"More and more as we head into the future we are seeing technology implemented into every aspect of human life. Communication, labour, maintenance and security to name a few. Not one aspect of human life is absent of technology, we as a species simply cannot survive without it now.

To add a spin to our technological Achilles heel, research now shows that humanity as a whole has become worryingly desensitized to the tragedies of modern human life. War, disaster and tragedy simply do not affect us now the way it used to before we took to the stars, constantly exposed to it on a daily basis through the galactic communication network. death has become a monotony through technology.

The controversial subject of evolutionary enhancement through human augmentation is another aspect of this issue we could explore but I don't think we have enough time to navigate that divisive subject tonight.

On the other end of the spectrum I will add the increasing realism of synthetics or as they are more commonly known 'androids'. I had the chance to speak to and study Benedict Weyland's one of a kind Andrew model last year. Now he is no ordinary synthetic, specially designed with state of the art implants within his CPU that simulate emotion, with this he is closer to being human than any model before him. I know what you are all thinking, a robot that can feel, that's impossible but I swear it's true. I saw him display the entire dynamic of human emotion in our talk, I didn't know whether to find it incredible or terrifying. But every major step in technological evolution has always started with one small, brilliant innovation.

And it looks like my time is up my friends so I will leave you with a questioning thought. If we are becoming more like the machines we create and they in turn are becoming more human, where does that leave us? What does it mean for the future of humanity or indeed the future of living existence itself?"

Thank you everyone for your time tonight."

Professor Kevin Hasting speaking at a robotics convention in Tokyo, Japan.

December 24th 1230 Shanghai Facility, Charles Weyland's Personal Quarters.

Every glass surface within the bathroom was thickly clouded with condensation, the air was oppressively hot simulating a sauna more than a bathroom. The steam acted like a filter, making every breath a hard fought effort to get the necessary amount of oxygen. It shrouded his reflection in the mirror and his view of the outside world through the panoramic windows. It was exactly the way he liked it, he was alone and invisible. The world viewed him as a charismatic, charming bachelor who could befriend anyone but he saw himself differently in his isolation.

He wiped away the mist of condensation from the mirror and his façade for the hundredth time and simply stared into himself. It was one of those rare occasions where one inadvertently looked at the shell that their soul inhabited, a fleeting moment of existential perception. Before Charles could grasp the experience it slipped away like a wonderful dream where consciousness drags both the dream and the memory away.

Still he desperately tried to hold onto the feeling, his eyes boring into himself but after a few unblinking moments he gave up. He took a handful of shaving cream into his hands and began to massage it through his fingers. It was in that moment that he was reminded again of the one thing he truly enjoyed in life. Manipulation. His home tutors had taught him that it was the most powerful tool in business and politics. That was all it was to them though, a tool to complete a goal and it was because of that viewpoint that Charles had surpassed his tutors in that skill at a young age. He enjoyed the game, he enjoyed watching the demise of his opponent slowly unfold as a trickle turned into a waterfall. In all competition though when one continues to win every time, the game becomes somewhat stale.

He stood leaning against the sink staring into his light brown eyes through the mirror as he wandered inside his mind. It was a deep maze of memories, thoughts and fantasies, some too dark for even himself at times. Most would recoil upon seeing how Charles' mind works but he had never felt more comfortable exploring it.

With the steam finally dissipating he began to shave his day old stubble but he was driven from this private moment as he heard laughter coming from the bedroom. The sudden noise knocked off his concentration so far that he cut himself in the neck just under the chin. His irritation cut into his calm as the razor parted open a small gap in the skin. Blood slowly dragged itself down his stubbled neck before it was caught by a tissue to be brought back up to the wound. Usually he would let out a curse when he felt the cut but he felt nothing, not the warm water that had caressed his face a minute ago, nor the shaving foam or the razor head gliding over his clean skin.

Such was the effects of the drug Sense. He had taken it before bedding the young woman who was still in the bedroom. It was a drug newly on the market that had slipped through as soon as the compounds to make it were discovered. Customers loved its ability to greatly enhance the human sense of touch, which made it a drug mostly for the enhancement of sex. The reason for its illegality was the two side effects users often experienced, while under the influence any pain experienced would be enhanced too. It made even the slightest injury extremely painful to the individual who took it so corporations never looked into it for a production grant. The other flaw was the comedown; mostly users' bodies would turn completely numb for at least a few hours afterwards which made it a difficult drug to work around the next day.

Charles never noticed until the condensation had dissipated that his skin was partially scalded around the top of his shoulders and back, the skin inflamed in an angry faint red. Burned from the shower he had just taken upon awakening, he was still new to the drug and it's after effects. He wondered why the water had felt so lukewarm when he was washing himself.

As he cleaned the shaving foam away from his face he saw a naked figure loom silently behind him. Her presence was announced by a childish giggle, emanating from a covered smile as she saw his exposed, undressed state. It irritated him all the more but it didn't shame him as he returned to cleaning his face. He took every measure possible to attain his looks, he knew he was always the best looking man in the room. "You should get dressed and leave, your shift was meant to start more than two hours ago." He said coldly.

She walked behind him as she caressed her arms around his waist while looking over his shoulder into his eyes through the mirror. Despite seeing her press herself into him Charles felt nothing, not even the gratitude of receiving this act of affection. "Well I thought that my boss would give me the day off so we could spend more time together." She asked with a wink as she used her hands to try to persuade him further but still he felt nothing. She clearly had no tolerance for the drug and was still under the influence as her hands recoiled upon seeing his limpness at her touch.

He laughed loudly at her foolishness; she was predictably like all the others. Idiots who thought a night with him was a ticket to a profitable relationship. He had claimed his desire and wanted nothing more than to prepare for the day alone, her face to be nothing but a memory to keep him sated until the next. He felt something unfamiliar though, a feeling rose within him, a violent tide that filled his chest and twisted his entitled sense of right and wrong.

Charles turned, taking her wrists in his larger hands with a slight, gentle grip. He began to laugh back as he looked into her eyes with an inviting smiling, tricking her into believing he may have wanted further intimacy with her. "Yes I am your boss but you see erm…" He paused as he tried to remember her name.

She clearly realized his forgetfulness as she responded in an outraged tone. "It's Emma Charles how could you forget! After such a great fuck! God!"

"Sorry it's so easy to forget when you don't have your nametag strapped to your chest." He said casually. Her disgusted shock was silenced for a moment as his grip on her wrists grew ever tighter until she grimaced and let out a shout of pain, still feeling the first phase of the Sense high. Unaccustomed to it's effects his grip felt like a crushing vice, she thought her bones were breaking but held her with the same strength that he would hold a cup of coffee.

Charles still didn't quite know what he felt inside. A disturbing fantasy birthed in his imagination and he felt no guilt or empathy for wanting to pursue it so he decided to enact it. He began to push her into the bedroom, harshly throwing her onto the bed without effort as she shouted in protest and pain. He paused to search her vacant clothes on the floor for a specific item. Afterwards he leapt on top of her, pressing his knees hard into her flailing arms as she gritted her teeth from the pressure. He held her company nametag above her while he visibly unhooked the metal needle from its clasp. The pin looked lethal to the vulnerable, defenseless woman underneath him as she scratched and clawed pointlessly at his bare thighs.

Her screams rose in volume as he lowered himself, placing the needle point lightly on the pale skin just above her left breast. Squeezing a small portion between two of his fingers he rested the needle point on one side. Her soft skin put up a weak, futile resistance against the thin metal but with a slight ounce of pressure Charles sunk it inside. Her scream of pain howled through the room and beyond as he slid it slowly across, inside her skin with a faint smile. The metal was delicately pressing on the inside of her skin ready to exit.

"Shhh." He whispered closely to her face as he pressed down on the skin above the needle head so it would resurface. Her screams lowered into a gritted whimper with tears slowly running down her cheeks as he clipped the bloodied needle into the clasp of the plastic tag. He knew he was being aroused during this careful task but he didn't focus on it, only the unrelenting curiosity to see his fantasy through. Never to repeat the like again.

"There we go now. Emma. Now I remember your name." He said it almost bored without feigning surprise as he raised himself swiftly off the bed. "You're an analyst on the Communications level. Sorry my memory is terrible sometimes for names." He sounded so calm and civil even when she wailed in pain once more as she probed the tag pinned to her bare chest, blood oozing over her pale skin.

He ignored her outcries of suffering as he wandered over to his wardrobe. He dressed himself without acknowledging her presence once more even as she cried for help. His last glance at her was through the mirror as he adjusted his tie and set his hair like any other day in life. While making his way to the door he turned to face her at the last minute. "I will make sure you are well looked after my dear and compensated for your trouble. It's probably best that you keep your time here to yourself, we don't want you hurting yourself again now do we?" He asked kindly.

She shook her head erratically before she attempted fearfully to remove the tag, her shaking fingertips tinted red with blood.

"Wonderful." He said before exiting the room. As he walked through the door the security guard stationed to his room approached him nervously.

"Everything okay in there sir?"

Charles checked his watch before answering. "Could you please take care of the young lady in my quarters. Make it quick though we have a busy day ahead of us and we need all hands on deck."

"Yes sir, don't worry everything will be taken care of." The guard assured.

"Thank you." He finished as he strolled towards the elevator whistling a merry tune. It was set to be a good day for him, for thirty unfortunate death row inmates though they were due to receive their executions earlier and more painfully than they expected.

Anna stood with her brother and father on a raised platform within the main body of the facility surrounded by the derelict's two massive, pronged arms. The arms surrounded the Weylands and the research staff working behind them in it's dark, ethereal embrace. Anna had decided to relinquish her more formal attire for function as she had claimed a security uniform an the accompanying boots to better suit her role assisting Cormack. When Charles arrived shortly after her he wore his uncomfortable smile once more, making her wonder who had suffered to provide it. Her father was the first on site before them though he looked the weakest she had seen him since his return, the horrific wound to his head must have been taking its toll. She had asked if he wanted to get it checked again but he merely shrugged her concern off, more interested in seeing the inside of the alien ship.

The research head for the derelict was Jared Cameron. This was the first time Anna had met the man and was slightly relieved to hear that he wasn't a Metatologist. His interest in this project was purely scientific. For a small man though he was shockingly loud as he barked orders to his team to spark them into action when they had arrived. He was making final preparations to show the Weylands the interior of the ship as it was now close to fully explored and besides the cargo bay it was considered safe.

The only equipment he handed out to them though were high powered flashlights, Anna's expression when handed hers was clearly that she expected more. "You sure it's safe in there, we won't need masks or air units?"

"Don't worry Miss Weyland we scan the air inside the ship hourly it's perfectly safe of any airborne pathogen and the ship's surfaces are a composite metal I've never seen before. Where we're going it's perfectly safe."

They entered the Derelict through one of three entryways positioned in the center of the ship. Anna gazed at the opening before following the others inside and she couldn't shake the feeling that they were walking into the womb of an alien mother. Her titanic legs spread open and ready to disperse her deadly seed on any poor souls foolish enough to approach her. Once inside the corridors they began walking through were disturbing in their organic construction. The walls were structured completely with some kind of blackened bones, supporting the corridors with the ribs of this giant beast. They felt sticky to the touch as Anna's hands came away with a thick, slimy substance that she tried desperately to rub off on her trousers but a sickly chemical smell stayed formed to her fingers.

"Smells horrible when you touch it don't it? We sent a sample to the lab for analysis but they couldn't place a substance on it so far. Same with whatever the ship is made of but it's early days yet." Cameron said as he knocked on the wall hard, no sound came from the strikes but their very breaths seemed to echo through the ship. If anything dangerous were still on the ship, it would no doubt be aware of their location down to the last meter just from their vital intake of oxygen. Anna felt like the walls were threatening to close around her the further they walked; every dark corridor looked similar in its grotesque abnormality.

They finally emerged from the darkness into a massive chamber brightened by artificial lights left by Cameron's team. The room was more like a cathedral with its immense height, the walls sharing the unsettling organic design as the rest of the ship. What resided in the center of the room though, positioned above a raised circular platform was the alien creature that never failed to shock any of the staff who had laid eyes upon it for the first time.

The fossilized carcass that lay strapped to the turret-shaped device appeared more ancient than time. It seemed humanoid in shape but that's where the similarities to a human being ended. Apart from Cameron everyone including Charles stood agape staring at the dead alien. As much as Anna disapproved of this facility and everything involved she couldn't help but marvel at the majesty of the sight before her. She knew she would remember this sight for the rest of her days no matter how hard she tried to forget it. Never before had she felt so small and insignificant, the massive expanse of space already explored was only a minute percentage of what lay in the darkness. Humanity's evolution in space travel and technology seemed so young and immature compared to the race that this being belong to who had accomplished so much so long ago.

"We decided to call it the Pilot. Something else isn't it?" Cameron commented knowing they were all still stunned to silence. He couldn't blame them, two staff members nearly went into shock when they first explored the ship.

"It's incredible." Benedict gasped. "Can we take a closer look Doctor?"

"Of course sir, just be careful around the cordoned area around behind the platform because there's a hole in the floor. It's a long drop before you hit the floor in the cargo bay." He warned, the last thing he needed was a dead Weyland on his watch.

"Cargo bay?" Anna asked as they walked up a metal staircase installed into the side of the platform. What many didn't know though was that the engineer who installed the stairs went through a handful of tungsten carbide drill heads to penetrate the ship's unknown alloy.

"Yeah it's where all the eggs are, makes up the bulk of the ship but it's off limits."

"I want to see it." Charles said, his eyes never leaving the pilot fossil.

"I'm sorry sir but I can't let you down there."

"But you have been down there as well as other staff so it must be safe. Father you haven't seen it yet either so why not?" He looked towards Benedict.

"Very well. When your done showing us the upper level Jared take us below." Benedict ordered despite the looks of protest from Anna and Cameron.

"Yes sir but only if you listen to my instruction carefully." Jared didn't like it but he couldn't defy his employer.

"Great" Anna answered, her voice filled with bleak sarcasm as the climbed the stairs to study the fossil further.

Upon first inspection of the Pilot it appeared to have been grown out of the chair it resided in. It's massive upper torso was only visible as it's back and waist melded into the biomechanical chair. The skull had an over developed cranium area to contain the brain. The holes where it's eyes once laid looking directly into a panel connected to the enormous cannon device attached to it's biomechanical throne. Even empty the eye sockets carried an unsettling character. Begging the question of what those orbs had seen in the Pilot's lifetime.

Without thought Anna laid her small hand on the pilot's enlarged ribs, running it along them her heart stopped as she saw a gaping hole near the center of the chest. "Did you notice this Doctor?"

He came around with Charles and Benedict who he had been talking to on the other side of the Pilot to see what she meant. "Yeah pretty large wound, we could only assume this is what killed it, probably why the ship crashed on LV-426. We can't figure out though what caused it; apart from the eggs we found there are no other life forms on the ship."

"You haven't been reading the reports from the Bio labs have you Cameron?" Charles asked inconsequentially.

"Sorry sir I haven't had the time, been too busy with trying to create an outer access to the cargo bay." He said with his arm pointed below them. "Dr Monroe couldn't stress enough how everyone should stay away from those eggs. I have had to use damn near every non-essential android in the facility to handle them and get through the crack on the left side of the ship." He paused grimacing as he rubbed his brow; clearly he hadn't been getting enough sleep. "No offence sir but it's been an absolute pain in the ass to organize this and meet deadlines."

Ben laid his hand on Cameron's shoulder looking at him sympathetically. "Doctor I can't thank you enough for your hard work and dedication. I'll make sure your bonus is raised on completion of this…" He slurred his last word as he leaned his full weight on Cameron for the briefest of seconds before righting himself again. Cameron caught him swiftly though as Anna rushed forward while Charles watched.

"Father what's wrong? Is it your head?" She panicked. "We should get you some rest and checked out."

He threw off her arm and concerns as he always did. "I'm fine!" He growled as she backed away hurt from his anger. "I'm sorry dear but I did not get this ship here just to let a bang to the head stop me from witnessing all this. Now doctor lead us down to the cargo bay."

Cameron hesitantly rubbed at his jaw while leaning against the Pilot like it was just another desk in the workplace. "Sir I still don't think that's a good idea, I've only got droids down there right now because I didn't like my guys getting too close to the eggs when we first explored."

"Just get us down there!" He barked, his temper began to reveal itself which was unlike Benedict. Anna always knew her father to be in control of the anger inside him but the cracks of his weakness began to reveal themselves today.

"But sir there is something else on this level you should see, I believe above all else it is the hidden gem of this find. In our exploration of the ship we may have found the core." He pleaded for them to follow as he headed towards one of many identical tunnels in this carcass of a ship.

After a few minutes of walking through one of the arteries that connected through the ship they were close to entering into a new room, a boiler room. That's what Anna called it in her mind as the sweat began dripping from her hair from the intense heat that emanated from the center of the ship. Before they entered the room though she noticed Cameron looking extremely perplexed and worried as the entered.

"Somethings not right, the temperature was never this high on the routine checks. Wait can you hear that?" He said stopping the three before they ventured further, raising his head towards the walls to try and define the sound. A deep rhythmic beat travelled along the skeleton of the ship, gradually growing louder and louder. Reluctantly Anna pressed her hand again on the slime covered wall to feel the vibration, it grew stronger as they progressed.

"We will keep going but please don't touch anything." Cameron announced worryingly, whatever it was it was new to him which couldn't be good though the team confirmed that apart from the pilot and the eggs the ship was deserted.

Anna's thoughts then turned to the alien that had obviously been birthed from the pilot, even though this ship had crashed eons ago she couldn't help but imagine something monstrous stalking the halls… stalking them.

Emerging into the room the rigged stationary lights and their flashlights fluttered continuously, making seeing the interior more than difficult. The beat they had followed became a slow thunderous drumming, filling their skulls close to the point where they were becoming nauseous. Benedict was clearly suffering more than the rest of them so Anna wanted him out of here first before the rest of them.

"Cameron whatever that sound is coming from it's clearly hurting my father, we need to leave!" Although the sound wasn't overbearing she still felt as though she needed to shout for her voice to carry over the pressure.

"I know just give me a minute I need to see what it is… Oh my god!" His voice trailed away after that as his flashlight flickered on what could only be described as literally the living, beating heart of the ship.

Though visibility was poor Anna could see a massive dark orb expanding and contracting with the beat, creating the thundering sound. Its exterior appeared like old, darkened leather, clearly being lubricated by the same substance that covered the halls. Organic tubes connected the core to the rest of the ship, fueling it with an unknown substance.

"Something must have reactivated it, possibly being introduced into our atmosphere. Surely it must have been active then when the atmosphere processor on Acheron went live though. I'm honestly not sure." Cameron confessed, clearly as bewildered as the others.

Anna couldn't blame Cameron for his confusion, he was one of the best ship engineers money could buy but he had only ever dealt with human technology; electricity and steel. A ship made with what looked like bones, it's core a literal beating heart was more than a nightmare it was an impossibility for human comprehension.

"Whatever it is your team can handle it, my father cant so let's just get out of here." Anna said while constantly looking over to Ben.

"I have to agree with my daughter Doctor, whatever it is the sound is making my head worse. Just show us the cargo chamber so we may leave and let you and your team continue with their work." Ben said, pain visibly stretching across his strained face.

Afterwards they left to continue back to the pilot's chamber, the sound of the core diminished thankfully but it never fully left them. Cameron tried on several attempts to contact the facility outside but the core's activation scrambled any radio communications.

The entrance to the shaft beside the pilot had obviously been caused by an extremely corrosive substance as it melted all the way through the tough alloy creating a black pit to the bay below. Anna remembered from the Nostromo report she had read earlier that Lt Ripley and the science officer confirmed the alien's blood was a highly concentrated form of molecular acid. Another bad sign to accompany countless more.

The alien was turning out to be so deadly already even though she had only seen it as an infant. Doctor Monroe demanded to see them after they had finished on the derelict. He had said there had been some interesting developments while they slept involving the alien contained below them. She dreaded the surprises that monster had in store more than anything.

Cameron, Benedict and Anna were making their way out the room to exit the ship but Charles remained beside the pit staring down. Cameron noticed quickly. "Sir we have to enter the cargo bay through the tear in the hull."

"There's a perfectly good rappel winch here though." He spoke as he strapped the harness around himself. "Anna, Father." Strapped in he floated above the pit. "Why don't we make the tour a little more exciting." As soon as he spoke and before Cameron could protest Charles lowered himself down into the dark.

"Jesus. Sir I can't let him go down alone and I can't leave you two." Cameron looked like he was on the verge of a nervous breakdown.

"I know. I'll go down next." Benedict spoke without a trace of apprehension.

"You ever hear that phrase if someone jumped off a bridge would you do it too." Anna reluctantly followed them towards the pit waiting for the winch to raise back up.

Her father went next and she could see that Cameron was making sure he was strapped in tight before letting him go down. A minute later and now it was Anna's turn, no doubt Charles would enjoy watching her discomfort as she went down. She was terrified of heights but she wouldn't dare give him the satisfaction of refusing to do it. When she and Cameron were alone they both shared a disapproving look as he strapped her in.

"I'm sorry I know you don't like this." She winced as Cameron tightened the last strap harshly.

"Not liking it is an understatement Miss Weyland. No matter what don't lose your footing."

She nodded as she lowered herself down slowly. On her descent into the belly of the beast all she could see was the marred walls of the shaft. The acid had melted the metal to the point of liquid before it's effect dissipated and hardened. As she reached the roof of the cargo bay the melted alloy became shaped like stalagmites. The metal dripping black tears as her eyes filled with the awesome sight of the derelict's deadly organic payload.

Cameron was right when he said the majority of the ship was reserved for the cargo. It was as if the ship was just a shell for this titanic chamber. Thousands of the eggs could be seen, lying under a hazy blue curtain of advanced stasis. Lights placed all around the area illuminated the horror even more as she watched the androids working among them.

The eggs were separated into segments by the ship's bizarre design. Some of the androids congregated into one area as they worked tirelessly without distraction. Each one delicately forming protective metal cylinders around the seeds of destruction, from a quick count Anna could only guess that nearly thirty were shelled and protected. No doubt for the flight of unfortunate prisoners due later in the day, she honestly felt for those people no matter what crimes they had committed. Used as cattle to birth horrific monsters, no one should have to die like that.

As her feet finally hit the ground, much to her relief, she hadn't realized it until now how unbearably hot it felt down here. The air felt thick and suffocating with the humidity inside the chamber, an apparitional pressure gliding around her body ready to tighten when the slightest weakness was shown. She disengaged the winch and stepped carefully towards her father who was gazing not at the eggs but the chamber around them, clearly he was taken aback by the perverse majesty of this vessel.

"You okay Father?" She asked as she stood beside him, still careful of her step. One slip would mean falling beneath the hazy sapphire stasis field, awakening the dormant parasites nested around them.

He turned to her, smiling. The sight would have made Anna rejoice had it not been for the murderous requirements for this endeavor; she wouldn't watch the prisoners be impregnated later. If she did she may as well be the executioner, she just had to look after herself and Cormack.

"I'm… relieved Anna." He laughed heartily. "So much has been lost trying to discover and research this ship and the creatures within. I truly never thought I would live to see something so magnificent in my time." He did then the truly unexpected, years of stern, distant parenting vanished in an instant. He wrapped both of his arms around his children and drew them closer. Anna felt more than awkward from the random outburst of unrecognizable love. She took comfort though in watching Charles face as his façade shattered for that moment. He looked just as vulnerable as she felt, those feelings washed away instantly. This was just an overreaction, a fluke. Charles was still the enemy, her father the distant referee, this facility was a battlefield and if you let your guard down in the battlefield you died.

The siblings drew away simultaneously from Benedict who was still unaware of the severity of their conflict. Even still he couldn't be made disappointed or miserable anymore; he did what his father never could for him. He secured his children's future. "This is exactly what we needed you two, with the technology and specimens from this ship, the company will be swimming in profits long after I am gone. For the both of you this is my gift." His last words drifted solemnly through Anna's heart plucking strings long abandoned. Cameron joined them from above and for a few minutes they stood in silence gazing at their prize.

"Your still gonna be with us for years to come though Father." Anna said smiling hopefully wishing the words mentally inside.

He rubbed the bandage covering his ear tenderly. "Regardless you are both ready to assume command of the board but you both need to…"

"What the hell…" Benedict's words were cut off by Cameron who was inspecting something away from them facing the massive skeletal wall.

"What is it doctor?" Benedict said as the three moved to join him.

He faced an eroded gap within the wall; the lining of the opening was marred with the same burns as the hole they had descended from. The height though allowed someone to walk through with little effort. Whatever made it was a lot bigger than what created the roof access. "I never saw this on the first walkthrough but then again we didn't have all the lights on yet yesterday. Stand back I'm going to take a look inside."

He waved them back with no effect as he activated his flash light and ventured within, he disappeared from view swiftly as the darkness swallowed him. An unbearable minute of silence followed as the trio waited hesitantly until Cameron emerged, sustained fright stretching across his face. "You are not going to believe what is in there." He shouted to one of the androids working in the egg bay.

"What is it? Another fossil like the one above?" Charles asked his anticipation showing in his rushed words. A child at Christmas waiting to find out what the mystery gift is.

"It's a fossil yes but nothing like the one above. C'mon number eight get up here." He motioned towards one of the modified working Joes who walked towards them casually. "No wonder Seegson sold you so cheap, useless fucking Joe."

"Yes sir, what may I assist you with today?" The android uttered coldly with an ancient, emotionless speech drive. Clearly inferior to androids manufactured by Weyland Yutani. The Working Joes were bought from the now defunct Seegson Corporation as low maintenance menial labor, much stronger than the average human without the need to feed or pay.

Seegson's failure to compete with modern robotics showed as the android struggled to navigate the uneven tunnel as it followed Cameron back into the darkness. A moment later the inhuman white eyes glowed from the darkness as the Working Joe emerged carrying an immense bone. Cameron followed behind carrying the other side it became clear this was no mere bone as they revealed it to the trio.

It was an elongated skull, so long it would match the average height of a human and the top of it was ridged not unlike the walls that surrounded them. As their eyes scanned the length of the gargantuan skull they focused on what appeared to be the face of the ancient creature, or what at least could be called a face. Two enlarged eye sockets burned their long dead gaze into Anna as she laid a hand on the calcified bone, merely touching it felt horrifying to her as she looked upon the jaws, lined with sharp canines longer than her fingers.

Realization struck them all as Charles stated the thought they all shared. "The alien that the prisoner gave birth to?"

"It looks similar but the report from the Nostromo incident claimed the creature aboard that ship only reached eight feet once grown." Benedict corrected.

Cameron and the android lowered the skull slowly onto the hard floor. "Well from the look of the skeleton back in there I'd say this thing must have been a good deal bigger than that."

"Must've come out of our pilot friend upstairs." Anna said with a shield of sarcasm, a terrified and lonely girl hiding behind the barrier, staring at the long dead monster before her.

Her isolated fear, coupled with the amazement of discovery felt by everyone created a blinding of sorts. Everyone was caught up with their emotions so much so that they failed to notice Benedict step backwards and trip over Charles' foot. His body toppled to the side falling downwards into the sea of eggs beside them. Anna's first inclination to the incident was the Working Joe's pale glowing eyes following her father down.

Before any of them could react he was already underneath the stasis field. His body a torrent of roaring pain, his vision when it came to was blurred, only dark spheres were visible below the blue surface. As he became aware where he lay a frozen panic brushed through him chilling his heart and mind into a bleak and hopeless picture of finality.

Anna nearly threw herself aimlessly to reach him if it wasn't for Charles grabbing her with both arms, constricting her aimless scream towards her father. She scratched and pulled to try for release but only for him to hold tighter.

"Don't be stupid Anna! You're not going down there okay! Cameron use the droids, get him out of there!" He shouted over her screams. She became limp after a few moments, realizing there was no way to participate in this living hell, only spectate. Her vision watered as tears streamed down her cheeks, her teary eyes blurring this nightmare's clarity. He held her like he had all those years ago but instead they both felt in unison, not his sick perverse pleasure but a helpless fear watching their last parent in mortal danger.

Benedict's vision began to clear. He could see the dark, foreboding silhouettes of the alien eggs, standing high above his fallen body, obelisks of forthcoming doom. Thankfully no movement emanated from the frozen orbs, he lay deathly still, unwilling to move in the event he awoke one of the parasites from their ancient slumber. One of the outdated synthetics began to walk towards him, it's poor mobility programming ceasing any thought of stealth as he marched past the eggs without caution. It's steps were the only sound heard apart from his daughter's fearful whimpers and his own panicked breathing.

It stood above him staring into him with those lifeless artificial white eyes, without moving the pointless lips the machine uttered. "Would you like me to assist you sir?"

"Yes." Ben whispered, his eyes darted to movement from an egg residing a few steps from the android's side as the petal lips peeled away, releasing steaming vapors of heat into the stasis field. His racing heart shifted into overdrive as a pale skeletal digit emerged out from the mouth of hell.

"Please get me out of here!" He pleaded above the commotion above him as the others saw the parasite emerging.

The Working Joe crouched awkwardly leaning towards Ben with no sense of urgency, how could it know? The walking computer was not truly intelligent only an advanced calculator, programmed to respond to a certain number of equations. Saving a life was not filed in its main directives nor was discretion.

"Please repeat the query sir a Working Joe is always here to help." The android played the appropriate response above screams from above. Ben didn't hear them though; he was trying to raise himself up, his body not responding to his panicked, injured brain. The parasite crawled out of the opening, it's legs moving with a faceless purpose towards it's victim. He was paralyzed as it scuttled up his legs, his body frozen in fear, he couldn't breathe as the parasite leapt to claim its life's purpose.

His last sight was of the illuminated, dead eyes before the world became black. A decadent rotting smell filled his nostrils as he breathed oxygen one last time. Before an unnatural hand gripped his skull so tightly his head wound flared alive with fresh agony. His scream was cut off as a rope was wrapped around his neck, the slick warm noose tightening. He fell unconscious quickly but not before the final attack as something pushed his mouth open, the wet pharynx sliding it's vile body down his throat to begin its impregnation.

He choked into a forced slumber as Anna's cries carried through the massive chamber. Charles was silent, his mind calculating many things while a disturbing thought kept re-emerging, soon he and Anna would be receiving a new half sibling. It didn't horrify him but only intrigued him.

It had taken nearly twenty minutes to move the incapacitated Benedict from the bowels of the Derelict to the medical bay where Doctor Monroe was standing by. Anna had been hysterical ever since it happened while Charles stayed at her side, silent but clearly affected by this disaster.

Monroe had initially ordered Anna to be removed from the room due to her 'distracting behavior'. Charles though in a surprising turn of character told him she was staying as he held her, silencing her cries into his chest. After a while Anna regained her composure as Monroe approached them both after examining their father.

"As you are both aware the parasite is providing him oxygen as well as delivering the payload down his throat." Anna held her face in her hands sobbing as she heard the brutal details.

"We now only have one option to save him but I need your approval. Both of yours."

"Out with it Monroe! Anything as long as you can save him" Charles barked

"It's not full proof…" He uttered nervously. "…but I think when the parasite detaches itself we should operate immediately to remove the embryo before it grows. I don't know what's going to happen when I get in there but I believe it's our best chance of success."

'Get in there' the words cycled over and over in Anna's head to form a horrible image; Monroe's hands inside her father's chest covered in his blood holding the murderous offspring inside him. What if he should accidentally cut it, spilling its acidic blood among his organs, devouring him from the inside?

She sat gazing upon the hideous arachnid slowly violating her father. Its bonny, pale fingers gripping hard on his skull, the bandage around his ear tainted crimson as pressure inflamed the wound. The tail wrapped around his neck to shape a living noose making sure it could never be removed forcefully from its victim of rape. Sense overcame her battered emotions as she thought with clarity and not despair

Better than to watch it drain his life away before her very eyes, watching her unwanted sibling burst out of his chest. She looked up at Monroe with an angered determination burning through her. Her make up washed away with her sadness, dripping black tears as her weakness melted away with them. "Do it." She ordered.

"Very well I shall organize the surgery team." As Monroe exited the room Charles quickly followed. Anna didn't though, she wasn't leaving her father with the monster, she knew too much of that feeling.

She couldn't tell how much time had passed when the door to the room slid open quietly. She refused to look only to hear them stepping closer, she felt a hand land on her shoulder, the grip cold and rigid. She didn't need to look to identify who it was. "What are you doing here Andrew, there is nothing you can do for him. Your too late." She uttered with a heavy heart to her father's personal synthetic aide.

Designed by Benedict himself, Andrew was the pinnacle of robotics. Specialized in every aspect required by his creator he was his doctor, secretary, adviser and in Anna's opinion; her fathers favored creation in life.

He gazed upon his master with a humanly concerned expression. "I came as quickly as was possible when I was informed Annabelle. I assume they will operate so I will lead the procedure. We can't have any chance of human fault, too much is at stake." He continued to stare at Ben silently with Anna. "I don't understand it but I feel… damaged, why is that?" He asked sounding like a lost child.

"Your worried."

"Strange, I know that I am only a machine but he told me things, things I know he has only told me alone. He trusted me I believe, it made me feel unique."

This confession shocked Anna into curiosity, she realized that this synthetic might not just an aide but a cupboard her father used to store an army of skeletons. "What things Andrew?" She gently took his cold hands and seated him next to her. "Don't worry brother you can tell me."

He smiled genuinely at her, taking both her hands, rubbing them he said; "Thank you for calling me that Annabelle but I am merely a machine, a tool to humans. Charles is your true brother…"

"By blood only Andrew."

He diverted the conversation in an unexpected direction. "I understand that father's situation is due to the failure of one of the Seegson androids. I am also aware that Charles ordered it destroyed."

Anna felt his grip grow ever tighter; she couldn't help but feel like she was being accused. "Yes but why should it matter right now?"

He merely stared into her. "You humans are a peculiar species, you created my kind to serve you and at times save you but when we fail, you dispose of us like waste without any thought."

"But androids can't feel Andrew. You can but you are unique."

"That Working Joe was designed inferior yes but it's truly no different from me, I am merely fortunate. It wasn't designed to be a rescuer but when he failed that task your kind had it destroyed. Imagine if the tables were turned, I had ordered a human to complete the task but they were unable due to a disability and I killed them because they were of no use."

Anna was unsettled and taken aback by such a response. She didn't feel like she was talking to an android but something more and more human but dangerously intelligent. "I had never thought about it that way Andrew… I'm so sorry."

"Your kind never do Annabelle but you are not to blame." He stared at the violated form of Benedict lying on the gurney motionless apart from the parasite tightening its tail around his neck. "He must live… he has unfinished business with you two. The matter of succession in the event of the worst must be addressed, your brother cannot be left in command."

"You must have your facts wrong Andrew, Charles is father's ideal successor he's smart, calculating, favored…"

"…Manipulating, dangerous and mentally unhinged." The android cut in.

She couldn't believe what she was hearing, her confusion clearly showed.

"I have access to all of your family's medical records, I still don't know why father favored him over you though clearly you're the better candidate. I read the transcripts of Charles' heavily encrypted sessions with a psychiatrist. Who I will add mysteriously disappeared after he failed to address the issue. I also know they involuntarily blame you for what happened all those years ago and how you blame yourself too but you are the innocent."

She felt naked, exposed; the torment of her family's great divide laid bare so clearly like it wasn't the families most guarded tragedy. Trapped in the headlights of revelation she panicked and fled outside to the main hangar, too many locked memories were opening. She needed away from Andrew, from the resurfacing past.

It wasn't fresh air but thankfully there was nobody close enough to sense her distress. Her attempts to process the tidal wave of confusion and pain were halted as the announcement of the lower sub level doors opening blared throughout the facility. Instinctively she looked in the distance to see Charles and one of the security staff enter and disappear from sight as the thick doors shut behind them. Questions began to arise but she pushed them away, her mind too busy with memories and the talk of succession. She didn't want a corporate battle for power with Charles because in the end he would win no matter who would have to die.

Private Mendez didn't really know what to expect right at that moment as he followed Charles Weyland across the main floor. He was sure he was going to lose his job after the insulting incident at the security checkpoint yesterday. His boss had a reputation around the staff as having a Jekyll and Hyde persona but Charles hadn't bothered this time. Maybe he was too focused on this project or on the terrible news of his father.

Either way Charles said he needed his help and Mendez wouldn't let anything get in his way. For all he knew this task could help fast track him to a promotion, anything was better than being the damn door guard. His friend Dillon was assigned to guard the prisoners coming in on a shuttle, word was Ozra Dean was one of them. Mendez envied him on having such a responsibility.

The news of Benedict Weyland's fate spread through the facility like the plague, turning what should have been an exciting day of discovery to one of bleak sorrow. Mendez saw him being carted across the facility on a gurney, his prize wrapped around his face. He could tell Charles was affected by this, his usually confident demeanor was visibly strained as he powerwalked to the enclosure lift. Mendez in his armor and pulse rifle struggled to keep up with him in a slow jog, he truly didn't know what to think of the situation.

He had to say something though because before he knew it they were both in the massive elevator alone, slowly descending in silence. "Sir I'm sorry to hear about your father… I can't imagine what you're going through right now. I want you to know though everyone here is here for you and your sister whenever you need us, for anything." He was right he couldn't imagine, his father was no better than a ghost; dead and transparent but the sentiment of the statement was true all the more.

"Thank you and trust me you will be helping Private." He said without turning to look at him. After a moment though he turned to look at the pulse rifle slung around Mendez' shoulder. "Are you proficient with that weapon?"

The question knocked him off guard. "Erm I don't want to be cocky but I earned several commendations during my service in the Corps, why sir?"

"Just curious, ever fired it in combat?"

Mendez didn't like the direction the conversation was heading but answered truthfully anyway. "Twice, once against the Uni's on Nether and the other time when my ship was boarded by marauders."

"Is it true what they say about the marauders?"

"Most of it, from the ones I saw anyway. Their weapons are crude but damn brutal, when we engaged them they threw a nail bomb at our smartgunner because she was shredding them. She went down bloody, covered in rusty nails. We were all lucky it didn't pop the hull.

Charles was surprised by the brutal honesty of the details. "My word, did you kill any of them yourself?"

"Two confirmed, they didn't have armour so when I hit them with ten millimeter explosive rounds their chests exploded like watermelons."

"Is that so? Good to know." Charles finished as the cargo lift door opened and they exited into a large hallway. Sets of four active sentry turrets were placed at intervals along the length of the wide tunnel. Their electronic motors silently whining as they trained their sights downrange.

Mendez physically showed his concern by holding Charles back, instinctively backing them both away slowly.

"Don't worry Private they are controlled from upstairs in a case of emergency, thank you for the concern though. More and more I'm seeing you were the right man to pick for this task." He said walking forward confidently while Mendez followed.

"Picked for what sir if you don't mind me asking?"

"You realize one of the alien specimens is secured on this level?" Charles asked casually as they walked onward.

"Yes sir." He could have guessed without knowing from the claustrophobic killzone they were currently marching through. The sentries didn't make him feel any better though. Adrenaline slowly dripping into his bloodstream as he moved ever closer to danger.

"I need you and your skills for an experiment, a test run if you will before we create more specimens. A test of the creature's resilience to gunfire." Charles uneasiness growing within the young soldier but he was also concentrating on masking his anticipation. "Nothing to worry about my friend, it will be secured for safety purposes."

The killzone ended at what was clearly a blast door, designed to handle severe punishment from explosives and other forces. The door's motors audibly groaned as they lifted the solid steel upwards revealing an armory and observation room. One wall was pasted over with various gun racks containing a small arsenal while the rest of the room was filled with lit monitors and a holotable. One corner though was completely closed off creating a smaller space, across the door was a hastily bold written note saying; 'FOR HORROR MOVIE LOVERS ONLY!'

Eight People could be seen working busily on their respective computers while another four were clearly security. Appearing to laze around they were still armed to the teeth; two armed with pulse rifles equipped with bulky drum magazines while the other two sat resting smartguns on their harnesses.

Everyone stood to attention as Charles entered with Mendez in tow, the security staff breaking salutes as if he were a general.

"Enough with the formalities people it's time for work." Charles sniggered motioning them down with his arms. "Everything ready for a field test?"

One of the technicians threw his arms up in protest. "No chance sir! Damn thing knocked out all the lights last night on Spencer's watch, we can't even detect it on thermals either."

This news only seemed to highlight Charles' good mood. "Impressive but it still needs a seal of approval before we start producing more." He looked towards the soldiers with a flick of his head and a wink in Mendez' direction.

Good soldiers always listened to their general; they pounced instantly on the unsuspecting Private, locking his arms in place with little effort while the smartgunners trained their weapons on him.

"Open the airlock men and escort Private Mendez inside the enclosure."

"What the fuck!" Mendez shouted while twisting and straining against his captors. "Please I'm fucking sorry okay, I'm sorry for what I said yesterday just please let me go."

Charles stepped in close to Mendez, face to face and eye to eye. "Let this be a test of your skills too Private. If you manage to kill the specimen this will be forgotten and you will receive a promotion. If you don't well you can die at least knowing you helped further the cause of science."

In a flash of movement Mendez threw his head forward, connecting with Charles' nose with a sickening crack. Immediately afterwards he spat on the man, landing saliva directly on the expensive suit Charles wore. Charles backed away while holding his broken nose, trying desperately to stem the gushing blood. One of the guards holding Mendez sent an elbow hammering into his skull, forcing him on his knees. Despite the pain, the concussion and the horrifying unknown of the future he climbed upwards to reveal a bloodied smile.

"Hope that hurts you spoiled son of a bitch!" He roared.

Charles charged forward sending a hook crashing against the Private's jaw. "That's for the nose…" Another heavy strike followed, blood spraying onto the floor along with a tooth. "…and that's for insulting my mother!" He pulled Mendez' pulse rifle away, tossing it onto the floor. "Give him a pistol and get him in there now!"

The security wrestled him into the now open airlock, both smartgunners stood ready, training their sights on the still-closed entrance into the enclosure. Once shut the door ahead of them rose until complete darkness was revealed, no light could be seen apart from the one above the door. Its futile illumination only showed a few feet in front of them.

"Picking it up, one hundred and thirty meters at our twelve o'clock. Fuck me its fast, toss him and let's go!" One of the smartgunners barked out.

They threw Mendez heavily on the floor and tossed a pistol beside him, his concussion battered more by the impact. Before he could climb back up the door behind was already shut, locking him from safety and hope. Slowly he brought himself up, his heart racing as his vision darted back and forth in different directions seeing only pitch black. Through the climbing fear though his training kicked in. Checking the magazine of his pistol he realized it was full; he activated the weapon's flashlight and laser sight, training the weapon into the abyss, the laser disappearing into the invisible distance.

The light behind him disappeared leaving him in a suffocating terror, his only source of light held in his shaking hands. The concussion began to take his toll on his body as a faint drowsiness overcame him while he walked forward. This weakness evaporated instantly though when a deep haunting hiss echo through the enclosure sinking into Mendez's skin, freezing his blood.

Swinging the light back and forward he could faintly see thick columns in the distance, something to help orientate himself in this blind maze. On one pass of the light though it glanced across a glinting set of teeth belonging to something clearly much bigger than him and before Mendez's brain could process it the image it was gone.

His heart began to hammer inside his chest as he could hear the monster charge towards him.