Chapter 7

Disclaimer: I do not own Alien/Predator series or any characters and may not follow all customs and cultures found in Alien/Predator movies.

Sara sighed as she stared into the bathroom mirror, fixing her hair into a tight bun. The events from a few days ago still swirled in her mind, more questions continued to grow amid the ones she had already formed. No answers had been ascertained as of yet. She had noticed that Evans and company had shown unwarranted animosity toward the alien beings…

She was having a hard time adjusting to all the sudden changes, and being injured had not helped the situation. It felt as though her coworkers' gazes were cold and judgemental, they seemed to be closing around her from all sides. She had done her best to ignore such looks. A good mental shake was all she needed. Work is work. Nothing else to be concerned about.

Deft fingers touched her shoulder through her uniform, the injury had healed incredibly well, proof that her constitution was strong in her mind. She'd been fastidious with her regimen of rest, medicine, and exercise. All that was left was a jagged-looking scar where that disgusting monster had got her. It would have been a great story to tell, unfortunately for her, it had occurred deep in the bowels of a secret government compound, no one would ever know the real tale.

Sara had no idea how long she waited in the small room where the doctor had sequestered her. Admittedly, she was surprised by how the other woman appeared to be out of breath and flustered, she looked and sounded as though she had run a marathon.

"My apologies for being late," took a deep, steadying breath, "New developments arose."

Sara saluted, "Yes, Sir."

Dr. Hastings peered down at her tablet, her eyebrows squinted at the screen, she took a deep, calming breath before exhaling slowly. She smiled at Sara, "Let's get on with the tour, shall we?"

It was a pretty standard tour, as far as secret government compounds were concerned. She was shown the different sections, introduced to different people, advised of the security levels, and where the emergency exits were. They finally stopped in front of a metal door with a key panel.

"And this is where you will be working," Dr. Hastings explained, grabbing the badge around her neck. She swiped it along the side of the panel, there was a soft beep and the light switched from red to green. The latches clicked and the heavy door slid open, "I'll get you a badge soon, you need to become accustomed to your office."

Sara nodded. A part of her wondered what this new position was about, and what her new duties would be. She was also curious about her new office. The doctor was just about to lead her through when a shrill female voice interrupted, "Dr. Hastings!"

Both women froze as another scientist with mocha braids and emerald eyes came rushing towards them from out of nowhere. The doctor froze, her entire body tensing up. Sara stiffened, her muscles readying for a fight.

"Dr. Hastings!" The other scientist was panting now, her slim hands grabbing a hold of the doctor's sleeve urgently.

"Dr. Mannings!" She was surprised by the wild look in Eva Mannings' wide frightened eyes, "What is it?" Hastings had the foresight to place her tablet in her lab coat, and grabbed the other woman by her shaking arms.

Sara did not move as the terrified doctor turned her head to openly stare at her before turning to look back at Dr. Hastings, tears were beginning to form in her eyes.

"Eva!" The doctor snapped the other woman's name, startling her out of her shock, "She has authorization." She motioned to Sara.

Eva took a deep breath and swallowed audibly. "I-it's c-c-coming…" she swallowed again before she choked out, "they hacked their clan!"

"Oh my God…" Hastings swallowed and made eye contact with Sara briefly, "Are you sure?"

"Yes, Ma'am! They just got new information that they succeeded in perfect hybridization!" Eva's breathing began to turn shallow, the panic all too clear in her eyes as she almost lost her footing. Sara had to rush to grab her before she fell with Manning helping.

"Easy, Eva. It'll be alright," She called for someone nearby, two security guards came to grab the scientist from them, "Get her to medical. Hurry."

They didn't waste time and carried Dr. Manning around the corner and out of sight. This whole event got Sara worried inside, the way that the scientist shook in absolute fear took her by surprise. She glanced at Dr. Hastings as they took a minute to gather themselves, she appeared flustered, rubbing the sweat off her forehead, sighing in exhaustion. What news did they get that had one person almost faint?

Dr. Hastings recovered after a minute, "My apologies, Sara. That was Dr. Eva Manning, my assistant in the science department of this facility."

"No worries, Sir," She smiled weakly to reassure the doctor, "May I ask if she'll be alright?"

"Of course she'll be," She didn't sound reassuring but she wasn't about to barge anymore for information. Dr. Hastings must have felt the same since she headed to the other door with Sara, "As you know, you will be working beside researchers, specialists, along with I'koh and Ma'dti so it can be overwhelming. Rest assured that you only have to watch and protect them and our investments."

"May I speak?" Sara asked.

"Of course. You're always free to ask questions without permission."

Another air of silence filled the room as they stopped right at the opened door, the smile gone from her lips as she straightened her back. As much as tempting the offer was, it was not in her nature to take it so freely. In the military, it was either yes or no response, questioning the superiors was met with strict discipline and it was engraved deeply in her bones. It didn't take long for Dr. Hastings to realize her mistake . . . again, "Anyway, what did you want to ask?"

Sara cleared her throat, "Who am I protecting and from what?"

She got her answer from the mute reaction of Dr. Hastings, watching her close her eyes as if trying to think of the right answer by twisting the truth. With no way around and she not being as idiotic as the rest though, the doctor gave in, a sting of sadness in her voice, "Protecting the scientists from them."

Sara lowered her gaze to look at her feet for a moment. This is more like babysitting than protecting. The thought of it and her first 'meeting' with them made her tense involuntarily.

"I understand." It was all she could say.

She was at ease knowing that Dr. Hastings understood when discretion is needed, not delve into the deep with curiosity under control. She nodded her head and motioned her to follow, not saying anymore on the sore subject. One positive thing in this damn base so far.

She paused, taking a deep breath away from prying eyes. It's just a job. Don't waste your time on thoughts. With her chest and chin high, she stepped inside, mentally preparing for what's to come.

There were three scientists standing over a table, glancing and arguing over pieces of paper and iPads with several images being swiped left and right, scrambled nonsense if she asked herself. It would be boring enough that she would leave and do something else productive, except the two aliens towering over them, the size difference uncanny so they had to lean down to a human level somewhat.

As soon as Sara and Dr. Hastings stepped in, everyone paused, turning in attention. The researchers gave a few glances to her but had worried looks when it came to Hastings.

"Where's Dr. Manning?" A man with a buzz cut and grumpy looking face asked.

"She's being taken care of, Greg. Don't worry about it." She played it cool, much to Sara's intrigue mind.

"But she was going to tell you about—"

"And we will discuss what I'koh and Ma'dti found but it's not the right time to lose our heads," She herded them back to the table, "Come on."

Everyone got settled in the center, Hastings doing her best to calm them down. Sara wondered what the news Dr. Manning was attempting to tell at the door, it had to be serious to upset a ground of scientists, enough to cause one to tremble in terror. It seemed like a joke to Sara and it would have been, if she never knew those humanoid aliens existed. What's the worst that could come?

Speaking of the devil, the seven-foot tall, dreadlock hair aliens, particularly the blue stripped one, stared at her. The cold expression on their masks hid their true intent but she was sure their attention was on her, more intense than everyone in the room. She kept her eyes straight but away from them.

"Now that we are settled, can you please tell me what's going on?" Dr. Hastings spoke grudgingly, "Dr. Charles?"

The buzz cut guy stepped forward, clearing his throat, "We just ran the numbers on the cell-bioassay on the hybrids and found that there's evidence of gene speciation. I'koh and Ma'dti think it could be a new method and they may have perfected it to make this super—"

"Okay. Let me look at the data and confirm with everyone about it . . . but first, introductions," Dr. Hastings moved to the side to reveal Sara, "This is Lieutenant Sara Gilson, our new guard."

Dr. Charles scanned her up and down, she didn't like it one bit the attitude on his face when he finished, arrogance written all over, "This is the new guard?" He scolded, "I feel safer with a pit bull."

"What's the big deal?" Another man, stubby with huge glasses and some weird smell, "She's from the Rangers and a sniper no less. What more do you expect? A robot with impenetrable armor like Transformers?"

"As long as she doesn't disrupt our work, Dr. Vinski. But I'm not sure if she can handle the big boys since she's puny compared to them."

Suddenly, the room went silent as a growl echoed. Sara noticed everyone was staring at the blue-striped alien with anxiety, even the purple-colored twin tilted his head, either in shock or anger she didn't know, but she was sure that the staring made her uncomfortable. Hovering her hand over her handgun, the last guy with curly hair and beard stepped toward Dr. Charles.

"Watch your manners."

"Tell that to someone who cares, Bob."

"Enough," She spoke with strong intent, "or else all of you will be doing scrub duty for the rest of the week and I'm sure there's a lot, Greg."

The man went pale, eyes widened as if he saw a ghost, she wasn't sure how bad it was to do scrub duty but it was enough to shut his mouth and everyone else for that matter. The command she had over the team would be inspirational to soldiers in the military. I would have used my fists to punch his teeth out in a blink given the chance.

As quick as the thick air of tension came, it faded as the others went back to work in silence. Dr. Hastings strolled to the pair of aliens casually, no fear in her stride, "Calm down, I'koh. They're idiots and you know they can't help it."

"Hey!"

Greg shouted but Hastings ignored it, "Are you alright?"

Sara watched as the alien spoke, not in its tongue as she could only assume, given that it used some loop recording or something similar that was human, "Idiot . . . get what's coming to him."

"I know," She stretched her arm, barely managed to pat his shoulder with a reassured smile, "Nothing we can do about it."

They chatted for a few minutes, discussing matters in whispers, even with the recordings. The purple colored alien male made gurgle sounds, shaking his dreadlocks as if irritated. Sara could tell immediately that the first was more understanding while the second wanted nothing to do with it. Total opposites. Figures.

After a minute of their chat of nonsense in her mind, Sara headed for the nearest wall and stood there, watching out for the scientists should the big guys do anything as per the job description. She glanced at them, still chatting with the blonde scientist switching expressions on her face, worry to relief and then back again. At least Dr. Hastings got a handle on it . . but what's got them all concerned? Why so much anxiety?

Out of nowhere, something started to beep softly. She saw Dr. Hastings pulled out a pager from her pocket, taking a look before her face suddenly turned to stone, gasping quietly under her breath. Something wrong? She didn't say much as she rushed toward the door in such a hurry, "I have to take care of something. Please keep on working and don't cause any trouble."

She stopped for a moment next to Sara, "I'll be back. Take care of them."

Dr. Hastings was gone before anyone could say a word, leaving her and the rest of this weird bunch in a small room. The researchers grumbled before checking back on their work, too focused to notice the aliens standing over them, barely asking questions regarding the recent event with Manning and Hastings' sudden departure. Other than that, they stayed quiet, watching from afar and at ease, no signs of stress or worry whatsoever.

They don't seem tough. She took a deep breath. Not much to watch out for, huh?

But then, she saw the blue-stripped male turn to stare at her, longer than she was used to tolerate. What's his problem?

She kept her head straight, repeating to herself to keep focus as per her job description, regardless of how boring and unproductive it was. Little did she know that it was going to be harder than she thought to ignore as the big guy took a few steps, inching closer and closer . . . to her.

Hello my readers!

A long overdue update for this story has finally come and got help for the much needed break from such a writer's block! I hope that it was worth the wait and more updates will come soon. I promise!

Happy Hunting!

Normal = Human speaking human (ooman) language

Bold = Yautja speaking ooman language (voice recording in this chapter)