Disclaimer: I do not own Alien. I just own all the characters, except for the ones in the movies.
Author's Note: It's my first Alien story! Yay! Er, anyway, I hope you enjoy this one. Yes, I know this plot is a bit unoriginal, but I like this sort of plot. A few things to note:
"blah blah blah" = ordinary speech
blah blah blah = thoughts/thought voices (Alien speech)
blah blah blah = anything over radios, phones, other electronics
~~ blah blah blah ~~ = an event/series of events (like ATEs from Final Fantasy 9) that aren't from Gemini's POV but from 3rd person perspective
* * *
Chapter One
I can't remember how it all began. All I know is that I was "chosen" to do this. I'm no ordinary human. I can understand the language of aliens. And not just any alien. The Alien.
Like I said, I don't remember much. It happened when I was five. All I remember was seeing my family die. Then… then I became one of them. In a sense. I didn't look like them, of course. They were easily taller than me, especially Her Majesty. But they treated me like family. I was their link to the outside world. I spoke to them, for them, and amongst them. I was like a sister… but more than that as well.
But I also knew of my heritage. Who wouldn't? I was the only one in the Hive that looked different. I was what Her Majesty called "human". I was human, part of the human race. I looked like that, at least. But inside, I held fast to my adopted race, my adopted family, because they were always there for me.
So now, thirteen years later, I've put all my trust in them.
Well, in most of them, anyway.
"Kaylon! Kaylon, come back here! KAYLON!"
Boots pounding hard against the metal floor of the abandoned medical laboratory, I raced after Kaylon. He was one of the Pack, as we call ourselves, and he enjoyed tormenting us younger members, even if we were only a few months younger. He liked taking our stuff and hiding them, then yelling about being falsely accused.
That's why I was chasing him.
"Kaylon, you idiot! Come back here!"
You know human insults don't work on me, sister.
"I don't care! I want it back! It's mine, you know!"
Didn't your human mother ever tell you to share?
That's what I hated about him. He never saw me as one of them, but as a regular old human. He acted and spoke as if I wasn't part of the Hive.
"Kaylon!!!"
There was then a new thought voice: Give it back, Kaylon.
Kaylon sneered, then dropped the item he held. I rushed forward and picked it up. "Thanks, Zendrek."
Zendrek stepped out from the shadows. He was taller than Kaylon by about five inches, and taller than me by about a foot. But I found more peace, more comfort in Zendrek than in Kaylon.
Kaylon, what did Mother tell you about stealing?
Kaylon sneered some more. 'Steal only from the humans.'
Exactly.
But she is a human, goddammit!
She's the Chosen. She's one of us. Zendrek turned to look at me. She may look human, but inside, she's Alien.
She's a HUMAN for crying out loud! She doesn't even have a tail!
I glared at Kaylon. "Hey, it's getting there." It was true. Due to bioengineering, I was more Alien than human, really. I was growing a tail, which was dark but still a little short, but it would become whip-like when it was finished growing. I had a six-chambered heart, lungs twice the size of normal human lungs, and night vision. I could see, smell, hear, taste, and feel things better than ordinary humans could.
Okay, said Kaylon, so what if you're growing a tail. You don't have acid for blood, so there! You could never kill, anyway, with that puny body of yours. You're not even as tall as Timothy.
Eyes narrowed, I growled at him. It was a weak, pitiful human growl, but the message is always the same. And so what if I wasn't as tall as Timothy? I was older, at least! Timmy was thirteen years younger than I was. He was the first Alien I saw to be born. He came from my father's chest, and that's why I was allowed to name him. Timothy. After my father.
"So?" I said to Kaylon. "So what if I'm not like you in some ways? I'm still part of the Hive."
Zendrek walked to me and nudged me away with his snout. Let's go.
I could almost feel Kaylon laughing. Awww, isn't that cute? Zendrek and Gemini sitting—
"You know, Kaylon," I told my jeering 'brother', "for an Alien who despises humans a lot, you sure have picked up a lot of their habits." I looked right at him. "Like annoyance."
Ignore him, Gemini, Zendrek told me.
I walked off with Zendrek behind me. When we were out of earshot (which is a long way for an Alien), I suddenly turned and kicked the wall of the Hive. "Geez! Who does Kaylon think he is, anyway?"
He's just jealous, that's all, Zendrek said. He doesn't like the idea of a human being the Chosen. He was always a firm believer that the Chosen would be… like us.
I glared at him. "Like you? Having a tail and an extra mouth and acid for blood?"
Yes.
"And what about you? What did you believe?"
I believed… I believed that whoever the Chosen was, that he or she would liberate us.
"Honestly?"
Honestly.
"…Thanks, Zendrek."
"What!? There's no more food!?" I exclaimed as I opened up one of my favorite human coolers in the apartment complex. The only thing left was a can of fruit. "Only peaches…" I pulled out the can. "Oh well. Now, where can I find a can opener…?"
Poorah, Timmy, and Keebler were waiting in the particular apartment's lobby. I returned to them with the can in my hand and my trusty knife in the other.
What's that, Gemini? Keebler asked.
"Food. My food. You can't eat 'em."
Aw, too bad.
"Yeah, too bad. It was the last one, anyway, so we'll have to find another good one." I opened the can and popped a peach slice into my mouth. "Any ideas?"
There's a huge one downstairs. I think it's a place where humans gather to eat.
"A cafeteria."
Right. A cafe… a cafe-what?
"Cafeteria."
Right.
"I got what I came for. Let's go."
Poorah interrupted. Wait! I saw some rodents earlier in one of the rooms upstairs. They could be good food.
I wanted to give her a strange look, but Poorah didn't know better. "My digestive system doesn't work with raw meat yet."
Well, said Keebler, we better go, then. Mother says to bring you to the library to get some more books for your studies.
I nodded, chewing on another slice of fruit. "Ah, yes, my studies. Always my studies."
Her Majesty knows I am the Chosen—she knew I was the Chosen since I stepped into the Hive—and she knows I must learn all I can about the human world in order to successfully accomplish my mission. So, accompanied by one or more of my Pack members, I visit the library whenever I finish the books I had previously taken. I never return those books; no one lives there anymore, anyway. Her Majesty says that when I am ready, I will be introduced into the outside world.
The human world.
While Poorah and Timmy went back to the Hive, Keebler joined me on my visit to the library. We didn't bother using the door, because there was no door—one of the Soldiers who had been killed in this particular area had been killed against the door. His body acid quickly ate through the metal.
Keebler and I stepped into the library. It was huge, with holobooks packed on every shelf. Keebler crawled away on the wall somewhere as I searched for a few holobooks in the human technology section.
After a few minutes, I had gathered three holobooks worth reading and was heading for the computers when I heard Her Majesty's voice in my head.
There are humans, coming, Gemini. Go to Keebler and he will cover your back. Come to the nursery. You'll be safe here.
I ran then. I ran and ran and ran. Somewhere along the way, I met up with Keebler, and we ducked into the vents. I could hear the humans coming, could feel their footfalls against the metal floors. I ran as silently as I could until we reached the junction.
It was probably the worst mistake Keebler and I had ever made. At least Keebler could hide in the shadows. I couldn't.
Panting slightly, I stared in shock at the group of heavily-armed humans in front of me. They were Marines. I could tell by their uniforms and armor. I was terrified. I had never met another human since I was five, and never a human with weapons. I wanted to cry out to Her Majesty, to Keebler (wherever he was), to Zendrek, or even to Kaylon. But I couldn't. Not yet.
"What is it, Horrigan?" a commanding voice asked from around a corner.
"It's… a girl," said the lead Marines. He had black hair, cold gray eyes, and a semi-automatic in one hand.
"A girl?" The commanding voice's owner ran up from around the corner and stopped in his tracks. "You're right."
"She's probably scared of us," said another soldier. "Do you think she's the only survivor, Sergeant?"
"Maybe." The Sergeant stepped towards me. "Hey. We're only going to help you. Don't be afraid."
How could I not be afraid? And how could I trust them? They were enemies of Her Majesty. So I dived. I dived and rolled into an air vent, then I got up and ran. I didn't go far, because a human soldier stunned me. They pulled me out of the vent almost immediately and helped me to stand. I immediately started struggling. They were going to take me somewhere, somewhere I didn't want to go, and I didn't want that!
But it was too late, too late to call for help. I knew Keebler had run off to get help, but it would be too late. But my brothers and sisters would come. Oh, yes, they'd come, and they'd wreck havoc.
I've seen it all too often in the past.
~~
What!? You let them take her!? I can't believe you, Keebler! You let them take her! Zendrek's angry thought voice echoed throughout the nursery. The Alien—one of the strongest, fastest, and smartest of the Hive—easily towered over Keebler when standing at his full height. Keebler was suddenly afraid that Zendrek would impale him with his tail or second mouth.
I-I'm sorry, Zendrek! I thought that getting more help would be smarter than fighting them alone.
You should have watched over her!
But they had GUNS, Zendrek! GUNS! Gemini once called them semi-automatics and flamethrowers, I think. They'd rip us to shreds.
Kaylon sneered. You're a coward, Keebler. You know that? You're a coward.
Zendrek was more direct. He grabbed Keebler's neck with his strong hands and snarled right in the younger Alien's face. YOU LET THEM TAKE HER!!! She's the Chosen! Do you know what sort of mistake you made??? Gemini is the only one who can understand us. If they get her, they'd find out, and then they'd kill her! Humans are like that!
So are us Aliens, said a new voice. Every being in the nursery turned to look at their mother, the Queen. Zendrek, you shouldn't get all worked up about this. Remember—your thoughts should be mutual, like the rest of the Hive's thoughts. And since Gemini is the Chosen, this is her chance to carry out our plan.
Mother… do you think she is ready?
I am certain. Gemini knows that she must inform the humans of our plan—to take over their species. So it is important you let her go. The Queen almost smiled. Just this one time, Zendrek, and I promise you I won't let her leave your side.
Zendrek dropped Keebler and bowed his head to his mother, but at the same time blushing with embarrassment. Everyone knew he thought a lot about Gemini. Yes, Mother.
But I have a plan. We must not let most of those humans leave knowing Gemini was found here, correct?
Kaylon was grinning maniacally. Does that mean we get to eat tonight?
The Queen nodded. Yes. Go now. Get us meat, my children. Get us meat.
Kaylon crowed with joy. He jumped down from his perch and joined the rest of his brothers and sisters as they moved off to slaughter the humans. Zendrek watched them retreat into the tunnels of the Hive before turning to the Queen. Do you promise, Mother, you'll make her one of us when this is all over?
The Queen smiled then. Yes, Zendrek. But then and only then will I allow your feelings to control you.
Zendrek bowed again. Thank you, Mother.
~~
