Kwai kwai everyone! Once more, I have to apologize for the lack of updates. The last few months haven't left me much time to write, but I am determined to finish this story. I would like to thank you all for your patience and support. Remember to leave a review or send me a PM!
Chapter 21: Abandoning the Hearth
On the surface of Aipaloovik VII, the storm above the colony had calmed down a considerable amount. It was still raining, but the winds weren't nearly as severe as earlier that day. The skies were dark with dreary clouds. But even with the sky blanketed by clouds, the big, bright star the planet orbited around still partially shined through the storm clouds. The light blue sun was partially over the watery horizon, which dictated that the sun was setting.
The only manmade structure that stuck out from the ocean was the very top of Tower C. The metal tower stood high above sea level in an octagonal shape. At the top of the tower, a metal platform began to rise up from the inner recesses of the building. The platform stopped once it reached the top of the tower and a medium sized shuttle could be seen in the center of the massive lift. Written in yellow letters, USCSS Nina, displayed itself on the right side of the shuttle.
The lights in the front and back of the shuttle suddenly lit up and the vehicle gradually rose in the air. Rain water slid down the sides of the ship's hull while it rose up and slightly tilted upwards. The vehicle began moving forward and the faster it went, the more upwards it tilted. Now that the wind was nowhere near as violent as it was before, the shuttle didn't experience nearly as much turbulence as it would have less than an hour ago. Of course, the shuttle still wobbled and shook from the rain, but it stayed on course.
The USCSS Nina soon rose above the dark clouds. Gradually, the blue atmosphere was replaced by the dark nothingness of outer space. The bright blue giant star shined brightly while the shuttle continued forward in the opposite direction. But as the USCSS Nina escaped, a massive conestoga class carrier ship began to approach the planet.
Within Tower C, Charles was standing in a security monitoring room. The room was devoid of life, save for himself and Corporal Cobalt, who was lying down on three chairs that were pushed close together to form a makeshift bed. She was lying unconscious while the synthetic's eyeless gaze stared at the monitors.
The synthetic paid close attention to each individual screen. He did not want any of the Xenomorphs to get anywhere close to them without him knowing about it. Even with his connection to their linked pheromones, he did not want to take any chances of being snuck up on. The human's safety mattered a lot more to him than his own.
On one of the many monitors, Charles could see the USCSS Nina taking off. On one hand, he was glad that one or more people escaped from this place, but he knew the Company probably wouldn't feel the same. It often displeased him how little humans seemed to care about their own species.
On a computer screen a little ways away from the security monitors, a black screen popped up. The synthetic's long head slowly turned to look at the computer. That could only be an incoming transmission. He watched as white text began to appear, each letter beeping softly as they showed up.
"THIS IS THE USS ONTAKI. ARE THERE ANY SURVIVORS? YOU HAVE FIVE MINUTES TO REPLY." the message read.
This meant that the ship from the Company had finally arrived. The sharp claws at the ends of Charles' feet clicked against the tiled floor as he approached the computer. He had to take great care as to not damage the keyboard with his claws, but he began to type a response.
"YES. SYNTHETIC XL4 REPORTING. THERE ARE TWO CONFIRMED SURVIVORS. ONE POSSESSES A XENOMORPH PARASITE IN HER CHEST. DANGER LEVEL: EXTREME. WARNING: WEATHER MAY HINDER FLIGHT. REQUESTING RESCUE." he wrote before pressing the enter key.
Charles didn't have to wait long before a response came.
"REPORT ABOVE SEA LEVEL IMMEDIATELY."
The synthetic's upper lip quivered, revealing his silver teeth for only a moment. He didn't bother to respond to the message and he turned around when he heard a soft groaning. He watched as Corporal Cobalt rested a hand on her forehead. Her brown eyes gradually opened, but they soon widened upon seeing him.
"Relax, corporal. It's me, Charles. Please relax." the synthetic informed her with a smooth voice and he crouched down by her side in a non-threatening manner.
"Charles? What… what happened?" the officer asked with a hoarse voice; her throat felt so dry.
"One of the parasites implanted an egg in your chest. A rescue ship will be here soon to pick us up." Charles informed her and he rested his six fingered hand on her back when she began to sit up.
Nattily looked at the synthetic with horror and she placed her hand over her heart. She broke into a cold sweat as she processed this information. She was trying to remember what happened before she blacked out, but all she could remember was being attacked by that large creature, the Carrier. Flashes of the charging monster and gunfire made her tremble lightly, but there was something she feared more than what was inside of her.
"Where is Joe and Johanson?" the corporal questioned with heavy breaths.
"I do not know. But we must reach the upper platform as soon as possible. Lieutenant Johanson requested that I bring you to safety, last I saw him. The Company can help you." he spoke urgently, yet he kept his voice leveled.
It was imperative that they reach the very top of the tower to meet up with their rescuers. From both his programming and his own protective instincts towards humans, he refused to sit there and let the parasite kill this woman. Despite how shaken she was, Charles helped her stand up. He had her rest a hand over his shoulder and the two of them slowly walked towards the door.
"H-how long do I have?" the corporal stuttered with an audible gulp and the door in front of them opened.
"I do not know. Just stay as calm as possible. Increased stress might accelerate the birthing process." the synthetic replied without looking at her.
It was difficult to bring himself to look at the corporal. Her skin was a bit more pale than usual and her dirty blonde hair was a mess, despite being partially tied in a ponytail. Not only that, but her neck was slightly bruised from where the parasite's tail had wrapped around her. She was clearly scared, but she took slow, deep breaths.
The two of them exited the monitor room and into a hall. A dead body with a hole clean through the skull was sitting on the floor with its back against the wall. There was also a trail of blood that led to one of the vents. But whatever thing that did this was long gone, Charles made sure of that. They both stared straight ahead, refusing to acknowledge the corpse and blood.
His clawed feet gently clicked against the tiled floors while the human's boots thumped with every step. In all honesty, Nattily knew that she was strong enough to support herself, but this machine kept her close. She didn't resist though, for she knew that he was just being protective. If anything, she appreciated it.
Corporal Cobalt's slow breaths echoed through the empty hall as they walked. To their left, there was a metal door with a sign above it that red "EMERGENCY EXIT" in bright, neon red letters. The synthetic led her to the door and she pressed the red button on the panel connected to the wall. The door hummed softly as it opened and they found themselves in a medium sized room with a spiral staircase leading upwards.
"Just take slow steps. I am here for you." he informed her.
Nattily didn't reply. She wanted to get out of this place as soon as possible. It was difficult staying calm knowing there was a monster in her chest that could kill her at any moment. She's never seen one of these things birth itself before and she didn't want know how it happened. All she knew was that the victim never survived. Her breathing quickened just a little while they made their way up the stairs. Her boots clanged against the metal as they climbed. The stairs simply seemed to go on and on with no end. They climbed nearly eight stories by the time they reached a grated platform with a single door straight ahead.
"Before we go out there, I need you to close your eyes and keep your head down. No matter what, don't look up." the synthetic instructed her with complete seriousness.
The corporal understood his warning. This planet's sun was said to be brighter than bright on the surface. She clenched her brown eyes shut and she felt him guide her forward. But as soon as they started walking again, she felt a sharp pain in her chest. She clenched her teeth, but she didn't speak a word. As soon as the metal door hummed open, a light breeze pushed past them and the salty smell of the sea rushed into her nostrils.
The human and the synthetic made their way outside and onto the massive, octagonal shaped platform. This platform was the highest point on the whole colony. It stood several stories above sea level and there were short towers with bright red lights on each corner of the platform. Each small tower was connected via steel guardrails. It was gently raining still and numerous raindrops pelted their heads and shoulders. Thankfully, the storm was mostly past them. Even the wind was no more than a soft breeze that caused the corporal's hair to dance in the air. Despite the clouds still being relatively thick and dark, the planet's blue sun shined brightly through the clouds, as if they weren't there at all. But the human took Charles' advice; her eyes stayed shut and her face pointed downward.
Corporal Cobalt obviously couldn't see it, but a transport shuttle broke through the clouds in the distance. Since his internal eyes could take the brightness, Charles watched as the ship approached the tower they were on. The ship was in the shape of a large triangle with heavily tinted windows in the front. The hull was a bleak gray color and he easily spotted the Company's logo on the side of the vehicle. "Wayland-Yutani: Building Better Worlds."
The transport shuttle slowed to a stop above the platform they were on and landing gears slowly lowered themselves from thin rectangular slits on the bottom of the craft. The synthetic watched the shuttle land in front of them with the pointed front facing the two of them. A ramp gradually lowered onto the platform they stood on and he could see the white interior of the vehicle.
Armored men wielding painted black pulse rifles suddenly stormed out of the shuttle. These people wore padded white uniforms with steel helmets fully covering their heads. Tinted black goggles covered their eyes and it was impossible to see their facial features due to the metal covering their faces. Not a single bit of skin was exposed on these soldiers. These armed men took positions all around the platform and aimed their black rifles this way and that, presumably securing the location. Charles knew what these people were. They were the Company's private commandos. They must've been familiar with his model, because none of them pointed their weapons at him.
One of the commandos announced that the platform was free of hostiles, but every one of them still looked as tense as ever. Four more people exited the shuttle. Two of them were also commandos and they were carrying a medical stretcher. The third was a man wearing a white hazmat suit with the viewing glass tinted black. He was holding a glass cylinder with metal edges. The fourth was a woman wearing a gray business suit and holding a black umbrella.
This woman had pale white skin and she adjusted her red necktie with her freehand. Under her umbrella, it could be seen that she had jet black hair that was tied in a ponytail. She had sharp facial features with pronounced cheek bones. Her eyes were shielded by a pair of dark sunglasses, so it was impossible to see her eye color. She was young though, maybe in her early twenties.
"Is this the infected?" the woman questioned calmly with a small hand gesture towards the corporal.
"Yes, she-"
"Oh god!" Nattily cried out, interrupting Charles' response.
Everyone turned their attention towards the scream. Corporal Cobalt fell to her knees as she clenched her hands over her chest. She was violently shaking and despite the synthetic's warning, her brown eyes opened. The horrible pain in her chest was only matched by how bright everything got. All she could see was white that burned her eyes.
Two of the commandos rushed towards the convulsing woman and they quickly had her lay down on her back. Her limbs twitched while both her eyes and mouth were wide open with pain. Her brown eyes uselessly stared straight up, being unable to see. Everyone seemed to be shouting orders, but the man in the hazmat suit rushed forward as the two commandos pinned the woman down. He quickly opened the glass cylinder he was carrying and placed the open end against her chest.
Sickening cracks were heard and her combat vest began to shift. Blood shot out of her chest and coated the sides of the container as her chest seemed to explode. The corporal violently trembled while blood leaked out of the corners of her mouth. It was difficult to see through the blood, but a bloodied monstrosity with teeth as sharp as needles began to slither out of the bloodied opening in her chest. It had two stubby arms tucked against its sides and its eyeless head seemed to have a small crest, almost like a crown.
Once the newly born Xenomorph was fully out of Corporal Cobalt's chest, the man in the hazmat quickly turned the cylinder upside down and closed it shut. The snake-like creature let out a fierce hissing sound and it banged its head against the glass walls of the container in a vain attempt to escape.
All Charles could do was watch as the man turned around and brought the new specimen to the ship. Two of the commandos began to place the now dead corporal onto the stretcher before they followed the man in the hazmat suit.
While all of this happened, the emergency exit door slid open, which caught a few of the commandos' attention. They aimed their rifles at the man who stepped into the open.
"Identify yourself!" one of the armed commandos ordered loudly.
"Officer Adam Johanson." the shirtless man answered gruffly.
The lieutenant stood with his back slumped slightly. He was completely covered in sweat and bruises. With one arm in a makeshift sling and the other visibly burned, neither limb was usable at the moment. His burned arm simply hung limp just like his dislocated arm had been earlier that day. His eyes were also clenched shut and his head down. He heard the screams though and recognized them as Corporal Cobalt's. He kept a straight face as he walked forward.
"She's dead, isn't she?" he said more as a statement than a question.
"I'm sorry, lieutenant. She is no longer with us." Charles spoke with sincere regret.
Adam let out a shaky sigh and cursed under his breath. Even with his military training, he couldn't protect anyone, it seemed. If he could feel his hands, he would've balled them into fists out of grief and anger.
"I expect a full report from both of you once we get off world." the woman in the suit spoke calmly, not even phased by what just happened.
"And just who the fuck are you?" the lieutenant demanded as he sharply turned his head towards her, but he kept his eyes closed.
"My name is Asako Yutani. And if you speak to me that way again, I will personally make sure you never find work again." the woman quickly answered with a frown.
Lieutenant Johanson scoffed at this. There was no doubt she had a lot of power within the Company, considering her name, but nothing mattered to him anymore. He didn't care about her, the Company, or even himself. He simply felt like a hollow shell.
"I don't care. As of right now, I'm officially retired." he told her with clenched teeth.
"Come, lieutenant. Let's go." Charles spoke softly and he rested his six fingered hand on the former marine's upper back.
Adam sighed and took small steps while the synthetic guided him into the shuttle and out of the rain. Still holding the umbrella, Asako Yutani looked out at the surrounding ocean. Her glasses protected her from the sun's brightness. It was a shame that such a pretty looking planet was now contaminated by this infestation, but it didn't matter much in the end. It just meant she'd have to sign some paperwork to ensure that this system was a restricted zone. She'd send synthetics to retrieve whatever data that could be salvaged once she was back on the USS Ontaki.
"We're done here." she informed the commandos.
"Yes, Miss Yutani." one of the commandos nodded.
With that, they all made their way up the ramp, which soon closed shut when they were all on board. Slowly, the triangular shuttle rose off the platform and began to fly upwards. As the shuttle flew out of orbit, it continued to gently rain over the ocean, leaving behind small ripples within the water.