Thanx for all the kind reviews! Tab-chan04, I would be honored if you would do fanart of X-13! I may not update for a while after chapter 10 is up, cuz I have writer's block. I am starting a new story, so you won't be deprived for too long!
Once again, I apologize for any missing 'p's, that damn button is trying to drive me crazy(er).
One may be a bloodthirsty alien, but he can be a gentleman!
Chapter 9
::WE HAVE STOPPED, MATRIARCH. WAKE UP.:: One sent to X-13 as he nudged her gently. She stretched luxuriously, not opening her eyes. One poked her in the stomach with a finger. X-13 grunted and glared at him. With a fierce-sounding screech X-13 tackled him. They rolled around, play-fighting. X-13 pinned One to the floor; he flipped her off with a kick of his hind legs. X-13 rolled over to get up and suddenly found One straddling her. He nuzzled her neck and hissed softly. She pushed him away, flustered and embarrassed.
"No, One. Please Do Not Do That. I Do Not Want You To Do That." ::WHY? NOT ADULT YET?::
"No, I Am Adult. We Cannot Do That Yet, Maybe Later. It Is Not Safe Here."
::YES, MATRIARCH.:: One suddenly lifted his long head. He lashed his tail and a fresh string of drool began its journey to the floor. ::PREY COMING. MANY. WE WANT TO GIVE FRESH, WARM BLOOD TO THE MATRIARCH. YOU ARE HUNGRY.:: X-13 felt it too. She could feel Hager, Eleni Barry, the Captain and many others. One hissed and climbed above the doorway, raising a clawed hand threateningly. X-13 felt a twinge of nervousness, One obviously sensed something dangerous. Hager called through the door
"X-13 keep One away from the door. We want you to open it and climb, with One, into the cage we have pushed against the door. You'll be transported back to the lab." X-13 swung her tail nervously and opened the door. There was a metal cage pushed up against the door frame. Hager was standing to one side and several humans had guns aimed at her. She narrowed her eyes.
"No Guns. I Don't Like Guns." X-13 moved to shut the door, but Hager stopped it.
"The guns have to be here. You won't be allowed out if the guns aren't here. If you won't come out, you'll be killed." X-13 frowned and backed away a step.
"Go On, One. I Think That It Is Safe." He started forward. He hissed menacingly at the humans as he climbed into the cage. X-13 went and retrieved the egg from it's cupboard, one hand securely over top the petals. The Captain turned an interesting shade of purple and swelled like a bullfrog, he glared at Hager and seemed to want to say something.
"I'll talk to you later." he choked out to Dr. Hager. Hager glared at the Captain and motioned for the armed men to shut the cage and wheel it along. X-13 shuddered as the cage's door slammed, it seemed to hint of some dark future.
…..
"Dr. Hager, sir, we have an armed guard waiting for the creature. The government insists that it be brought to a more secure facility. You are to be transported as well." Hager did not answer the soldier as they marched briskly along. "We have landed at a civilian space-port, so I must ask you to stay with the group at all times."
"Yes. Mother." muttered Hager as he rolled his eyes.
"We do not tolerate such insolence in the army, sir."
"Yeah, yeah, whatever. Why can't I take her to my lab?"
"I cannot answer that question. You will have to wait. Please hurry into the vehicles provided." Hager climbed into a Jeep and buckled himself in, while watching X-13's cage being wheeled out. Suddenly, a civilian, wandering out of bounds with a group of friends, noticed the cage.
"Holy shit! Guys, look at that! There's an Alien in that cage! Hey… Where are you bringing that?" The group began to rush over, their frantic cries drawing more people. Oh no…thought Hager with some amusement, how's she going to deal with this?
One screeched in anger at the growing crowd of humans. X-13 glared around, feeling trapped and exposed. She fought to keep One from attacking the humans.
"WOW! Look at the size of that one! It's huge! I bet that it's a young Queen!"
"Don't be stupid, look at the other one; it has eyes! And there's an egg in there!" Several people backed off a few paces.
"HEY! YOU KIDS GET AWAY FROM THERE!" screamed a soldier, "Those things are dangerous!" X-13 hissed as One struggled against her mental bars
::WANT OUT! DANGEROUS PREY! PPROTECT MATRIARCH!:: He raged at her, pissed off and wanting blood. One escaped for a moment and thrashed his tail through the bars. X-13 hauled him in, almost screaming with the mental effort. The soldiers pushed the growing crowd away, but began to be overwhelmed. X-13 saw Dr. Hager smirking away in the Jeep. The petals of the egg stirred under her hand. She looked at the egg, then back at Hager, narrowing her eyes.
"One. We Shall Get That Prey For The Child." X-13 pushed up her sleeve, ignoring the yells of the soldiers and the protests of the civilians. She winced as she dug a claw into the soft inside of her arm, the blood welled up and she caught it in her hand. One tensed, holding the egg and ready to run. She wiped the blood on the bars, which began to smoke and hiss instantly.
"NOW!!!!" she yelled and One hurled himself at the melting bars! They burst open, causing him to stumble, but he recovered and was off running. The humans shrieked, falling over themselves in an effort to escape the Praetorian! X-13 followed and they shot over to Hager, struggling to free himself from the constricting belt. The soldiers herded the civilians away, ignoring Hager's screams for help. X-13 reached him and jumped into the back of the Jeep, reaching around to pin him to the seat. One held the egg up, the petals opened and the facehugger leapt onto Hager's face. He clawed at it for only a brief moment before slumping down, comatose.
…..
One crouched defensively on to of the Jeep, lashing his tail and squealing. X-13 was inside, keeping Hager and the facehugger safe.
"Take Us To My Home And We Will Not Hurt You! I Will Try To Keep The Child From Killing Dr. Hager If You Do This For Us!" The soldiers milled around, not sure of the voice in their heads. A higher ranking officer listened animatedly to a cell phone, before calling
"Come on! Pack this up! We have orders to transport them to the lab!" X-13 let out her breath and relaxed
"Thank You! We Will Go In The Back Of That." she said, pointing to a truck. One reached down and ripped away the belt, then lifted Hager up by the collar. He was slung over One's bony shoulder and they climbed off the Jeep and went into the truck. The door slammed and they were plunged into comforting darkness.
…..
::MATRIARCH, WHERE ARE WE GOING? IS IT TO A HIVE?:: "No. We Are Going To My Home, A Laboratory. With The Child We Will Start A New Hive."
::WE ARE UNCOMFERTABLE. TOO MANY DANGEROUS PREY AROUND. WANT TO KILL, WANT TO BRING YOU FRESH, WARM BLOOD.::
"You Should Sleep, One. The Ride Is Long."
::WHAT ABOUT MATRIARCH? YOU ARE TIRED AND SHOULD SLEEP. DO NOT WORRY ABOUT THE CHILD. IT KNOWS WHAT TO DO.::
"I Have To Stay Awake And Watch The Child, I Have To Make Sure That It does Not Leave Hager."
::WHY? THE CHILD IS GROWING, SOON IT WILL NEED TO BREAK OUT.::
" I Promised The Prey That The Child Would Not Kill Him. That Is Why They Will Not Hurt Us."
::WHEN WE REACH THE MATRIARCH'S HOME, WILL IT BE ABLE TO BREAK OUT?::
"I Do Not Know, One, The Humans Will Probably Take It Out When It Is Time."
::THEY ARE FOOLISH, WHAT IS DONE IS DONE. MATRIARCH, YOU SLEEP AND WE WILL KEEP THE CHILD FROM BREAKING OUT. WE CAN, DO NOT WORRY, SLEEP.:: One nuzzled her neck softly. X-13 was touched by his thoughtfulness. She didn't pull away as he nuzzled and bumped her. She moved so that she was in front of him and leaned against his chitinous chest. X-13 sighed and closed her eyes. As sleep enveloped her, X-13 could feel One gently resting his head on hers and wrapping his arms and tail around her.