snarl. I admired my little warrior as he followed the Marine going back to his camp that promised food and hickory, meat and vegetables.
I watched with my tail lashing out as Legacy threw himself off the side of the branch and was sent snarling, hissing, at his enemy, teeth bared and dripping off drool. The scrawny, dumb-Marine yelped for his companion, but was swallowed up by the long inner jaw of the trainee-Xenomorph.
The fire-Marine heard the dumb-Marine's call and looked up from his cooking, eyebrows, another stupid human concept, poised in interest. He ran through the undergrowth with a stick he provided as a weapon and crouched down over his friend's body, a long hole in his matted, bloody, brown mass of a hair.
"It was the damn Xenomorph," snarled the fire-Marine, raising his stick to the trees overhead. "I'm not safe here. I have to keep going."
As the fire-Marine subsided back to where his camp was to retrieve his goods and make haste again, Legacy glanced my way with smirk on his face. I shrank back, embarrassed for something I wasn't sure of. His handsome features, not unlike Barb's were impressive and attractive. I saw him as a good, hot-headed father of a massive Xenomorph one day.
I know one thing I never really told you audience about was the whole "daddy" "sibling" and "mommy" problem. Well, now I will.
The Matriarch mates with a Drone and lays the Face-hugger eggs. A bred, Xenomorph pair that have mated before, which is how you show you are mates, will select one of the eggs and give it to a human corpse. Once it becomes a new Alien, or chestburster, then your mother and father that selected your egg care for you. Me, I was one of those special eggs that never had parents. I was one of the unselected eggs that was just put out to chestburst someone. Me, I'm not really special. No mom. No dad. Like Barb or Victory. There are many more orphans in a Hive than not. But since we don't really need mothers or fathers, we fare well and use our allies as sources of food. Besides, we only needed to be watched for a day or so before we became full-grown.
Legacy padded over to the fire-Marine and snarled death in his face, before grabbing his head and brutally tearing it clean off of his miserable shoulders. The corpse, still writhing from its brain's last command, eventually fell to the ground with a scattering of a few damp leaves.
Brushing off his tail of dripping, human blood, Legacy glanced back my way before bounding up the slope next to me. "So how'd I do?" he asked as he plopped down beside me as I slithered out of the tree he'd offered me a perch in.
"Great!" I prided. "You were really good. I thought you were having issues with stealth, but now I see you're almost as good as any other Xenomorph now. I was wrong."
Legacy laughed, the shrills of his dorsal tubes shimmering in the midday sunlight that wafted in front of us, not visually of course, but we could feel that warm sunlight like it was part of our souls. "I figured," he growled. "I wouldn't let myself become prey to one of the easiest tactics that Xenomorphs use."
"You wouldn't be the only one," I admitted as he started to make our way back to the Hive grounds. "But you needed to be faster and better the first time you scared away the Marines. I liked where the move was going, but you were too cautious and slow."
Legacy snorted. "Is stealth not about slowness?"
I padded ahead of him and drew my tail between the two of us, stopping him, alarmed, in his tracks. He skidded up a pile of leaves as he halted, my tail probed up between the both of us. "You need to be slow and cautious, but there is such thing called stealthy speed. It is, well, was, what you were having issues with. You think that there is nothing to stealth except for slow speed, but you'll never reach your target that way."
Tail wavering, Legacy snorted, "Oh… I understand. I'll do better, next time. Can we try again tomorrow?"
"If I can get us in. I had a problem with the Matriarch with just going out to do some training today. The both of us were supposed to help repair the walls of the Refinery today."
Legacy's tail drooped and he lowered his head with a pitiful snarl. "Is that darn Matriarch thinking Molest Tail will just come out of the shadows whenever she seems a Xenomorph in threat?" His voice was cold and promised death. "If I have to, I'll claw the brains out of that Praetorian. Again, and again, and again."
Startled, I mewed, "If you can get to it first. Remember what Victory was saying she wanted to do when she found Molest. If you can beat her to it, then you'll be fine. But she may hold a grudge on your latter, if she can."
Legacy snarled, baring his teeth. "I'd like to see her try," he sneered.
"You do realize Victory is stronger than you-?" I had started the comment, but Legacy lashed out at me and had me backed up against a tree.
"Revenge! You have to stop living in a hole for once and come out to breathe in the fresh air! Victory has absolutely no supporters! If I could rally up a few allies, hopefully you would come, we could easily batter her back like she was one of those helpless Marines. I won't let that little pretty miss prickle pine get in my way!" With those final words, Legacy stepped back to let me out of my tangled trap against the tree and turned to stalk off with his tail lashing with his fury. Instinctively, I crouched down until he was well out of my sight, surprised and startled.
Finally, once I regained my sureness, I slipped back into the rays of sunshine and startled down the path to where the Matriarch's Call was luring us. Hopefully work would help improve my day. I didn't want to get a fuss up with my trainee for the first time. But Legacy, however impatient, stubborn, and arrogant he was, was an understanding Xenomorph and would probably get it.
Me, on the other hand, has a severe problem with letting things go. I was more violent, bitter, and cold, whereas I used to be sweet, kind, and funny. Most people that talked to me I either ignored or snarled at.
But I still wanted the best for the Xenomorph society. My own bitterness was not going to get in the way of the fact I wanted peace within the Hive, not trouble. But no one seems to quite get the fact that peace is harmony and if we live together like that we shall prosper instead of destroy ourselves from the inside. But with a Matriarch like the one we have now, no face-huggers will be laid, thus from there no new blood, and constantly sending the Aliens already alive to war was a good way to get us all killed. Then soon, the Matriarch would have no protectors to ensure her security inside of her chamber.
I trailed after Legacy until we returned to the Hive. Two Aliens were standing at the entrance with their teeth drawn back in snarls. I growled right back at them with a vicious lash of my tail, giving away who I was, and they stepped aside to let me in. I hated the new guards that were out posted at the front of the gates to the Refinery. So annoying, for the Matriarch's sake!
After I had wrestled my tail into the thing for it had gotten hinged on one of the weaker sectors, I could see Legacy ahead of me with his tail and head down, padding on all fours slowly. He glanced back at me, and snorted when he noticed my smaller frame tip-toeing after him.
I decided against saying anything at all, snorting as I ran my claws across the metal floor smothered in dust and debris. Xenomorphs, who were once uncommon in here and always basking, chatting, or eating in the center of the Hive, were now all you could see. Repairing walls, checking the Aliens running in from Patrol or a hunt, making sure food was not poisoned. I could tell from just where I was standing that they were having about as much fun with this whole thing like I was. And trust me, that's not very much. I snorted and just continued on.
Silence Within was standing a few feet away, the Xenomorph I'd been close to since she helped me all those months ago. Her scrawny, elderly Alien frame was currently tending to a Xenomorph who had lost a possession of his in the woods. That Xenomorph was jumpy and skittish, saying that this particular item was of importance to him.
I was nearly down the tunnel when I crashed into the back of another Alien. I raised my claws to swat at whoever was stupid enough to just stand around when I saw Divine Thought, the Xenomorph that had offered to help me, and he whirled around with a snarl and raked me with his feral claws right across the face. I yelped and jumped back, suggestively tripping over a snarling horde of Aliens returning with water, initially making them all spill their carries. The next thing I was face-to-face with was a bunch of furious Aliens looking at me with dripping faces, teeth bared back in snarls.
Divine saw the blood leaking off of my face, and he rushed forward. "Are you alright?" he demanded before I could even apologize to the patrol about what I'd just done. They were still infuriated, I could tell, because they were hissing and snarling as they padded back to the entrance of the Refinery to go collect some more water in the stream that was slowly evaporating.
"Yes, I'm fine," I spat out, reaching up with a fore-claw to rub my snout as my molecular body already started tending to the cut. My nose stung, and now I was also angry with this dumb Xenomorph that acted before he could even think. Did he really ever even bother to notice that Molest Tail wasn't charging down the gosh darn tunnel to gobble him and his family up? By the Matriarch! What an amateur.
"Sorry. And, nothing important with Blood Fire."
I was perplexed. "Blood Fire?" I questioned him. "Who the -"
Divine hit himself in the head. "I'm so sorry, the Matriarch, was what I meant to say."
Scratching my chest bones, I asked, "Who's Blood Fire?"
"Erm, that's the Matriarch's former name, her true name. I hadn't meant to call her that, but it kind of just… you know. Slipped out." Divine ruffled his tail spikes and flattened them when he had lost his anxiety.
I padded forward to give him a quick sniff. "How do you know that? Not everyone knows the Matriarch's former name."
Divine just shrugged. "I found out when I was looking for something. I was never alive when she wasn't the Matriarch, so I guess I just found out. Overheard it, if that's a more accurate term. Some Alien must have been alive at the time when she wasn't the Queen here, and that's what they was calling the Matriarch when they was speaking with her."
"You were sneaking around?" I demanded.
"N-no! I wasn't! I was looking for something, not intending on spying. Some Alien was calling the Matriarch Blood Fire. It's a respectful term for her, I guess. I'm not really sure who this guy was, but I heard them when they were having a private conversation with our Queen. Who do you think this guy is? Revenge Unleashed?"
I snarled. "It must have been the runner that was leaving a week ago that me and Darkness and Immortal found sneaking off that we thought was you! Gosh darn it! Who is the Matriarch so close to that she actually has someone call her by her old name?"
Divine shrugged his scrawny shoulders. "Not someone from this Hive. We are all supposed to call her 'the Matriarch.' So unless this Alien is not from this Horde is the only real explanation as to why they are calling our Queen 'Blood Fire.'"
"Huh. It seems there is some new information after all. Thanks so much, Divine Thought. I'll see you later! Do Immortal and Darkness know?" I skidded to a halt and looked back at the thin Warrior Ridged standing behind me, his tail bristling from shock as I had rushed by him so quickly.
"Y-yes, they know," he answered a bit shyly, before he ducked into the narrow tunnel to his right.
I raced down the tunnel, looking for Legacy again as he had slipped from view when I'd inadvertently crashed into Divine Thought. I searched for my best friend… well. My "best" friend. Barb was still a pal, but we never really hung out like me and my trainee did. Barb was always around Victory, or the other way around. Whenever I engaged in conversation with Barb, Victory would horde me off like I was a little snake that was about to eat her hamster pet.
Well, Victory, I've got other friends, too. Unlike you.
Legacy was nowhere to be found. I stamped my claws on the ground in frustration as I searched for him. Where had my trainee gone? He was always around the center of the Hive, but now he was not in my sight anywhere. I tried sniffing him out, but his signal or scent never reached me. Anger clawed at my belly.
Okay, where have you gone?
But no matter where I looked, I felt as if my trainee was running away from me. I hoped it was because he was ashamed of the way he spoke to me back when we were out in the forest. I prayed for the Matriarch's sake it was that. I really needed to talk with him. Was he really thinking about challenging Victory?
Then it hit me. Victory.
Oh by the Matriarch, don't let him be looking for Victory!
I skirted the corridors, screeching to make sure Victory was beside Barb in the center of the clearing where she could not be tangled with Legacy. I did not want my trainee to get injured in a tussle with her. As strong as my apprentice was, he was no match for the Xenomorph that had earned herself a human name in a fight. He wouldn't get destroyed like I always did, he was bigger than me and less likely to get pushed with Victory's favorite attack, but she was smarter than him, nearly his size, and would find some other way to win the brawl.
But I was grateful when I found Victory – right underneath me as I tripped over her tail and landed face-first next to her she was basking besides one of her friends, the one I recalled as Agony Bringer, the same one she had sat next to when the Matriarch was informing us about the Yautja attack.
"I'm so sorry," I started but claws met my throat and pinned me against the metal.
Victory's scarred, leering face was staring down at my much fresher, untouched own. Her graceful features, unharmed and still gallant despite their scars, were strong and tough enough to pin me down. She lashed her tail dangerously. "Oh – it's just you. The Warrior That Disobeys. Get lost before you get a fresh new scar on your head." As I lifted up, she grabbed me closer and lifted up her tail. "And next time, don't step on my tail and watch where you're going."
She lashed out with fore-claws I was lucky enough to duck under. I had to ask her about Legacy or at least Barb. But I knew Legacy would not target Barb, whatever had the seven-year-old Alien done to him? But I did note that Legacy wasn't found of the prettiest Xenomorph in the whole Hive.
"Have you seen Legacy?" I asked as I stepped safely out of reach of the stronger Alien.
Victory snorted and ran her gallant claws down the metal before her, before flicking her long tail vehemently. "Why would I know where that little brat is? I never stay in his presence too long or I might claw my face out face off with boredom."
"B-brat?" I asked, alarmed. As far as I was concerned, my trainee was indeed arrogant but he wasn't bratty. Yet again, Victory thought pretty much everyone in this Hive had some attitude flaws. Talk about herself.
Victory flexed her claws again and spat, "That's what I said." She spun around and brushed her tail off of dust, beckoning for Agony Bringer to leave. The loyal follower nodded and bounded off. Victory turned back to me and said, "So why are you still standing there? I don't have what you're looking for, now leave me alone."
I stepped forward. "Why Victory? Why can't we just be at peace?"
That comment which I never should have said was what started her fury again.
"And why can't you just leave me alone? After what you ever did to me, I will never accept you as my friend! You're just the Hive's pet, all you do is listen to Mama's orders! You actually expect me to go groveling down to you when you stole Barb from me? Forget it, face-hugger bitter. You're just the Alien that put fresh human scat in the wrong pile of food. Also known as, mine!" She clawed my face then turned around and jumped off, again having the last word.
I slammed my fist down into the metal with frustration of how bothersome that darned Alien was.
So I stopped by the fresh-kill pile of human parts for a piece of meat to attend with myself, got some water out of the hole we put it in, covered on the bottom with thick tree leaves so no rust got in the liquid, I lapped some up and once refreshed, backed out of the area where some more Aliens were going to get some scraps.
As the midday sun turned to twilight, I weaved through the corridors and jumped onto my hole and bed, wrapping my tail protectively around my paws and body as I rested my head down with a sigh. The air was thick and humid, unlike its once-cool nature. That was because all of the cool air outside now stayed outside because every single hole, nook, and cranny inside of the Refinery was closed off so nothing could get in.
I curled up to get some rest, and finally did. It was the first time in a long time that I had finally gotten a good night's sleep. Although night had not taken over, I was planning to grab Legacy and would do some night tasks together. Maybe the both of us could guard the gates to the Refinery. I'd ask him once I woke up later.
The fresh cool of midnight woke me up. More Xenomorphs were now at rest now that they were at night, but guard patrols were still out. I hopped out of my hole and started making my way to Legacy's nest.
I found him curled up on the metal floor and I prodded his side to wake him. He glanced up at me and noticed that I was standing there, and he fumbled to his paws and searched around.
"Hey, Revenge," he began. "I just wanted to stay sorry for what I said earlier, I really didn't mean it, and I just got angry and…"
I snorted. "It is fine," I responded, bristling the spikes on my tail in greeting and happiness. "I'm grateful you were mature and apologized."
Embarrassed, Legacy said quietly, "I guess anger just took over."
"We should rename you that," I joked. "Anger."
A frown found and wound itself onto my friend's face. "I really won't appreciate it if you did," he grinned, "but thanks for helping me cheer up."
"Why did he get that name?"
Legacy paused. "Who?"
I padded ahead, brushing past him with my tail. "Anger. How'd he get that name of his?" I dropped down into the tunnel to where the patrols all were, guarding the Refinery at the cost of their lives.
The younger male Xenomorph scratched inanimately at his dorsal tubes. "Oh, how would I know? You think I ask him that question? You probably have more of an idea than I do." The both of us skirted to the entrance to the Refinery to guard its gateway.
"No, I was just curious," I confessed as I slipped ahead of him.
When we arrived at the gate, two Xenomorphs were already stationed there with alert faces and hefty shoulders. One of them, of which two I didn't recognize, saw me and Legacy hobbling over and he spat out.
"Are you the two youngsters taking our role? All I need is some sleep."
Legacy nodded and bowed deep, but not in respect, in greeting. A respectful greeting, if you could call it that. "Er, yes. You can go back in now." He gestured to the Refinery behind him and smiled gingerly, weirdly. "We'd be more than happy to overcome your role as the guardians of the Refinery as all the other Aliens sleep."
The heftier Xenomorph nodded and stepped tentatively back into the hole with his slim head pressed against the back of his dorsal tubes. As he slipped into the Refinery, me and Legacy stepped out into the cool shade of moonlight casting its glow across the place.
Legacy jumped up onto the raised platform guarded the gate, and he beckoned for me to launch myself at the other one. Once this had been performed, I wrapped my tail around my paws and watched the crack of the forests around me, the wavering of the leaves, the whistling of the grass, the screeches of bugs, the screams of vicious birds, the rustling of footsteps of large wildlife, and the splashes of water as stones hit them. A wonderfully peaceful and pleasant name.
I breathed in and scented the sweet, tangy lustfulness of the wildflowers and the bark of scratched wood. The musk odor of those large wildlife and the scat of birds. The faint decree of Xenomorph scent, electric and clear, as well as the faint hue of sweet sap from the dense wood of those trees. All around me, scents and life was thriving, but for an Alien, it really meant nothing. Aliens don't eat anything except for humans, so hunting is not effective unless you find some of those fleshy, meaty humans. Waiting for them to breed like eccentric pet owners was not going to happen. It takes a gosh darn twenty years for human children to grow up. It takes 24 hours for a Xenomorph worm-ling to rise.
The air was cool and fresh on my exoskeleton and feet. Midnight air was wreathing and wrapping itself around me as if I belonged to it. I lifted up my prehensile tail to let it get some of the air. I sensed Legacy watching me with a tilted head, his claws scraping scores across the surface of the platform. "So, what are you doing?" he asked me with a laughter-y edge in his voice.
Lowering my tail to stop its cool-down, I responded, "Getting some of that beautiful fresh air while I have it. Soon enough, as Molest Tail's threat lingers on, there will be less time to go out and you around with prey. So I'd better get some of the sky on me for as long as I can." Again, I extended my arms and let the fresh air waft over me.
Legacy chuckled and wrapped his tail around his paws, eyeballing me curiously. After he grew bored of watching me, he focused his attention back on the wildlife around us. "So you think Molest will strike us soon?"
"Quite possibly," I began. "She really wants the Hive dead, I heard her myself. She was confronting me and Victory back at the human base we were exploring. I just wish things had ended out differently. I still have four more of her siblings I have yet to kill. But they all fled to the forest after realizing their brother's fate."
I shivered as I recalled what happened to the Xenomorph I had ultimately destroyed. What brutality I had displayed! I felt all of that power and strength, alluring and cunning. But I was scared of that consciousness that told me to kill. It was not a fate I wanted. The terrifying screams of that poor Alien I didn't have a chance to know were still pounded so fiercely into my head I could not bear it. Every night, well almost, I dreamed about that pathetic and pinned down Alien.
But that other consciousness, for I would not say that was me, had been the one my instinct told me to follow. Before me and without much other thought, I was becoming a cold killer with a lust for death. Even more than most Xenomorphs. For everyone who thought I was a peaceful softie… they were wrong.
They were all wrong.
"I'm sorry," breathed out Legacy, shuffling on the raised platform with embarrassment. "I didn't mean to make you think about all that nonsense the Matriarch's making you do." He jumped over to my platform and stroked his tail down my back friendlily. "But there is nothing you can do to escape her punishment."
Reassured from his cool touch, I turned to him and asked, "But what am I supposed to do? Go out into the jungle and find them? They won't be far because the Matriarch's call will keep them all bound to the Hive. They should be somewhere here, but I'm not a really good tracker."
Legacy snorted. "I know how that is," he chortled. "I never told anyone your secret," he purred, leaning in to me. Comforted by his breath on my Warrior face, I relaxed and let the midnight do the talking.
"Thanks," I growled. "I knew I could trust you. But no matter even for your life, don't tell Victory that or I will be ruined forever."
He laughed, but he knew what I meant. "I won't, I won't," he assured me. "Your secret is safe with me."
So we watched on until the sunlight began to rise in the sky.
I woke up in my nest, pressed against the metal wall. I shook off sleep and padded out of my den. The air was still humid and dangerously hot for a Xenomorph, but we adapted quickly and that was no initial problem for me as I hopped out of my nest and started off to the fresh kill pile.
"Intruder! Intruder in the forest!"
This was what was ringing out across the Refinery center as the patrol coming in scurried through the gate to meet everyone. Heads of curious Aliens peeked up over their fresh kill they were attending to and started to hiss and lash out everywhere.
Two Aliens, one I knew, Agony Bringer, and some other Xenomorph were dragging in the body of a snarling Alien. It was no one I knew. I sniffed in and tried to determine where they came from, but they were nowhere I knew.
The Alien was dropped onto the floor in a squealing mess. He was… odd. He bore on his chest a bunch of accessories like a… human. I growled in warning. Bands and beads were hung on his arms and legs, and his tail was adorned with strings and other things. He wore necklaces and bracelets and skull trophies of kills. His claws were shaved to a fine point and were sharp. Why was this Xenomorph acting like a human? Again, I wrapped my claws around the metal I was standing on because what a traitor he must be to this Hive if he was wearing things like a Marine.
To be honest, to me, he looked like a human Priest or Shaman.
The "Intruder" was thrown back down as he tried to stand up on his twos. Snarling, he lashed out at a few of the Aliens behind him but he didn't move. In this tiny space flooded with these crazy Xenomorphs, his surrender was obvious.
Bring this intruder into my chamber, the Matriarch informed us. Get the rest of the Aliens here as well.
Following the Queen's command, the Aliens with the Intruder thrust him into the tunnel that was leading to the chamber of the Matriarch. The newcomer adorned with marvelous finds of shells, skulls, bones, and other things looked around this place, perplexed, his face twisted in an unreadable expression.
Once everyone had filed in through the Matriarch's chamber, I saw her looming great form again, 30 feet in height. She saw the intruder and she growled, her teeth clamped together in an impassive growl.
Who are you? snarled the Matriarch. Where do you come from? You must have been one of the abandoners from my Hive gone human like some of the mongrels I have had to deal with in the past. Victory, Agony Bringer, get rid of this thug. He defies me!
Standing on twos again, the Alien sentenced to death shook his hands quickly, his tail waving, jingling for all of the beads and shells and adornments he had on there. "Oh no, 'er Majesty. I is 'ere to grab something of mine. Nothing you should fret yourself wit'. I assure you I 'ill be gone in days few."
What? You why do you talk so awkwardly? spat the Queen.
"I can 'ell you have not seen many an Alien not from own Hive before?" the intruder guessed. "My ship crash-landed 'ere. Not my ship, but the one my Hive travels on, infested with humans that we pick off. One of my rascal companions decided 'e wanted to go off on 'is own." Scratching the back of his head, the intruder added slyly, "Where er' he may be." He searched the Matriarch expectantly, as if she'd an idea.
"You mean you're not from this Hive?" jeered one of the Aliens standing in the audience down below the platform the Queen was perched.
Who are you? sneered the Matriarch, ignoring the Intruder's question.
Huh, I wonder what that's all about…
"I am A'hedre. A-hend-er. I know foreigners have tough time pronouncing things in my own tongue." Chuckling to himself and his little Priest beads and strings and adornments, A'hedre added sharply, "I am the Shaman of my Hive, overall Healer and sign-reader as to the way you say things."
I will chat with… A'hedre… later. Put him in a safeguarded housing Chamber. All of the Aliens submitted to the Queen's command and scooped up A'hedre and shoved him away into the tunnel. I raced over to meet Barb who was watching the newcomer with an unreadable expression.
"Wow! I didn't think I'd actually get to meet an Alien from another Hive before. Barb? What do you think about…? Ahen… ahend…?"
"A'hedre?" Barb finished for me, lashing his tail out with a smirk on his face.
I nodded. "Yeah, that. You think he's worth trusting?"
Barb shrugged his shoulders casually and growled, "I don't trust a single darn Alien not from our Hive. To be honest, I don't think this little 'Shaman' guy should be here long. I don't think he is looking for something. I think something more suspicious to be bothered about."
I have to talk to that newcomer later.
I stored that thought and flagged my tail happily at Barb. "Er – thank you for that. Now, if you excuse me, I need to go train with Legacy!"
After watching Barb's face fall, I though rudely to myself. Worst excuse ever.
Legacy was waiting for me at the camp entrance with his tail dangling low underneath him. Face brightening as he saw me, he bounded over and ran his claws happily over mine. "Did you get permission to go play around with some humans and learn some maneuvers? I've been practicing today and think the exercise should be good!"
I smiled at Legacy. "That's good! But we just went out yesterday. And no, I didn't get permission to leave yet."
Legacy frowned then stepped closer to me. I could feel his breath on my shoulder spikes as he whispered, "Let's sneak out of here and grab a few humans to gobble!"
As I opened my mouth to speak, I was dropped off mid-sentence as a feral snarl sounded behind me. I spun around and tried sniffing out who it was, but couldn't figure it out until she was on top of me. Victory.
"Going back out with your trainee again?" she spat, throwing her face in mine. I saw her beautiful features and long, skinny arms and legs, and felt a bit junky compared to her. I squirmed to remove her, but she reclaimed her grip of my humerus and held me pinned down, still, against the metal. I felt Legacy spiking up in fury next to me. I hoped and prayed to the Matriarch he would not interfere. This was between me and my worst enemy, he had nothing to do with it!
I thrust off Victory for a few seconds and shook off my exoskeleton. "Yes, why would I not? He needs to be taught and stretch his legs, and I need a minute or so to not have your stinky breath in my face!"
At these words, Victory lunged for me and trapped me against the floor. I let out a squeal as I was soon pinned down, with the long claws of the other female Xenomorph sinking into me. Thrashing and writhing, I tried to get her off but she was far too powerful for me and I felt almost as if she was a threat to me like a Praetorian was to her.
"Get off of her!" It was Legacy. I held my breath as I saw my trainee approach Victory with the ruff of his tail and bake spikes thrust up in rage. His teeth were bared back in a hideous snarl, drool and saliva dripping from his teeth. Victory saw him finally and she squeaked and jumped off of me, surprised.
Calming down, Victory lashed out at the younger Xenomorph, "What are you going to do, then? Fight me with all your brand-new skills? I'd like to see you try. Now get lost, kid, before you hurt yourself."
Walking away from the arena which Legacy had staged, Victory focused back on me and began a smirk.
"Now what was I – ouch!"
Snarling, Victory shook off Legacy who had pounced on her, his claws sinking dangerously in her hindquarters. Growling and baring her teeth, the female Alien approached the one that had attacked her, initially leaving me exposed on the ground. I flipped up to my legs and watched as the infuriated Xenomorph female approached my arrogant trainee with a feral yowl.
Legacy seemed to have no fear as he stood up in front of Victory, as if she were a mere unarmed Marine like back in the woods instead of a trained and dangerous Xenomorphic Warrior. Climbing up to two legs, which he had been practicing with for combat, Legacy got down and roared right in her face, spittle and saliva dripping over her scarred snout.
Swiping the debris from off of her face, Victory growled and screeched back at him, balancing much more efficiently on her hind legs than my trainee. I watched with nothing much else to do than well… watch. Victory rose up and held a stray paw into the sky, getting ready to strike Legacy across the muzzle. It was one of her favorite attacks, because like sharks, Aliens have sensitive noses.
Legacy barreled beneath Victory's swipe as she lashed out at him. Startled, Victory fell into a heap on the floor, twisting and turning as she regained her footing. Taking this as a pretty well chance to attack, Legacy pounced on top of his opponent and began to scratch and bite viciously at her back and dorsal tubes. Victory hissed and seethed with fury as she was pinned by the larger Alien against the metal with her muzzle, scarred, held down to it. I was sure and glad that the only thing she must be smelling was her own stinky breath. Maybe then she would know better than to wave up in everyone's face with her chest puffed out like a rooster's.
Throwing off her enemy, Victory scrambled back a few feet and licked some blood edgedly with her inner jaw. She wasted no time in her next strike as she threw the younger Warrior Dome to the ground with a fearsome roar. Cuffing Legacy around the head, the two brawled on the ground with snarls, smacks, and claws.
Legacy hinged both of his hind legs against Victory's chest and threw her off, spinning, through the air as she landed with a crash. I saw Victory disappear behind a few crates of unused material, once used for humans but not to us. A pained scream protruded through it, and Legacy watched in horror as the fighting female Alien limped out with a nail stuck straight through her foot.
Backing up, my trainee attempted to run away as Victory used her front teeth and wrenched the nail straight out of her hand. She spat it down on the floor and started to curl her lip up in a fresh snarl. Lunging at my trainee, I watched as she tossed Legacy to the ground as if he were scraps and scream right in his face. Did he smell her stinky breath, too?
Fending for himself, Legacy threw off the older Xenomorph and sent her crashing back into the box. Using her tail this time, Victory leapt high up into the air and spun around once, before flicking the tip straight up and jamming my trainee straight into the rib bones. Crying out from pain, Legacy thrust himself around and tried to pry himself free from the tail blade digging itself into his ribcage, but to no prevail. Wailing miserably, I watched Legacy get ripped straight through the chest and land in a heap on the floor.
Victory's paw was drawn to her mouth and she stared in shock at the motionless form.
No, no, no!
Crazy rage made me hit Victory across the mouth with the blunt side of my tail blade. Her jaw dislocated and she screamed from fury and rage and hurt as she turned to see her attacker, hand now over her limp mouth that hung open. Tail lashing, she tried to utter out, "'Ow 'are 'ou?"
I laughed and pinned her back against the metal, smirking. "Now you sound like A'hedre!" I teased. Alien laughter sounded around me and Victory made an unpleasant noise from her chest and throat that sounded like she was going to cough up acidic blood in my face. Using my claws, I tossed Victory to the ground and began pounding her face, head, and muzzle into the floor, sending green blood all over the place.
"'Nough 'Evenge, 'et off 'o me!" begged Victory from beneath me, but I kept turning her head to mush with my claws. She would suffer.
"If you killed my trainee, Victory…" I growled as I stopped beating in her head and turned her body to face me, "I will reduce your body like the cur you are and use your body to sweep your blood off the floor."
Dropping the useless thing, I watched Victory's light body smash into the ground and she squealed, drawing her tail in close to her as she tried to let her body heal her jaw back into place.
I rushed back over to where Legacy was crouched over. Reaching out to him, my paws were about to touch his limp form when he turned and looked over at me with a weak smile. Then he focused his attention back on the Xenomorph that had attacked him. I finished off the job and grabbed Victory by her dislocated jaw and yanked it around. "You got very lucky here today, Victory," I spat, letting her body fall back into an unconsciousness state on the floor, her tail flopping aside.
"Oh, what a charming young Xenomorph here, I see." I turned and saw A'hedre watching me from his cage, flicking his long tail as he crouched over in a very human manner with his elbows resting on his thighs, bent like an Indian. "'Tis very violent. Must be very strong and protective of 'er friends."
I shuffled under the glare of the space Shaman. "Not really, I'm not violent too much. Victory just gets on my nerves." Facing Legacy, I sheered at him dangerously, "What did you think you were doing, attacking her?"
A'hedre remained silent as Legacy chortled, "I was protecting you. It was hard to watch you get hurt by that mongrel, and I wanted to help you out. I'm sorry if you disapprove of my actions, but I was doing this because I didn't want you to get hurt. That bastard can go jump into a hole and die, for all I care."
Snorting, I said, "I thank you, but now you can't go off and hunt today because of all that. What you need to be doing is going out to rest. I can't sit here and baby-sit. I have important things to be doing. Just promise me you won't do it again. Legacy Foretold?"
My trainee shook his head. "I won't. Now I shall go tend to one of the healer bays. I'll see you around, Revenge." And then Legacy limped from view.
Watching my apprentice leave, I turned back around to A'hedre who was shambling along with his adornments with lacking interest. Once he saw me approaching his cage he got up on his twos again and peered around the metal and at me.
"You again?" A'hedre asked, flicking his tail. "Whatever is it you want me from, such a ravishing one as 'erself?" Looking me up and down, the Shaman added slyly, "Wit' such a one of my rank!"
Shaking my head, I informed the Intruder, "I am no great rank at all. I just have a few questions that I thought you could answer."
A'hedre watched me with a tilt of his banana-shaped head, then he waggled his claws. "Oh – not more of those questions. I had 'er Majesty throwing out too many of those. Whatever would someone 'of your rank' want from me anyway? Someone just as lovely as 'erself should be going after that 'andsome Xenomorph you were chatting with."
I, again, shook my head and announced, "That's my trainee, and he needs rest. I'm currently under an investigation and I think, since you've been out in the jungle for a little while, you might just have the things I'm looking for." I wrapped my tail around my paws and watched A'hedre watch me with his head still tilted. "So if you could answer all of these questions, I would be more than grateful to you."
"What are these questions?" asked A'hedre, waving his long tail with interest. "It depends on what you are asking that I will answer you." With that last remark he gave a cheery wave and went back to attending his beads.
Getting a better hold on the metal cage bars, I snapped, "Some things you may have seen in the forest. Maybe you have seen a runner every now and then?"
A'hedre shook his head. "The only one I am looking for is that rascal companion of mine. 'E decided to take a trip to where er' 'e wanted to go. I've been alone in these thick jungles for quite a few weeks now."
"With no clue as to where this guy is? You seem pretty lost." A'hedre nodded to confirm that. "Who are you looking for?"
Seemingly shocked that I asked such a question, the Intruder on the other side of the cage looked at me with a quizzical expression, the edge of his tail flicking every once in a while to acknowledge me. "'E is a quizzical one, for sure. 'E moves in secrecy. You won't find 'im here. I know that fore sure… well, you might not."
That gave me an idea.
"Does he only come at night?" I asked.
A'hedre struck out at me with his long tail. "How would I know that?" he demanded, clawing his snout furiously. "It's not like I know where 'e is! Does he come 'ere at night? Is that what you're asking?"
Nodding, I said, "I think I might have seen your companion once or twice before."
Immediately getting frisked up about that, the Intruder snarled, "Where is 'e? I have been searching forever for that little brat. All 'e does is run off because 'e wants to explore this new land. We have been stuck on a spaceship with humans for our whole life. Like that Amanda Ripley? Yeah, one of those. No power, Androids, and Scavengers make up for a whale of a time."
"I'm sure," I said in a rush. "I'm curious about where you come from and all, but can you please tell me why your friend just keeps going away from you? He doesn't want to come back at all?"
Shaking his head, A'hedre growled, "No! And you see, that's what the problem is. He stays in this jungle, attracted to the call of your Matriarch. He is lured to her and cannot keep himself away from her long."
Uh-oh.
"Yes," I growled again. "I do believe I know where he is. I think he comes here every night, in fact. I tried to grab him yesterday. He calls my Matriarch by the name of Blood Fire. He must be attracted to my Queen!" I was too astonished to bear it. A Warrior of another Hive was fond of my Matriarch? It was too bad to stand.
A'hedre seethed in rage and curled his lip to expose his bared teeth. "What a little brat, that one is! Strays away from us because 'e wants to be the Drone to your Queen's eggs? 'E must be longing for 'er, wants to stay with 'er!" Scratching at the bars, A'hedre snarled out, "I must take him back to the spaceship up in the sky. He must stay away from your Queen."
Waving my tail, I asked him, "Also, have you seen any other new Aliens in space?"
For a minute, the Shaman paused as if he were confused, then he grinned and nodded. "I'm not sure if she's one of yours or not, but she's a Praetorian. Rogue from 'er home, is what she says. Wants to get help from other Hives."
My heart dropped dead for a second and a half. I already knew who that was. Molest Tail. How the Hell did she get herself wound up in space? I watched A'hedre as he gazed at my perplexed expression.
"Thank you so much," I breathed, letting go of A'hedre's cage bars and backed away from where he was curled up.
A'hedre waved to me like a human again. "Why 'tank you for coming and giving me some company! I really do appreciate it, you charming young Alien you!" He laughed for a second, then I heard his calls and weird chants subside as I started to make my way back to my nest for a good sleep before I woke up Divine, Immortal, and Darkness again for another run-down of the Matriarch.
Hopping into my nest, I dropped down on my feet and wrapped my tail around my paws. My claws reached up to my head and covered it protectively, still bothered with the still heat that the inside of the Refinery was getting. At least after Molest Tail, who was up in space, was gone we could get our cool air back.
Once the midnight air reached me like a dangling claw, I hopped into the crevice that led to the clearing around me and I sniffed around. The faint smell of Darkness's den was to the right only a few caves over, and I went to her first. Sniffing around, I found her protected by all of her goodies. It reminded me a bit of A'hedre. I wondered if he would find an interest in all of Darkness's stuff.
Prodding my friend with a claw, I stammered, "Darkness! Wake up!"
Stirring beneath me, Darkness lifted up her head and stretched her fore-claws out with a long Xenomorphic yawn. She started around for a moment then turned to look at me with a sniff. "Hello, Revenge," she purred. "Whatever is it do you want?"
Grinning, I spat, "We are one step closer to figuring out this problem with the Matriarch! Go wake everyone else up and bring them to the center of the clearing. Also, grab your protective leaf so we can go back and spy on the Queen for a while. I am up to something."
Darkness rolled beneath me and jumped down out of her nest. She flagged her tail for a minute then raced off to where Immortal's nest was, I was guessing. I watched her as she jumped into a nearby nest and dispersed into it.
After my friend had left, I jumped out of her hole after her and stood beside the fresh-kill pile as she rallied up our Warriors. The four of us that had offered to risk our lives trying to figure out what our dangerous Queen was up to. It had still been a week ago that Divine Thought had joined our group, but he was as loyal as loyalty got and I was proud that he was part of our group.
Immortal was coming from the nearest alcove and she saw me. Rushing over with those intimidating legs of hers, she skidded to a halt once she was close enough to me that she could breathe on my face and I could smell her last meal.
"Hello, Revenge Unleashed," greeted the Warrior as she dipped her head to me. "How nice is it to see you here. I was starting to think you would leave us after failing with catching the runner the first time. How are things holding up for you?"
I smiled. "Today, I got to teach Victory a lesson for messing around and injuring Legacy Foretold. I hope she knows better next time not to pick on him."
Startled, Immortal asked, "What did you do to here?"
Still smirking, I rasped, "Ripped her jaw out of the bone place. Dislocated it. An easy fix, nothing she should be worried about. Should have just torn off her whole jaw so that she couldn't run her mouth anymore. Honestly, it's getting old."
Immortal laughed and sent her spikes on her back bristling. "Whatever you say, Revenge. Whatever you say." It was then that I was Divine Thought and Darkness coming back up to us. Divine seemed pleased, I guessed it was because we were all going on a mission together. Darkness and our newest member looked up to me for an order.
"First, remember what I said Darkness. Go get those leaves." After that order, my friend jumped off into the darkness and returnd with her herbs. After we all got a share of that stuff, I plucked one of the bitter remedies in my mouth and swallowed it with a shake. "Okay," I began after that. "I just figured out from our new Intruder a few new facts that might be our runner we're looking for."
Divine growled. "You were conversing with the guy from outer space? The place where hardly any Xenomorphs know? Now, I trust you Revenge, I really do, but don't you think that move was a little overboard? That talking to him for answers was a bit extreme?"
"No," I yowled. "It wasn't. I also figured out something about Molest Tail. She's in space too, right now, trying to get A'hedre's Hive to fight in an ultimate battle alongside her. She wants to lead them to war with us."
Divine interrupted me again to my annoyance. "So does that mean A'hedre is an enemy? If he is working with the Aliens in space and the Aliens in space might possibly be working for Molest?"
Reluctantly, I chirped, "Yes. But I also got some facts about who might be with the Matriarch, talking to her. You know that Alien A'hedre is talking about that he is looking for? That might just be the guy because no one in the Hive would call the Matriarch by her name 'Blood Fire.'"
"I think you're onto something," complimenting Darkness as she swooshed her tail beneath me. "I really do think that. With some extra push and shove I believe we could capture this runner and interrogate him."
Turning to Divine, I asked him, "Now, why don't you think that's extreme?"
The clueless male Alien just shrugged his shoulders helplessly.
"Anyway," I continued. "I want to go back through the back entrance to the Matriarch's chamber and see if we can find this guy. If he is calling the Queen by Blood Fire, I want Immortal, for she is the strongest of us, to go to the other side of the chamber and wait for this guy to leave, then strike him when he turns the corner. Got it?"
The long-legged Alien beneath me nodded her head and spun in a happy circle.
"Okay, is that all we need?" I asked. "Let's move!"
When everyone got their herbs to protect their thoughts, again I was absorbed into a cloud of mist and then felt like I was falling, flying, then over again. Soon I had returned to the ground and was peering through the senses of Revenge Unleashed again. Darkness was leading the way because she knew it best. The tangy metal and air was still unknown to me but I made no complaint as I followed after the Aliens that knew what they were doing. Keeping my head down, I weaved after the group as they knowingly wound their way down the tunnels to the back of the Hive.
Immortal was crouched beside me with her dorsal tubes quivering in her excitement. She pressed her lean frame against the floor as she kept that Warrior Ridged head of hers flat against her back, strutting with a kind of swagger that made me tilt my head curiously. Whatever the heck was wrong with her, I wouldn't know. This group was kind of silly and a bit rash, come to think of it. But I had no problem with them. Friends love friends for who they are, not ration them out for their flaws.
The trail to the back of the Hive's Refinery home was quiet and still-aired as usual. I kept that long slender head of my down and tried to mimic what Immortal was doing. She glanced my way and smirked when she saw me trying to copy her. I was almost embarrassed enough to lift my head again, but for the sake of our cover I pressed it down flatter between my dorsal tubes, bothering very little with the twitching curl of my lip as I made my way down the chambers with a flick of my tail.
We had all reached the tunnel and were jumping into it. Number 6's bed was occupied tonight. By the Matriarch! I thought. I prayed to the Overlord that she was not awake checking for Xenomorphs sneaking around. That would be horrible if she found me back here. Number 6 I had not seen in quite a little while, for it was Nethead guarding over the camp last, but I knew she hated me just as much as she used to and would not hesitate for a mere second to get me in trouble with the Queen.
So as we all passed that little cleft to the right of the tunnel, we made sure to tip-toe and stay pressed close to each other. Our scent would linger if we stayed here long, so I intended for this trip to be surely shorter than all the others. Wrapping my tail around the back of my legs so it didn't stick out, I weaved around the rusted metal pieces and brittle junk piles that could prove bothersome to me. I might step on one of those and alert someone. Who knows?
By the time the end of the circular tube of a tunnel was reached I could already hear voices down below. The Matriarch's streaming voice, powerful and graceful and some other voice I did not remember or seem to know. Darkness pounced ahead of me to lead the way, her head kept low just like the rest of us. Her tail waggled so we could all come closer. Brushing aside the current to the tunnel so we could look into the chamber of the Matriarch, I poked my head out and saw the form of the Queen laying down on the floor. She was in conversation with a much, much smaller Warrior beside her who was informing her of something. He was as handsome as he was tall, and his voice was unique and raspy. However, he did not speak like A'hedre.
"No, Blood Fire. There were too many humans by the camp gate and I could not get in for two moments without getting caught." Sighing, I watched the Xenomorph heave his shoulders and roll his fingers around. "I can try again later if you want me to," he started, his face twisted in a gruesome smile. A nice smile.
The Matriarch purred and sniffed, "Oh, trust me R'gdrone. I would not wish for anything else from you. From what I know, you have tried your best and would do no else to see my satisfaction."
I gasped and my jaw hung open. The Matriarch was not talking R'gdrone telepathically with one hundred perecent of her mind, but instead like an ordinary Warrior or Praetorian of the Hive! This was shocking news. All the Queen ever did was make sure she talked in that ringing voice she had. Her "normal" speech was unlike anything I had ever heard of. Curious for where this chat was going, I leaned in some more but was pulled back rudely by Immortal and Divine.
"What?" I hissed out at them, frustrated that they had tugged me away.
Divine snarled at me, "You could have fallen into the chamber, and then you more than likely would have gotten caught. We could not let that happen. I'm sorry if I and Immortal offended you, but we were just ensuring our survival by making sure we could all live for the next tweak of sunlight." I just stared at his smallish form and shook my head.
"Fine, whatever," I growled. "But next time, let me fall into the hole. It's worth it."
As we all went back to listening, my mind sauntered elsewhere. There were things I wanted to know badly about these two. But my instinct to the Matriarch and my defensiveness for her made me want to put down this new guy from space on the spot. But she seemed pleasant with this Alien, this brand new guy, and I had to admit I was stunned. I had gone way too far off the edge of my thoughts as I accidently stumbled a bit and let a long piece of metal fall to the floor with a clatter.
Silence started from within the chamber, and I heard a voice, R'gdrone's, snarl.
"Okay, who's there?"
The two of those Aliens were staring right at this hole. This wasn't looking good.