Of Hunt and Change
The Unplanned
The knowledge of the aliens attack had been only rumors so far. The governments and military were doing a good job at covering it up. "Unknown virus outbreak", they said. Then move the military into the area and move everyone else out, perform a full quarantine, preventing humans entering or exit. Humans, because Xenomorphs have been able to sneak in and out of the area quite freely, but not that the humans know.
True, there were several survivors, as well as the victims' families and relatives who were suspicious of what really happen to the quarantined town. But all had been kept in a relative quiet. That is, until a piece of top secret files had been leaked into the news channel, right out of the most secured database within the Pentagon. The files explain everything that had happened to the quarantined town, to the tiniest details, including the recent attempt to negotiate a truce.
No one knew for sure who leaked it out. Suspicious was that one of the higher-ups don't like how things went, and decide to put the public pleasure to the governments themselves.
The effect was immediate. The dam broke loose. Medias and news crews bombarded the governments all over the world, demanding the truth. People start walking the street and shouting for truth and better protections. Religions started claiming this is the Apocalypse and the coming of the final Judgment. UFO fan groups claiming they had been right all along. And then, there were the Alien fan clubs that added to all the tremors... It didn't help any when it had become appearance that there are a lot of similarities between these aliens and the one in the famous horror movie series.
And people started demanding immediate aggressive toward the aliens.
In a secret hive outside the quarantined area, the Empress worries.
'That's not how things should go,' the Empress growls at her winged praetorian. 'Now with the public pressures them, we might as well give up hope that they will sign anything with us!'
'I'm sorry, my Empress.' He bows deeply, 'I have failed you. I didn't know it'd turn out like this.'
She growls again as she tries to contain herself, 'Don't bother sorry me, Alpha. Think of how to get us out of this mess!'
'Actually, Empress. We might still able to shift the public mood back to our favor. It is a bit premature, but…'
'No, that will not be enough anymore,' the Empress interrupt his unspoken idea, 'Now with the public in angry, that knowledge will only serve to 'fuel the fire', as humans would say. Do we know which human was it that leaked this information away so early?! That's not their normal behavior as far as my children told me…'
Alpha can senses her quiet communications going on and he waits. She pauses, then, out of a sudden, continue her mental-speech in almost an amusement tone.
'It seems we now know who exactly would have done it. One of my warrior was of bloodline of a high commander in the human army. And, according to her, is likely the one who would have leaked it out to avenges her 'dead'.' Her eyes sparking, 'Maybe there is still a way to fix this after all.'
The winged praetorian tilts head in curiosity, 'I don't suppose you could explain to me what your plan is, my Empress?'
'In time, Alpha…in time,' she grins mentally at him, and her mood turn serious again. 'Right now though, we have preparations to be done. The humans might attack again soon. And when they do, they won't stop until either of us is dead, or my plan is success.'
The road was long and dangerous, and much too far from the hive for her comfort. But she is on a mission, a very important one. She has a praetorian accompany her as well as three other warriors an two drones. She, a mere warrior, has a queen's royal guard protects her to perform this task… It make her feel a bit of shame.
After days of hiding and running along the landscape and through the city's complex sewer systems, she finally reach her target. It had been relatively easy, considering where they are. Humans certainly didn't expect them to come this far.
She looks at the big house surrounded in fence. Even now as a Xenomorph, the sight give her a longing feeling. This place…her old home. She wonders what her dad would say seeing her like this? … He could have shot them before she ask a chance to talks. No. She has to be discreet with this. She don't want noises or shouts or angry army come after her.
It is the dead of the night, but there are still guards and armed soldiers surrounded the area. Much increased in number since the last time she was here, even. But then, there were no aliens back then either. Since she already know where most of the cameras and sensors would be, she should not have much trouble sneaking in her own home. Though, the big praetorian would be a problem.
The praetorian seem to be reading her mind, as he sends her an acknowledgement and let two of the warriors to accompany her into the house, leave him and three others outside. She acknowledges him in return and start stalking off to a section of the walls she knows is safe enough to climb. And she proceeds.
The building is familiar to her as a human, but it is completely different thing when you are crawling along its dark corridors from the ceiling, and trying to avoid being detected at once. It took her a while to remember her way to her dad's bed room. But she eventually get there. She detects no one else inside but her father, and that he is sleeping soundly.
She quietly open the door and sneaks in, with two warriors close behide her. She takes her time to make sure no one is approaching from outside then close the door and lock it quietly. The two warriors are already on the ceiling, hiding in the darkness, in position to strike anyone who might be entering.
The ex-human girl approaching her sleeping father with the grace of a predator, with silence of a tiger approaching its prey. Her black chitin exoskeleton shines dimly under the light of a full moon. Her mouth half-open, drooling thick saliva dripping down her jaw and onto the floor. Her claw-hands partially extend to her side in preparation…
Her father's eyes snap open, look straight at her. His hand reach around for his weapon and mouth opening to shout for security.
She is immediately upon him. Her hand over his mouth, prevent him from making a sound, another hand grab his arms and pin them together. Her tail dart to his vulnerable neck, the blade end of her tail-tip just touches his soft skin. He freezes, his eyes widen. She would have hiss at him to calm him down, to tell her father she isn't going to hurt him. But she know a Xenomorph's hissing isn't the most reassuring sound for human. So she just holds there, not making a move as she sends for another warrior to come and help her.
His eyes dart to another black shape moving menacingly upon him. Its hand reaches out…and produce a white envelop from a leather pouch well-hidden between her back spikes. It then crouches down on it's a foot and a knee, its tail straight back away from him, its long domed head lower to a mock bow. It then reach out again with both hand straight forward, palm up, offering him the small envelop on its hand the way a servant might offer a message to the king.
He looks at the Xenomorph's unexpected pose in confusion, eyes dart between the two aliens, the envelop, and back to the alien on top of him. She nods softly, careful not to show her teeth, and release his arms.
He gulps and slowly reach out to the envelop offered to him. She and the two warriors nod quietly, slowly pull her tail-blade from his neck and her hand from his mouth.
Then, as quietly as they enter and probably as menacing to his eyes, the three Xenomorph warriors stalk back out of the room, and disappeared into the darkness.
The human commander looks after them quietly and down at the small envelop in his hand, before reaches out to the intercom and calls for guards.
Beyond the fence of the house, the warrior sighs inwardly.
'There goes the easiest part of this mission…now I can only hope dad will give me a chance to communicate…'
Annop 'Nargus' Prapasapong
Tuesday, July 01, 2008