Solution to the Problem
Chapter three
Keitaro-kun lightly sighed in his sleep, one of the very few times he was at peace now. Sarah repeatedly stroking his now long and knotted black hair, smelling of gringe and sweat but there was nothing that could be done about it now. Hours had gone by until they were forced to move into here but she eventually left to get food and sleeping bags for the kids to sleep in. Leaning her back against the cold metal wall of the air shaft looking at the rest of the children, whom were all asleep. Lifting her head looking at the big metal fan blowing a slight breeze, the only noise it made was a slight hum.
Every fifty feet or so there was one of these rooms, the room was designed to be big to fit the huge fan in it and keep fresh air circulating through the vents. The motors to the heating and ac unit only gave off warm or cold air, whichever was desired. This system sucked air in from the oxygen tanks, sent it through screens filtering out the germs, then was sent too here.
Keitaro-kun wiggled in his sleep with a slight wine.
Sarah reached down breaking off a piece of bread from a ration she opened earlier and ate the small piece. This was beginning to get outrageous. They had been here for five weeks and still no rescue vessel.
Holding Keitaro-kun's head as she slid out from underneath him then placed a pillow under his head, she waited to see if he would wake but he didn't. Carefully and quietly half walked half crawled her way to a grate stepping over children at the same time, none woke, she opened the grate and crawled into the small shaft.
When all this first happened she never left the kids since they were so afraid the xenomorphs would get them. Now that weeks had gone by they had gotten use to the xenomorphs and weren't so afraid as before. They knew she would protect them but Sarah still wanted to walk around from time to time and think, she never went far.
Before they moved here she used to pace in large circles just outside the room, now she wasn't that worried but still kept that "just in case the xenomorph did get through" feeling open all the time. This was defiantly getting to be outrageous. Why hasn't the corporation sent a rescue team? Where were the sounds of marine weapons' blowing the shit out of the xenomorphs? Did the corporation company even care about their people here? More questions rang through her head.
What she needed was a way to get out of this damn place. A ship, a ship would be perfect, just wonderful, superb, but there wasn't one of those here. Almost nearing a grate with Corridor F on the other side. She tried fixing the communication's console but everything was burnt beyond recognition. There was clomping, like metal lightly hitting against metal followed by clicking noises.
Sarah stopped and listened, it couldn't be the xenomorphs, letting the sounds linger even longer in her ears, that's when she remembered the predators. Quietly inching her way to the opening and looked out, she didn't see anything but the noise was ever so close, then, a foot dropped in front of her, it sure enough was alien.
Having yellow skin with metal wrapped all around it then more metal strapped to an abnormally large ankle and lower leg. They wore a shoe that was a cross between a sandal and a boot, most of the foot was covered with metal, except for the heel that was open to its bare skin with a small spur sticking out. The same went for the front of its foot, except they were black talons instead of spurs.
A ship. She remembered telling herself. There isn't one here but they surely have one. Sarah shook the idea out of her head, more alien feet walking by. It was preposterous, a stupid idea, she'd last longer here then with them. Besides, there's no way they would take her and the kids home, like they would say. "Oh you poor poor creature. It must have been so hard protecting these children by yourself. Why don't you board our ship? Kick your feet up and relax we'll get you all home safe and sound." She inwardly laughed to herself, watching the last foot disappeared but then, her mood changed, now she was seeing them as the only means of getting out of this place, this nightmare.
The noise of their clomping feet slowly faded away. She laid her hand on the grate and pushed, the flimsy bolts gave way and broke off in a second. Still holding the grate, she only laid on her belly and waited to see, well hear, if any of them heard the noise. A minute went by and she didn't hear anything.
Laying the grate down and stuck her head out but didn't see any of them. Slowly and quietly pushing herself out then stood up with her rifle lifted scanning the corridor again, no predators. Tip toeing her way to a section of the corridor that formed into a "T" section and slowly peered her head past the corner, walking down the long corridor were the predators.
The brutes were only walking in the corridors cause they were wanting to fight, to prove their power, they probably didn't give a crap about her or the kids. If she showed herself with her rifle aimed at them they would show a big interest then but if she didn't show herself, then they would leave and not even think twice about the stranded people here.
Narrowing her eyes as she watched the group walk away, just the thought that they would leave her here boiled her blood. Mentally throwing her foot onto the floor. That was it! She made up her mind, walking from behind the corner, none noticing her. "Hey!" She yelled.
They all spun around, some already raising their weapons. She took a step back raising her left hand showing her pink palm. "I'm not here to fight, not now." Slowly reaching her right hand behind her back and slowly pulled her rifle off her shoulder.
They just watched her.
Holding the rifle away from her and knelt to one knee gently laying the rifle down. Once it touched the floor she got up leaving the rifle and took three steps back. "Do any of you speak English?"
Four in the front stepped to the side looking at a predator behind them. Two on each side of the predator and four more behind it also looked at the comrade.
This one must know some of her language from what she saw of the other's actions. She looked straight at it. "Do you understand me?"
The predator turned it's head looking at another in the very back, they exchanged a few words, at least she thought they were, all she heard were clicks and gurgles.
The corridor fell silent, as the predators that had been talking to one another stepped forward. This being her first time she really got a good look at them.
They were huge, very tall and muscular. A plain, gray mask covered all their faces, with this thick, black, wire like hair braided or else grown into multiple ringlets. They all wore armor like she never saw before, the strange armor was shaped to their bodies and seemed to move with them. Each one holding their own rifles with one large spear, tipped with a very large and vicious looking blade, strapped behind each of their backs.
"What . . . human . . . want?" One spoke.
Sarah was shocked, it actually talked, the pronunciation though was terrible. "Which of you is the Leader?"
"I am." The one on her left said stepping forward.
"I have a proposition for you."
"Go on."
"I cannot go on like this and protect the children at the same time. We all will be dead in a short time."
"Why . . . us . . . concern?" It said coldly.
Narrowing her eyes yet again, they would be hard to convince. "I heard your people enjoy worthy challenges. Am I correct?"
It slightly nodded its head in agreement.
"I know you all have seen how I fight. I have surprised my people many times with my fighting abilities for me being a woman."
It bellowed a deep growl within its throat. "Get point human...before human dies."
They were impatient to. "If you are to help me get the children to safety and in the arms of my people's caretakers," She paused, taking in a deep breath. "I will give you a worthy challenge, blade against blade, no cheating, just me and you."
The predator made a snarl like howl taking a few steps back.
This was good, she was sure she had surprised it, she knew they hunted humans and knew of their challenges. Also knowing most humans were cowards and ran from anything bigger then them, hopefully the bait would work.
It spoke in it's language looking at the one beside it. Seconds went by until the group began clicking and snarling.
This indeed was interesting. "Though . . . " She said. "I need an answer now."
It howled.
How strange. She thought. That creatures who sound and act like animals can have a society. Not to mention technology farther advanced then humans, at least us humans try to act and stay civilized.
"All right human."
She let out a sigh of relief.
"Humans . . . wait." It said.
Her eyes widened as she became dumbfounded, her tongue becoming twisted and spitting out a mixture of words nobody could understand. Her mouth was wanting to curse them but her mind was wanting to ask why. Neither of which were suitable to a race who would eat you for lunch when you were needing their help, closing her mouth regaining what dignity she had left. "Very well," Pausing for a moment. "When will you be ready?"
It brought its large hand to its face rubbing its taloned fingers against its mask and under its chin. Seconds went by until it lowered its hand. "Half..." It made a mixture of little clicks and gurgles. "Cycle...half human cycle."
Sarah tilted her. What the hell does the mean? She thought.
It began to babble.
Which to Sarah it sounded interesting and funny, like sounds she would repeat over and over, all because they sound nice.
"Day." One croaked behind the two standing to her right.
The predator leader turned its head with a slight tilt of its body looking at the one who said it. The lesser nodded at its Leader, the leader looked back at her. "Half human day. Meet...out dwelling...east."
It was a gamble but it was something she had to take. "All right." Either way, she was going to die, at least she could try and save the kids.
It nodded it's head.
She returned the gesture.
The predator leader turned around followed by the one it stood beside and talked to the most. Then, one by one, the rest followed.
Sarah waited until they walked down the long corridor then turned right at the very end. Walking to her X-30 and picked it up then turned around heading toward a small ventilation shaft. Just the thought of laying down her life for a handful of children, none of which were hers, made her smirk, most of her conscious and mind beamed with pride.
Remembering a time when most men called her a "silly woman" for wanting to make such decisions on her own, now, she was making her own BIG decisions, decisions of life and death, and it felt great! There was no boyfriend or high-ranking official of any corporations to tell her what to do. She was doing this on her own. Yet, the other half, the part that listened to every order and did not like to make its own decisions coward with fear.
Sarah knelt on one knee laying both her hands on the grate and pulled. The grate popped off slinging the now broken and flimsy screws onto the floor, holding the X-30 in front of her then laid on her belly and crawled in. The smirk came off as a tear ran down her cheek, she was going to die.