Chapter 33: The Monster They Fear

The floor of the entrance shook violently, the cargo containers that were nearby vibrated, the electrical tubes started to rattle upon the walls. Those that were outside froze as the roar took over the battle field and drowned out all other noise.

Something was coming, and it was big.

Soldiers followed the source of the noise back to the lab entrance and feared for what was to come, for they all knew what had been within the underground lab. Thankfully the giant metal doors that created the entrance to the labs were still sealed shut, it would take a tomahawk missile to even dent such a grand door. Suddenly the roar stopped, the silence was followed by a metallic thud a few seconds later. More than a few of the company soldiers looked from one another, then to the giant metal doors that lead down into the earth. They all ignored the freedom fighters, who were also staring towards the labs, and took a few steps back and the thumping continued.

Another thud, and they moved another few feet away, everyone too afraid to turn and run. The metal of the doors began to buckle outwards and started creating an opening. A small portal of nothing but black. Suddenly, there was a strange silence within the jungle. Where the fighting between the company soldiers and the resistance from the town had filled the air for the past hour or two, the bugs were the only things making noise.

BOOM!

The sound of the doors being broken from their rails made such a noise that it could have be mistaken for an explosion. Most humans in the area ducked into cover as the massive metal doors went flying through the air, taking out a few buildings before coming to a rest in the dirt. After the dust settled, those humans that had recovered now looked on with horror, waiting and looking towards the darkness. With thunderous footsteps, the three story alien emerged from the darkness of the tunnel that lead into the earth. His black body shimmering in the mid day sun, his large mouth of teeth fully exposed.

A strange silence lingered for a moment as everyone looked to the hellish creature that now entered the battle field. They watched as the alien looked from human to human, from pray to pray, surveying the area. It stood to its full height and, with a quick breath, let loose another ear piercing roar! Teeth exposed, jaw wide. As he did, a hoard of aliens emerged from the tunnel behind him. They came forth like a flood of water, covering every space around the kings feet, making their way into the fight.

The smaller xenomorphs went to work, knowing that they had only one objective, kill. Thankfully, these were no mere animals, hunting for food in the wild or killing over territory. No, these intelligent creatures could tell the difference between friend and foe, between soldier and resistance fighter. Alex had also told the resistance that they may come across these nightmarish creatures, and whatever they did, not to fire on them! They would not harm them.

For Amun and Jolene's hive, it was easy to tell the humans apart. The company had done all that they could to equip their soldiers with the best equipment they could buy. From thermal goggles and tactical armor, to the very best in rifles and equipment. The people from the city only had their guns and their courage. Amun's daughters could easily tell the difference. However, he was not about to let fight alone. The king took off, ready to get to work.

First, off to his right, a jeep of some kind that had had mounted machine gun that had three men around it, the man on the gun was frantically trying to reload the mounted weapon. They would be the first to feel his power. It only took the king ten strides to close the twenty yard gap that had been between them, giving the humans no time to organize and counter attack. By the time one of the soldiers screamed of the incoming threat, Amun's head was lined up and about to impact the small vehicle.

He could not see it, but he felt the impact as his hard, crested head came in contact with the military style jeep. He felt it begin to slide upon the dirt floor of the jungle, so he kept up his run, pushing it over until it flipped onto its side. Lifting his crowned head he could see the two soldiers that had been within its cabin were dazed from the attack. Amun did not wait, he raised his large foot and brought it down upon the side of the jeep, crushing it flat it to the ground.

He watched as the gunner, who narrowly missed his attack, crawled from the roof of the jeep. Amun watched as the man, pulling himself along with his arms for his legs looked broken, slowly attempted to flee for his life. It was a futile effort, the xenomorph king took the single step needed to put himself over the jeep and beside the man. His foot impacting a mere foot from the terrified human.

Amun watched as the man slowly turned his head to look up at the massive alien that now glared down at him, his eyeless face invoking terror into the very soul of the man. His breathing increased and he screamed as the massive alien hand came slamming down into his body, ending his life quickly. Amun could feel ever bone in the man's body break as he was slammed deep into the soft dirt of the jungle floor.

Amun did not wait and contemplate over what he had just done, his family was not safe yet. Jolene and her hive were not safe yet. His crowned head lifted and searched for another target which there were plenty of. He watched as his daughters skillfully took to eliminating soldier after soldier, leaving the people from the city unharmed. He noticed as some of Jolene's daughters were in the process of protecting and helping the resistance fighters.

His attention was taken by a loud, constant sound that was coming from above him. The king looked up to see something he had not expected, helicopters, and many of them. He turned from the flying machines to the wreak jeep that was at his feet. Picking up the carcass he took aim. Taking his time, wanting to make sure he hit one of the flying death machines, he received a few bullets from an unseen attacker to his right. He ignored the pain and kept his focus on the helicopters.

He was lucky, they seemed to be coming towards him, not knowing that he was ready to throw a tonne of metal in their direction. They were probably more focused on the mass battle that was happing all around the king. So he waited, the helicopters began to turn to face their side guns towards the battle, the king still waited. The eight barrels of the mounted mini guns were now pointing in his direction but still he waited. Fire flashed from the end of the war machine as it began to spit round after round out of the rotating barrels, but still he waited.

Suddenly, Amun felt two of his daughters climb up his back and waited near the bottom of his rib cage, it was unexpected, but he knew what they were thinking. The king pulled his shoulder back, then twisted his body with great force, sending the destroyed jeep into the air towards the hovering machine. Once the Vehicle was in the air, Amun used his momentum to plant both of his clawed hands deep into the ground, lowering his shoulders as much as he could. He aimed and snapped loose his hidden back spikes, sending his daughters forward through the air. Like living missiles they cut through the air with such speed towards their target, their path on point.

The jeep that Amun had thrown now acted as a shield from the bullets that were now streaming forth from the closest helicopter, protecting his two daughters that were right behind it. The pilot of the machine noticed the projectile and pulled up and out of the way, just as Amun had hoped. As the human did, he realized his mistake to late as the two xenomorphs slammed into the side of his helicopter. One of which was lucky and went straight in through the open side door, slamming into the man who had been operating the mini gun. he died as a razor sharp second mouth broke his skull and destroyed his brain.

It did not take long for the second alien to crawl along the outside of the machine and find the cockpit. The pilot watched as the creature stopped when it noticed him, looking at him with that eyeless face. It did nothing, just stared at him. That when he decided to reach for his pistol, thinking he could kill it before he was murdered. He brought the small side arm up but stopped short as he felt a sudden pain from his chest. He felt something coming up from his throat and suddenly couched up a handful of blood. He looked down, his vision blurred, and noticed the foot long blade that was now protruding from his chest. It was the last thing he saw.

Amun watched from afar as the machine started to fall from the sky, his daughters leaping off of the doomed machine. He shifted his focus to the next one only to realize that it was now circling the compound, firing at other targets. He feared for his daughters, so he took off, looking for anything that he could throw at them. Thankfully, he didn't have to. As he ran, two streaks of smoke came from hidden locations that he could not see, trails from two land to air missiles. The cut the air as the closed in on their targets, their aim on point. The king watched in satisfaction as the machine exploded in fire and thunder.

Amun silently thanked Alex and her freedom fighters before looking for a new target. He took note of the fighting that he could hear within the buildings but could not help with. His size being a problem. He would let his daughters take care of those targets. Amun noticed some fighting that was happening within the trees, just outside of the fence. Something he could help with.

The squad of city folk were taking cover behind trees and rocks and anything else they could find, the bullets coming dangerously close to their heads. They were being pinned down by a small group of company soldiers who had far superior fire power then they could ever have. Alex, who was among this group, was yelling orders to her friends that were being pinned, attempting to find a way out of this! She was running out of options. As the tree she was leaning against started to burst into splinters from gun fire, she thought of her family, of her children and wife. She gripped her rifle tightly and prayed.

That was when she felt it, the earth itself was rumbling. She took her gaze from the ground and looked to the sprinting alien king that was now coming towards her at full speed. She curled into a tight ball, not wanting to be crushed by Amun's large feet, and let the monster blow over top of her. As she watched him run over top of her, the tree she was using for cover went with him, throwing dirt and stones all over Alex. She had to take a moment to shake the dirt from her eyes and face. Once she did, she was happy to see that her alien friend was now making quick work of the company thugs! She silently thanked the king, gathered the rest of her friends and took off to help the others.

As Amun sprinted towards the tree line, he noticed the pheromones of Alex. The poor woman was pinned behind a thick tree and trying to send out orders to the others that were around her. The scene caused Amun to pick up the pace, wanting to help out his new friend. He lined himself up, lowered his head and braced for impact. He took out the tree that Alex was hiding behind, knowing that he would be able to protect her quicker by running through it. Once he knew he was clear of the city fighters, he raised his head and easily noticed the seven or so humans within the vegetation of the jungle. Their sent sticking out like a sore thumb against all the organic smells.

He quickly went to work, throwing out his tail blade to his left hitting one of the soldiers and cutting him in half. He then lunged to his right and landed like a cat with a toy on a woman who had tried to hit him with her rifle. Amun felt her slender body squish under his hands and he landed upon her. Looking up, he noticed a very close male who was now firing at him from beside a tree. Amun felt the sting of the bullets hit his crown, nothing major.

His clawed hand snapped forward and tried to catch the man, but he ducked behind the tree before Amun could hit him. No matter, Amun leapt at the tree, knocking it over as his body landed on it. He did not bother to check for the human, he had heard the scream just before his body and tree crushed into the ground. The king began to recover as he felt the sting of more rifle fire from the other soldiers that he had yet to take care of. He got to his feet and quickly closed the gap. Claws and tail blade made quick work of the rest without much of a problem.

Once clear, he made his way back towards the compound, easily following the path of destruction he had made in the tree line. Amun looked around and noticed that the activity was quickly dyeing down. Not many gun shots could be heard, no vehicles were running about. This conflict was coming to a close, so he decided to find Bobby for a report.

"Bobby, where are you my first born?" He reached out with his mind, a small bit of fear that she would not return his call. A moment passed.

"Father, I am here. We are taking out a few humans within the tower in the middle of the complex. Abby is hurt." Amun snapped his large head towards the only tall building in the complex and noticed movement from within its glass walls. He took off towards it.

"What floor?" The King asked as he reached the small building.

"Third, we will come to you!" Her voice was stressed and worried. Amun did not like that and his fear grew.

Thankfully the third level was at his head height so he broke all the glass that was in front of him and looked for his daughters frantically. All he could see was cubicles and small offices with tables and glass, most of which had been destroyed. Soon, Bobby and a few of his daughters came into view from a hall way to the left. Amun nearly pushed his head inside the building in attempts to get to them, but knew he would only block the way out. So he waited and watched as Bobby approached, Abby in her arms.

"No...no no no please no!" His mind raced, he mentally reached out for Abby and could barley feel her touch. "No no no!" Amun called out as Bobby continued towards him.

"She is alive, I've patched her wounds. She had lost a lot of blood." Bobby explained as she got to the window and held out Abby. Amun took her quickly and brought her in close, shielding her all he could. Amun looked down at his precious daughter, her breathing shallow, then back to his first born.

"How many more?" He asked, fearing the worst.

"Father, not now. We need you to fight. We need your strength." That was not the response he thought he would get. It told him more than he wanted to hear and Bobby knew it. "Father, not now! Get Abby to safety!" He had never had Bobby talk to him so sternly, it was a bit off putting, but it brought him back to reality. The last thing he needed right now was to be swallowed by despair. He turned to take his injured daughter to the lab entrance, she should be safe there. He only turned a small amount before he heard the voice of Jolene.

"AMUN!" It was the last thing he heard before some unseen force threw his body back into the building where Bobby had been. Glass shattered, metal and concrete fell to the earth as the king slammed into the outside wall. Amun did all he could to cover Abby from any damage, but could barley control his own body from the force of the impact. The pain sent the king to his knees, hands still covering his daughter.

As the rubble and glass started to settle around him, another impact sent him into the building once more. This time, his head leading the way. Amun's mind went into a spin, not knowing which was up or down. He lost feeling in his body and dropped Abby from his grasp. His vision narrowed and his body fell to the ground, just missing the not moving Abby. The king struggled to stay conscious, his head throbbing, his acid blood flowing from the giant wounds that he had just received.

He somehow managed to find strength in his arms enough to lift up his head just in time to see the row of tanks that were emerging from the far side of the compound.