Later that night, Selim woke up and suddenly saw yellow eyes like his own, staring down at him. At first he thought it was his Father but then he realised it must be a mirror, as the face he could see looked like his own reflection. At least so he guessed from the few times he had seen himself in polished metal surfaces or still water.

He blinked, but his reflection did not blink "That is strange." His brow creased up in a frown but his reflection did not frown either. Instead the other Selim grinned, his sharp white teeth glinting in the moonlight streaming through the window.

Selim looked over to where his mother had been sitting. Now her chair was empty. He wondered when she would be coming back, this was… not frightening exactly, just confusing.

"Hello?" He whispered finally, curiosity getting the better of him.

"You woke up!" The other him said gleefully "I was hoping you'd wake up soon!"

"You are not my reflection are you?" Selim asked, puzzled.

The other Selim laughed "Of course not dumbass!" He sniggered.

Selim was stung by this. Although he didn't exactly know what it meant, he guessed it was not complimentary "Well, who are you then?" He said angrily.

"I'm Isaac," The other boy said "You're Selim, aren't you?"

"How do you know my name?"

"Your Mom told me, when she came to visit me earlier," Isaac said, then his face warped into an even more evil grin "They said I couldn't come and see you yet but I wanted to come and see you right away. Farrell thinks I'm asleep."

"Who is Farrell? And when did my Mother come to see you?" There were so many other questions Selim wanted to ask he couldn't get them all out at once,

"Farrell's a dumbass too!" Isaac said with a roll of his eyes "He thinks he can lock me in my room, but he doesn't know I can escape whenever I want to!"

"Wow!" Selim's eyes widened at the thought of this defiance "How did you get out?"

"Climbed through the vent shaft," Isaac looked very pleased with his own cleverness "I'm good at climbing."

Selim grinned back but then a thought occurred to him "Will you not get into trouble?" He knew that whenever he had unwisely gone wandering off without permission there had been hell to pay when he was finally found.

"He can't do anything to me!" Isaac said confidently "Iversson wouldn't let him. Sometimes when he calls me a little brat, I tell her and then he gets into trouble!"

Selim was slightly puzzled by this "So is Farrell … your father?"

"Pfhuh! No!" Isaac made a disgusted noise "He's just my minder! I hate him. He's always telling lies! Always trying to tell me what to do!"

Selim was curious, this whole set up sounded very strange to him, very different to what he was used to "So where is your father then? Do you not have parents?"

Isaac looked at him oddly "You sure ask a lot of stupid questions!"

"You give a lot of stupid answers!" Selim said hotly.

"Professor Iversson is my mother!" Said Isaac as if Selim should have known this. "Farrell tries to tell me she isn't – but I know she is!"

"Then why would he tell you that she is not?"

Isaac raised his voice in exasperation "Don't you listen to anything? Because he's a dumbass!"

Being taunted by someone the same age as himself was a new experience for Selim. Usually the peacemaker between two hot-headed parents he suddenly felt his own temper flare up, sharp and fierce

"Stop using that stupid word!" He snarled, shifting reflexively into yautja, the language of combat.

This seemed to take Isaac momentarily aback, he sat in stunned silence for a few beats staring at him "What was that?!" He breathed finally.

"What was what?" Selim asked, not understanding.

"That noise you made!" Isaac said incredulously "Do it again!"

Selim repeated himself and Isaac's jaw dropped open "That was amazing!" He whispered "What is it?"

"It is my father's language." Selim said, puzzled by his reaction "Yautja. My mother can speak it too but his species, I mean – that is their speech."

"What's a species?"

"Something like a family." Selim wasn't actually sure, but he had heard his parents use this term.

"Say some more words!"

"What is it you wish me to say?" Selim asked him.

"Hahaha!" Isaac rolled backwards on the bed delightedly "You sound like a lion eating a beetle!"

Selim started laughing himself.

"Do you know any swear words?"

"Oh yes, I know many." Selim said airily, not really sure what the boy meant by this.

Isaac grinned at him "Can you teach me?"


Three days later Professor Iversson was surprised when Diana Weyland entered her office in the early evening. In her usual manner she seated herself in a chair before Iversson had a chance to invite her to do so.

There were many trials in the course of the Professor's working life and dealing with her patron was – she had to admit – one of the less agreeable ones. She always tried to maintain friendly relations with Weyland but unfortunately she was inclined to agree with Lex, though she would never have admitted it. There was something about the woman that set her teeth on edge.

"So Jeanette how do you think yesterday went?" The CEO brushed an imaginary speck off her immaculate lapel "I thought Woods seemed to get on with the boy quite well."

"Considering what a shock it must have been to find out that way, I suppose she did," Iversson said "I was just relieved it didn't backfire spectacularly. This has already been an extremely stressful situation for her. I did explain to you how she can react under stress…."

"Jeanette, is that reproach I hear in your voice?" Diana said "It had to come out sometime and she has a pretty good reason for keeping her cool. You did save her son's life, after all and you're continuing to treat him while he recovers. In any case, you couldn't keep something like that secret from her forever."

"I wasn't planning on keeping it secret forever, just long enough to let her get onto an even keel while Selim stabilises."

"Well, it's done now." Diana said "I'm sure she'll get used to the idea, she seems to have a knack of getting along wherever she finds herself."

"If you say so."

"What I really wanted to talk to you about is our other guest over on Island North. I had a little chat with Danzig earlier. He tells me that the exotic has been awake for nearly forty-eight hours and he still hasn't said a word anyone can understand."

"With respect Ma'am," Iversson drew a deep breath "Forty-eight hours isn't a long time in the grand scheme of things. He's an extra-terrestrial from a warlike and violent culture that treats human beings as prey. Now we're holding him prisoner; do you really expect him to be chatty?"

"Come now Jeanette, that's not the whole story and you know it." Weyland gave her an old fashioned look "Remember, Woods has been gone for nearly six years. I think we can assume most of that time she's been with him. They've got a child together – are you seriously telling me all that time they've been communicating by just guesswork and pointing? He can speak, I'm sure of it."

"Ma'am she speaks their language, I've heard her do it." Iversson protested "And I'm not even sure just what their relationship is."

"Quite frankly it doesn't bear thinking about." Her employer closed her eyes with a refined little shudder "I don't care about that. I just want him to talk so he can tell us how his invisibility device works. We've got it in the lab upstairs and they can't seem to tell me how it functions. I have a spaceship sat on the upper deck of Island North that we can't even see and nobody can work out how to make it visible again. Can you imagine the logistics of transporting that here in secret?"

"Well I would have thought its being invisible would have made that easier." Iversson pointed out, reasonably enough.

Weyland shook her head in irritation, no wishing to be side-tracked from her main purpose "Jeanette it's vital that we unlock the secret of their stealth technology. It would be worth an untold fortune – almost beyond price. Doesn't that motivate you?"

"With respect Ma'am, the exotic's technology is not what I'm here to decipher. I already wasted considerable amounts of time studying his portable computer whilst I was in the employ of the Unit and I would suggest the task is best left to those with more time to devote to these matters. you hired me to be head of life sciences, not an engineer or a tech consultant - "

"But I did hire you as the world's leading expert on his species – if you can't get that information out of him who can?"

"Ms Weyland, I thought we'd been over this." Iversson said wearily "Even if you could speak to him who's to say he'd tell you what you want to know? Or that you could trust what he says? We are keeping him prisoner."

"Yes well, that's your department," Weyland laced her fingers together "I've already told you what I want from him Jeanette; information. That's what I hired you for. Can't you give him some sort of encouragement – maybe some sort of electric shock treatment?"

Iversson folded her arms "Even if I were prepared to countenance such unethical cruelty I don't think it would work. From what I can gather his species pride themselves on their ability to withstand physical pain. In any case, with those implants in his spine he can't feel anything from the neck down anyway."

"So, remove them!"

"Ms Weyland, if I do that we run the risk of him getting free, is that really what you want?"

"Are you saying that you won't do what I ask?"

"I'm saying I'm not prepared to countenance torture. It's totally immoral and the results are unreliable."

"Well there must be some way to get him to talk!" Weyland snapped "I don't care what you have to …" She tailed off and sank into silence for a moment.

"Do you think…" She said slowly "That he'd speak to us if we took the child down there to see him? Maybe if he knows we've got his son it would motivate him."

"Selim is not well enough." The Professor said firmly "He's recuperating and I don't want him upset."

"But how do you know the boy doesn't want to see his father?"

"Ma'am, it would be foolish in the extreme," Iversson said "Selim has just undergone brain surgery. I don't want to move him, he needs more time to recuperate."

"Well if the real one is still too delicate," Diana's scarlet lips curled into a smile "We do have a pretty convincing double. Don't you think it would be good opportunity for Isaac to learn about his heritage, hmmm?"

Iversson's knuckles went white as she gripped the arms of her chair.


She was still had one fist clenched tightly in her lap an hour later as the railcar took them over the water to Island North. Her right hand rested on the back of Isaac's neck. The boy was oblivious to her anxious mood. He was engrossed in staring out over the waves "Look Mom, dolphins!" He said, grabbing hold of the side of the car and kneeling up to get a better look.

"Oh yes," She said weakly "How lovely." She watched uneasily the way his head flicked rapidly back and forth, following the movement. In fact it was now almost too dark for her to see them, but she knew his night vision was superior to hers – to that of any human.

"I'll bet I could get one!" He said, turning to her with a flash of his too-long canines.

"But Isaac, why do you want to catch one? They're so beautiful. Isn't it better to leave them where they are?"

"I dunno, maybe… I guess." He said thoughtfully.

"Besides, you can't swim." She reminded him.

His face scrunched up "Only cos you never let me in the water! I'll bet I could learn easy enough."

She patted him "I'm sure you could, maybe when the weather gets a bit warmer. It's very cold at the moment."

"Where are we going anyway?" He said looking up at her.

"Isaac, I already told you where we're going." She said "We've got to go over to the North Island to see Diana Weyland – do you remember her?"

"Yes," He said, without enthusiasm "I don't like her. She talks all snippy and she's got a mean face."

"Don't be rude." She reproached him, but gently. You couldn't get too angry with children for speaking the truth. "Well Diana wants to show you something but it might be a little… frightening."

Immediately he was all enthusiasm, excited at the prospect of anything even mildly dangerous "What is it?"

"I'll tell you more when we get there." Iversson didn't want to say too much. She was still hoping she'd be able to talk Weyland out of this, but she also didn't want Isaac to be totally unprepared if she couldn't.

Her employer was there to meet them when they arrived at the North Terminal. She flashed Isaac the bright, impersonal smile used by adults who have no interest in children. The boy didn't return it but stood scowling up at her, mistrustful as ever. Iversson's lips pursed, he was always so guarded around everyone else "But then I guess he's never had much reason to trust anyone… other than me." She thought sadly "And today isn't going to do anything but reinforce that."

As they walked down the corridor she leaned over to speak into Weyland's ear "Ma'am, I just want to say again that I think this is a terrible idea," She said in an undertone "I don't know what you think it's going to achieve but using a child in this way is totally unfair and unethical and we are risking – "

"You said your piece earlier Jeanette." Her employer's face was a mask of unflappable calm.

"Ma'am –"

"I've heard what you've got to say on the matter and you know my requirements, I'm afraid we'll have to agree to differ."

As the elevator travelled downwards, Isaac began to shiver slightly, despite the extra layers she'd wrapped him in. Iversson frowned, it was cold down here but she wondered if that was all it was.

"Isaac?" She said "Are you alright?"

"Yes, m'fine." He said through chattering teeth.

At least when they finally got to the room adjoining the holding cell, he stopped shivering "Why's it so hot in here?" He asked in a small voice.

As she took off the coat and the top layer of warm clothing she'd wrapped him in, Iversson felt an ache in her chest. He looked so little and vulnerable that she suddenly felt a terrible rage towards her employer for not giving a damn about him "She does see him as just a commodity!" She thought, incensed "I should turn round right now and march him back to the elevator but then… without her money, he would never have existed. She owns him. And me!"

"Isaac," She said softly "I want you to be brave now and not be frightened. There's someone in the next room that Diana wants to talk to and she thinks you might be able to persuade him."

"Why doesn't she just go talk to him herself?" The boy frowned over at Diana Weyland, who was watching him intently.

"Because the person she wants to talk to is rather … difficult and she needs someone brave like you to come with her," said Iversson. She hated herself for lying to him but she couldn't think what else to say. Surely a little white lie was preferable to the truth "Don't worry though, he can't move. He can't get you – no matter what he says," She tried to reassure him, seeing his aghast expression "And I'll be right there with you."

He looked up at her for a few minutes, deciding "OK," He said uncertainly "I'll go."

She put a hand on his cheek "You're a good boy."

Looking into his trusting eyes she experienced a momentary twinge of doubt "Am I wrong not to tell him that creature is the nearest thing he'll ever have to a father?" She thought "Do I have the right to keep that from him?"

Standing up she stole a quick glance through the viewing window at the exotic. She'd been so busy she hadn't been down here that much over the last few days but Lloyd and Danzig reported that he often seemed to be sleeping, even though they'd taken him off the tranquilisers. She didn't believe he really could be unconscious that often "If I were in his position, I'd pretend to be unconscious too." She thought grimly.

As they entered the room she saw right away that the alien was watching them and she was struck again by the sheer horror of him. Even restrained and totally helpless he was an intimidating presence. Just his size alone was enough to make her want to shrink back against the door. Set beside the delicate, porcelain beauty of Diana Weyland he looked even bigger, even more hideous.

His eyes narrowed when he saw the two women and he twitched his dreadful jaws.

Any thoughts she might have had about telling Isaac the truth vanished in an instant. "It's one thing to find out your father isn't perfect," She thought "It's quite another to discover he's the nearest thing to the devil incarnate you're ever going to see!"

Then Isaac trailed in behind them, holding her hand. The exotic's eyes widened in surprise as he saw the boy and Isaac started in alarm "Mom!" He said shrinking back against her, almost trying to hide behind her leg "What is that!?

Then the alien said something in his own language – his deep, guttural voice echoing around the cell. It was incomprehensible to her ears but she thought she heard his son's name in amongst all the snarling and clicking.

Isaac looked up at her anxiously "What did he say to me?"

The exotic clearly heard what Isaac had said and seemed confused by it, distressed even. In amongst her own fear and anger Iversson was watching his facial expression and she definitely got the impression that he was upset by Isaac's question to her. He spoke again, fixing his eyes on the boy this time as if willing him to understand, speaking more slowly.

If the alien was distressed, Isaac was more so; he had gone ghastly pale.

Seeing the exotic's reaction, Diana Weyland seized Isaac's other hand and dragged him out of Iversson's grasp closer to their huge prisoner.

"So!" She said sharply "There is intelligent life inside that thick skull!" Before Iversson could stop her she thrust the boy in front of her so that he was only inches away from the creature. The terrified child struggled to break free but she held him in place with a hand on each shoulder "He doesn't know what you're saying!" She said slowly and loudly to the alien "So you will have to speak our language. I know you understand me!"

The moment she laid hands on Isaac, the exotic's features twisted into an expression of ferocious anger and he growled at her, his face clearly stating that if he hadn't been paralysed Weyland would be a dead woman.

"You want him? Then just tell me." The CEO said, speaking as if to a child "If you want him so badly, tell me how your stealth device works."

If the exotic did understand her, he gave no sign. He looked crazed, eyes glowing with phosphorus rage. He was obviously striving to move in spite of the impulse blockers. Iversson felt a little shock of alarm as she noticed that the fingers on his left hand twitch, the muscle in one shoulder tense a fraction.

Then as quickly as the rage had come it suddenly subsided. He looked hard at Isaac, breathed in deeply. Then he said something else in his own language and again she heard his son's name. To her surprise she found she knew what he was saying – not that she understood the words – but his expression, the tone of his voice, everything about his demeanour suggested it.

"You are not Selim."

He regarded the child for a few moments more as if trying to work out what or who he might be, where he might have sprung from. Then his gaze rose up slowly to Diana Weyland's pale face where she still stood, holding on tight to Isaac – her long nails still digging into his shoulders – and he laughed softly, like a file grating on metal.

Then he spread his jaws in what looked like a threat and said something else in his own language very slowly – something clearly intended for the woman. Diana didn't flinch but whatever he said it had an electrifying effect on the boy in her clutches. He tore himself free of her grasp and bolted for the door. "Isaac!" Iversson scrambled after him, shooting an angry glance back at her employer.

She found him sitting outside on the floor of the control room, almost hyperventilating with fear. "Are you alright Isaac?" She crouched down next to him on creaking knees and put her arms around him. She could feel his heart racing like it was about to leap out of him, a trapped animal. He was obviously terrified half to death.

"It's okay, you're safe now!" She soothed "You don't have to go back in there, it's alright…"

He looked up at her, teeth chattering again, gulping as he tried to speak "He said –"

"Yes?" Iversson frowned.

"He said – he said –"

She was confused, not about why Isaac was afraid, but as to how he could know what the alien had said "What is it Isaac?" She asked "What did he say?"

"He said –" Isaac shivered and tried to wipe away the tears that had started to pour down his face with the back of his hand "He said – he wanted – he's going to -"

Iversson waited patiently while he gulped and sobbed."He said – he's going to – turn her – inside out!"

Then he started to cry properly, sobbing into her lap. She folded him tightly against her and rocked him, a maelstrom of confusion and worry churning in her gut.

How the hell could he know what the alien was saying?