Molting black shapes, danger and fear and adrenaline all combined into something too terrifying to describe. She couldn't really see this dark threat, but she knew it was there. Did she really? Or was this just a dream? Synthetics don't dream, said a logical voice at the back of her mind. Man had created synthetics in their likeness, with the ability to feel – both physiologically and emotionally – but it had never been scientifically proven that they could actually dream. Then again, there weren't many folks around who were too concerned about that fact. Suddenly, a jolt again. So was this a dream or was it real? Dammit, she needed to know! She recalled a similar surrealistic feeling aboard the Auriga. When Elgyn had died. When that thing had burst through his chest, oh God, please don't let be real. Another surge of fear. The newborn. It was searching, groping for her...I've got to get away. I have to get away. Now!

Call awoke with a loud yell. Her eyes opened wide to take in what was around her. Her right hand – enclosed in the tough suit - had crashed through the transparent plastic that contained her. Her left hand had pushed part of the plastic so hard that a spider web-like crack was the only evidence of its impact. I'm on the ship, she thought. I'm on the ship going back in time. But I'm alive. I'm okay. She lay back in her chamber, panting. As each second passed, she was becoming more aware of her surroundings. She heard a soft beeping noise that was muffled through her suit and the plastic lid. It was coming from outside. She looked around for a catch that would open the contraption she was in. On finding it, the lid slowly rose and Call stepped out of it cautiously. She shuffled stiffly in her suit, and took it off as quickly as possible.

Her bare feet touched the icy floor, and her skin felt the chill of the cool air on board the ship. She looked back at the chamber she was in, and smiled at the cracked lid. At least she still had her strength. She looked around at the other twenty chambers. Everyone was sound asleep. Or soundly drugged, she thought. She walked over towards the sound of the beeping, hearing it grow louder as she approached it. She stood before a glowing vid screen and read it. "WARNING: Stasis interrupted in cell 5. Life signs no longer detectable." She logged in, and cancelled the detector in her cell. The beeping stopped.

So where in the world were they now? She searched the computer files for a map or a coordinate system, and brought it up on the screen before her. 'Search for current position coordinates.' she said. Immediately the screen was flooded with numbers and letters – a mass of information. Call was able to decipher it in seconds. Earth was only a few million miles away - earth two hundred and fifty seven years ago. So they had arrived. Call felt strange.

So where was this space docking station they were supposed to locate called Terron? She searched for any detectable life signs on board any ships within a two million mile radius and came up with seventy-eight. Well that narrows it down, she thought. So now what?

'Yes, now what?' said a voice inside her head. It sounded like Ripley's. 'You've come to do what you set out to do. You're in command of this mission, so get on with it.' Call closed her eyes momentarily. It's what Ripley would've said if she was here. So don't let's waste time, she thought. She had to know exactly what was going on. She had to formulate some kind of plan. Let's start with the team. She brought up a list of the twenty marines. First on the list was Lieutenant Mills, a pretty stiff fellow – but dependable when the need arose. Second, Lieutenant Jesep – a woman she had met before on another mission. Call scrolled down the list quickly. Corporal Reese, Private Kroger, Private Janson, Private Shepards, Private Velko, Private Adams, Private Johans, Private Bohr, Private Ediman, Private Gayle, Private Franklin, Private Wilkins, Private Rosenberg, Private Baz, Private Colley, Private Walker, Private Svedburg and Private Roche. That was the entire list – seven women and thirteen men. She checked the stasis duration information and noticed that they would all be artificially awakened in twenty-four hours.  

Call paused for a second and recognized that yes, she was in charge of this mission, but only according to the objectives of the military. And those specifically mentioned that the creatures weren't to be harmed. They were to be brought back alive. She shuddered at the thought.

Call had her own objectives. To blow those pests sky high. She could see how the team might object. Maybe she'd get a few of them to look at things from her perspective...And then maybe everyone would cry mutiny. No, not good. She had to have full cooperation on this one. And the only way to do this was to pretend to lead them in the right direction, and give them a glimpse of the potential horror they would face. She had two choices. The first was to go to LV-426, the second, to Ripley. It wasn't a hard choice to make.

*          *          *

Call awoke to someone's voice coming from above her.

'General,' Call blinked a few times to rid the sleep. It was Lieutenant Jesep.

'What?' She rose groggily. She didn't realize that she had fallen asleep. And for twenty-four hours at that!

'You were out of your dilation chamber when we were awoken. The lid – it was cracked – and I found your empty suit, and then you, out cold.' said Jesep.

'I wasn't knocked out...I had bad dreams. And then I must've cracked that...' she pointed in the direction of the chambers, 'how could I fall asleep like this?'

Jesep nodded sympathetically. 'It's the concentration of oxygen and carbon dioxide, General. When we're in those chambers, the atmosphere out here isn't like it is back on earth – or on ay other ship for that matter. Oxygen concentration is low and the levels of carbon dioxide are quite high – your tissues didn't receive enough oxygen to keep you up and running for very long.' Then she looked at Call oddly. 'They've designed you well. You're almost like us...'

Call cringed. Jesep saw this and winced. 'I'm sorry – I didn't realize.'

'Forget it.' Call said briskly. She'd tried so hard to fit in with them, but there was no getting around the fact that she was a damned robot, since there were always the signs to remind her that she was one. And she resented that.

'Where are the others?' asked Call.

'On the main deck. They're waiting for you. Listen General, I am sorry...'

'I said, forget it.'

*          *          *         

The two of them took the lift to the third level and walked into a large room where everyone was seated talking loudly. Lieutenant Mills approached Call, and spoke to her quietly in a corner.

'I've spoken to them, General. Basically, I think they're having a hard time grasping the situation. It's natural, I suppose – that some of them are quite disbelieving of this whole concept-'

Call looked at his with amusement in her eyes. 'I don't think they're the only ones, don't you?'

Mills gave in and chuckled softly. 'You're right. I have to admit, I have my own...apprehensions. But let's just please keep this between us, General.'

'Sure.'

'I appreciate it. Now, I think our best option as of now is to...' Lieutenant Mills' voice droned on, and Call wasn't paying any attention to what he was saying. Instead, she looked around her, at the men and women talking excitedly. She was more interested in their dialogue.

Call noticed one of the marines – she thought he was Private Velko – nod towards her, and lower his voice. But Call could still hear.

'So the gossip's on that she's seen one, huh. You tell me, how do we know that's the truth?'

The woman with the close-cropped blonde hair, Bohr, replied. 'She seems genuine. Did you see the fear in her eyes when she started talking about it? And the evidence adds up too. She's old enough to have actually been on board that ship – the Auriga – and I don't have to tell you the rumors about that one.'

'But they're just that. Only rumors. And it was before we were even born, for Christ's sake! How do we know she's not just spinning tales to get one up on the respect ladder?'

'Because she's a synthetic. They're not programmed to lie for their own benefit.' answered Bohr.

'Unless of course, she thinks it's in our best interest to do so.' replied Velko quietly.

At that moment, the two of them looked up and caught Call staring at them. They ceased all conversation, and Call quickly turned back to Mills, who was still talking.

'...So yeah, it's apparent that LV-426 isn't in our system. And we don't yet have the technology to detect life forms in other systems other than our own. We might actually have to make discreet contact with people on the outside, and get some of their data readouts.'

Call opened her mouth to speak, but Mills interrupted her. 'I know, I know...you want to get this over and done as much as I do. But it was understood...that things wouldn't go exactly according to plan. It's to be expected, General. I mean, with the limited amount of information that we have to work with – it's not going to be easy to locate the planet...'

'That's fine, Lieutenant.' said Call.

He apparently didn't hear her. 'I mean, I understand that time is going to play an important factor here, but we're just going to have to accept the fact that we'll have to do some planning and that we might possibly be here for a good long while.'

'I understand, Mills.' she said, louder this time. 'More time could actually work to our advantage.'

Mills stuttered. He didn't expect that Call would be so easy-going about this. 'T-that's good, General. I'm glad we both comprehend the circumstances.'

Call turned away, and scratched the back of her neck thoughtfully. Now they'd expect her to come up with an alternative plan. She thanked her stars that she herself was ignorant when it came to the location of LV-426. Her next option was to find Ripley. And the only way to do that was to go through Company channels – namely, Weyland Yutani.  But she couldn't alert her team to the fact that the Company may have access to the alien at this point in time. That's the first place they'd think of going. No, she'd have to provide them with false information that would serve as a distraction while she went searching for a woman she hardly knew. It was a shot in the dark, really. Who knew if Ripley was even around, and if she was...where would she be? Just gotta play it by ear, she heard her voice repeating to her. She knew this wasn't going to be easy.

The noise level in the room dropped quickly – they were anticipating new orders. She turned to face them.

Let's get this show on the road, she told herself.