Chapter 10

(Rachael's pov)

Midnight approaches as Dante laid down on the ground with Shadow watching the moon.

I got back in the hive as I noticed Jim's newborn xenomorph was growing. His skin was white and hasn't gotten into that usual sleek black skin. He hasn't grown a tail yet but he's getting there.

"These newborns sure grow quick." I heard Jim mumbled.

Yeah...I'm not sure if it's just me but I notice they grow fast. Anyway, I slept with Blade as I felt him nuzzle his head on my face. I giggled a bit as I continued sleeping.

(Dante's pov)

"Aren't you going to sleep, Dante?" Shadow asked me.

"Nah...insomnia is getting in. I'll have to keep a lookout if our enemies decide to attack."

"Insomnia?" She tilts her head in curiousity.

"It's when you don't get any sleep in the night and would mostly stay up." I explained.

"Dante...that's no good for you. If you don't get any sleep, you're going to pass out and my father would have to whip you to shape. Not in a good way either. His warriors mostly do the patrolling in the night. So please...sleep. you need the energy."

Okay...I feel like I've seen this scenario from a James Bond film. It's one of those scenarios where one of the girls beg for James to do something and he would mostly do what she wanted to do. Mostly just for them to stop complaining.

"Fine...but if your mother needs me, I'll be there and forget about sleeping. Got it?" I sighed.

"I understand." Shadow nods.

We got in our nest and laid down to rest. For those who wonder how it feels to sleep in the hive, the floor is almost as hard rock but has that warm moisture that made it comfortable to sleep...especially if you are sleeping with a xenomorph like Shadow.

For maybe 5 hours later...

"Child...I sense an intruder." I heard the queen in my mind.

I quickly jolted up as Shadow looked at me confused.

"Who?" I asked her.

"I suspect a member from the enemy hive. Be cautious. We don't know if it's a dangerous foe." She said with worry.

"Of course, my queen." I nod.

"I'm coming with you, Dante." Shadow told me as she got up.

"You sure, Shadow? I don't want no harm happen to you." I said with concern.

"I can take of myself, Dante."

"Fine. But you stay close to me. We don't know who is out there." I advised her.

"Ugh...fine. you're starting to act like my father." She groans.

"And for the reasons too." I chuckled.

We walked out of the hive and wandered around the jungle to see who is the intruder. The search took us 30 minutes until we found out who the intruder was...a warrior xenomorph. We took him down by surprise and held him down. He starts squirming but Shadow held him down real good. We found out that this warrior was attempting to assassinate my queen which is dumb and ridiculous cause one man job killing a xenomorph queen is suicidal or unless whoever gave him the order is their way of saying we don't want you anymore. We managed to prevent him from escaping and were about to kill him but...his tailblade stabs directly in my skull. Surprisingly...I didn't feel any pain. Nothing. the bastard starts grinning like if he won. But that turned to shock as I took the tailblade out my skull and broke his arm as he screamed in pain. Shadow ended his misery by cutting the warrior's head off by

Now you're probably wondering...Dante, aren't you suppose to be dead? Have you guys forgotten that I'm part xenomorph? I have their regeneration ability that the xenomorph uses to heal their wounds and my bones are just as tough and strong as an actual xenomorph so being stabbed in the head by a blade is nothing so don't forget that. My head wound healed quickly as some of my blood dripped to the ground. I'd say the regeneration speed of Wolverine.

"Dante? Are you alright?" Shadow asked as she rushed towards me.

"I'm fine...rarely felt a thing." I growled as I wiped the blood off my forehead.

"You sure? It looked painful."

"I'm sure. Come on. Your mother would want to hear about this." I said as I took the xenomorph's head off the ground.

"Right." Shadow nods.

We walked back to the hive as I noticed Shadow feeling scared.

"My father is going to be furious about this. If it's one thing I know about father is that if you attempt to take my mother's life, you are asking for a death wish. He is very...very protective of my mother and won't let no one harm her." Shadow shivered in fear for a second.

"That's understandable. Your father has every right to be protective for your mother. Guards like him have every right to show no mercy to those who harm her."

"Right. Something that you might be becoming." Shadow said suddenly.

I stopped in my tracks and looked at her confused.

"What do you mean?"

"I can sense your mind quickly turning to the mind of a Praetorian's. My mother told me about it but senses you still have some emotions."

"I...see...but no matter what...Praetorian or not...I will still serve your mother til the day I die. ...even if it means risking my life protecting you." I said with a slight smile.

Shadow looks away for a second as I noticed that I made her embarrassed. I chuckled a bit and continued walking back to the hive with Shadow.

(Jim's pov)

3 hours later. The next morning and the queen was furious. I was scared. I thought we did something to anger her but it turns out that another was attempting to assassinate this queen. Dante has the head of a warrior xenomorph as proof to back up what the queen said. What makes me cringe the most is the scar Dante has on his forehead. According to him, the assassin stabbed him in the head with his tailblade but what scares me is that he didn't feel a thing when that happened. The hell is happening to him? That's not normal for a human being not feeling pain especially with stab wound through the skull.

The queen told us that the assassination attempt was a message meaning that the other hive is about to attack us soon.

Now I'm worried about Claw. he's just a kid and doesn't know how to fight and it worries me alot.

"If it's war that hive, they'll have it. We'll wipe them from existence even if it kills me!" Bloodfang roared with rage.

I flinched of how angry Bloodfang is and how he wanted to kill someone so badly. You can hear the entire hive screeching like crazy about the assassination attempt.

"SILENCE!" The queen roared.

I covered my ears due to how loud her roar was for a few seconds as the entire hive went to a complete silence.

"We will strike them down yes but I can't have too many warriors attack our enemy while the hive is left unprotected." The queen's growled.

"Which is why it's best we have groups of two for this one. One group to defend the hive and one group to eliminate the other hive." Dante suggested.

"Hmmm...very well. Bloodfang. I'm trusting you to bring your best warriors while Dante arranges a group to defend our hive." The queen ordered me and Bloodfang.

"Of course, my queen." Dante and Bloodfang said at the same time.

This outta be good. So far, Mizuki, Rachael, Shadow, Blade, Nightblade and a xenomorph who was with Mizuki named Reaver are left defending the hive. As Dante walks towards me, I can see him with the most serious look on his face.

"You think you can defend the hive, Jim?" He asked.

"Of course! But I'm not doing it just for the hive. I'm doing for my kid." I said as I pointed claw for a second.

Dante cracks a smile and pats my shoulder. Rather rough if you ask me.

"Soldier protecting his family...I respect that. Make the hive proud, Jim. Your kid needs a role model like you to follow." He said with seriousness.

"What about you?" I asked him.

"I've been assigned to help Bloodfang attack our enemy. I guess he wants to see how good I am in combat. But enough about that. Get ready in case an attack begins." He said as he turned around.

"Sure thing, boss." I said with a smile.

God speed.