Chapter 3: Learning on the job

After I had found out Xero was alive we spent many of our days teaching me how to use my new body. She also told me about how she was the only one left on the planet besides the one that threatened me. I found out she called her Fang. I kind of agreed with the name. Xero and I spend many months training me to be used to the new body. I learned to move, Hunt, hiss even capture like one of them. In time it became second nature to me.

I kept at it for as long as I could. The training sometimes made me sick to my stomach because the world I kept visiting in my sleep kept moving by. every time I'd come back months would have passed in this worlds time. But I also noticed I was spending more and more days in this world every time I came. The first time it was two days. The second lasted for a week third lasted two then 3 then a month.

The cycle kept continuing. This was my 12th time jumping into this world and already its been a month since I woke up. I also noticed the time gaps from my long sleeps to Xero where getting shorter by days. Every time it took one day less for me to wake up. The first time she told me i was asleep for 6 months. I was asleep this time for 5 months and 18 days.

Every day we would go over the same material in the morning. New material in the afternoon and by night we would go over every thing I would could remember. My progress was astonishing to her. But as we trained more and more I kept thinking to myself. What did that strange person mean by when they come. Its already been months hell years since Ripley and them where here.

I was curious what they ment. But I never really gave it much thought. Xero thou I noticed was growing. She was being more protective of me keeping me close at her side. I got used to her calling me her lil one because she was right I wasn't made the proper way. The proper way would have killed me. but Nothing more was happening on this planet. I would see other surviving members of Xero's family here and their but the planet was so big we where practically scattered across the planet.

And I say we because I accepted at this point I was part of her home. When ever I woke up here I thought of this as my home. Anything was fair game. And i got a odd sense out of all of it. It was becoming more and more like life to me every day. Of course all the fun would have to stop eventually. Even I knew something was bound to happen sooner or later. It had already been 3-4 years since I appeared on this planet in her time. to me it was only months.

I realized around my 6th visit I could come when ever I wanted. I could have normal nights and still be a normal child at home. already have a year since my birthday wish and I felt more alive then ever. And yes I know that i'm very different in Xero's world. All Xenomorphs are Female I knew that. I had to accept it. I even took a name. I took the same name as the voice that gave me my gift.

I went by the name Xephenia Xero's world. I went by my normal one in mine. But I got to the point where every one started calling me Ren at school so the nickname kind of stuck even at home. But besides the point. Its been a long time since I came to this planet. I knew something was bound to happen. So that night after we went to sleep the next morning we could feel it.

Xero's sisters where stirring something big was landing. Practically over night a army of Xero's siblings came to her side. She left me out of the comversation. It was at this point I realized Xero was taller. She was bigger then any other Xeno. She didn't look like the old queen she had the same aqua tint and old look she always was but bigger. Queen size.

Xero in the time I had been around her had become the new queen and I didn't realize it. "Xephenia come. Guesstss we have more for the family yess yess!" I didn't need to think to much on it. She suddenly darted in a direction on all fours like any normal Xenomorph would. I followed suit. It became normal for me to run like this. I could also sprint on two legs but that was not something I would brag about.

It was at this moment those word splayed again in my head. "You have till they come" I took a moment to myself as I was following Xero. This could be who I was warned about. something was about to happen that I didn't think I was going to like. When I had caught up with Xero I had run into her by accident do to my absence of attention. She used her tail to hold me next to her.

"Careful lil one no hurting" Xero sounded concerned but brushed it out of her mind when we all heard the noise. Looking up we saw 5 ships on a landing approach on the planet. Massive ships almost like they could house colonies on them. They came rushing down infront of us a few miles away coming to a complete landing stand still on the ground.

We watched as planform like structures stuck them selves in the ground and walls dropping to reveal several buildings. Each of the 5 ships sprouted a wall like structure that connected to one of the other ships walls closing it into a massive structure. A ear splitting noise high pitch was sounded around the structured ships. It took a lot not to hold my head from the sear pitch of it.

One look at Xero I knew instantly she was in defense mode. "Important lesson lil one. Alwayss grow the family. More equalss dominance." With that she let out a loud screech and her sisters all charged at the structure. She sat there watching keeping her tail around me to keep me from running. I watched as the others charged the newly landed city with renewed strength.

But I also noticed something along the walls that Xero didn't. I noticed weapons of defense. This wasn't just a city. This was a fortress. The moment her sisters got close the flashes of light began. We could feel it as her siblings sharged on over their fallen family members. Xero was getting worried. Many of her sisters would have fallen by the time they started climbing the walls.

I started noticing movement on the walls them selves at the very top. "Weaponss keep uss at by. But many we are in numberss and sstrength lil one." But no sooner had she said that did she snap her attention back to the city. They where actually pushing her sister back. And from the look of things they where losing. She was going to lose her family if she didn't do something.

I could feel a kind of pressure in my skull. The very back. almost like a fleeing signal. I watched as the crowd that sorrounded the city started retreating. I also noticed small flashes at ground level. These people where sending out mop up teams. "Taken some of them thesse humanss" I heard Xero mutter to herself. She was more serious then I ever saw her. It was then I also noticed the number of fallen.

Xero had lost all but 1/8th of her sisters in the charge. She was down by a lot. The humans of the city captured a lot of the hive but killed many more. It didn't long to notice the objects coming out of the top. These where drop ships going on patrols. They were going on a bug hunt. I on instinct grabbed Xero's hand and started pulling her away. I had to get her out before it was to late.

She wasn't wanting to move but i managed to dragged her a good foot ball fields length away before more craziness happened. Not 75 feet from where we where standing a strange blue fence popped up in front of us. Almost looking like an electric fence. But wat was more surprising was that Xero's sisters trapped on the other side couldn't get passed it. They kept getting hurt or stunned. Only a few managed to get by before it appeared.

"Bad thiss iss very bad. They will torture family for knowledge then for sport." Xero was terrified. I noticed the spot lights appearing on our side they where going to gun down those of us that got away. I pulled her into a near by cave that was made by the wind movements and hissed at Xero to get her attention. She looked at me and I could tell she was frightened.

"Lil one must run. Xero will keep attention." Before she could move I grabbed her tail keeping her there. "No you are staying with me. We go home together." I pulled her close almost hugging her. she was all I had in this world and I wasn't going to lose her. I started leading her away from all the madness. All around us I could hear gun fire and screeching.

These people where on a mission to wipe the planet clean. I had to get Xero out as best as I could. She was important to me. Weather I was asleep or awake I always liked the fact she was there to keep me safe. I wanted to keep her safe. I pulled her threw all of the hiding spaces gaps and tunnels I could find. I was working my way back to the old complex we called home.

But before we could even get close I had noticed lights around it. They had landed here to clear it out. Some of the ones that stayed behind I could feel them in their desperately trying to defend the nest. I knew it was a lost fight just by how many where even here. This wasn't just a battle it was a war. They sent hundreds of marines to this planet. I didn't wanna waste time.

I pulled Xero to a near by cave system I knew the humans didn't know about. I got her inside and used what strength I had left to push the outside rock over the cave hole as to hiding our location. Before I could move Xero pulled me to her with her tail wrapping her arms and tail around me. She was in pain. I could feel it to. all the family she had left was being wiped out.

She was the only one left. But she had me with her she wasn't going to let me go knowing I was there with her. "Thank you lil one. You protect Xero when Xero iss ssuppossed to protect you." I could feel her shaking in the spot. I just stayed still letting her hold onto me in the cave system. I knew about this cave and had come here in my off times. There was only one way in and one way out.

There was a small hole in the roof I made a year ago from dropping acid blood on the spot. I had made a small hole for light and air to travel through. "Xero don't open this cave till I wake back up. Ill get you out of hear I promise." I laid against her and she seemed to understand. I let my vision go dark before waking up sweeting in my bed room

That one massive attack made me use a lot of the training Xero put me threw and put it into practice. I was successful in getting her to a safe space but that's it. I don't know how long we will stay hidden. And I don't know how long I can keep her safe but I can't go back till I figure something out. I knew her very life depended on it. I starred out my window to see a night sky. I knew I had all the time in my world to think of a plan.

It made more sense that way. I also knew Xero didn't need much in the way of food or water Xenomorphs weren't designed for that. They do eat and drink I learned but they can go months even up to 2 years. I didn't need to rush in this. I had to think very carefully about how I would approach this. It wasn't every day a 11 year old had to take on a challenge like this.