The Yautja's lowered their weapons and went back to the wall and stood guard.

"Do your warriors need to rest?" Caraway asked.

"We sleep when dead." The high Yautja said.

"I have 2,500 more Marines on the way." Caraway said. "We lost 200 on the run to this stronghold but have many more that are coming. We can keep watch so your warriors can rest."

"I thank you." The high Yautja said. "They will stand guard. You all have fought well and bring honor to your families you have earned your rest."

The Yautja's walked off of the walls and headed into the hall. There was a large room for them to rest in and soon they were all asleep leaving the Marines standing guard. The 2nd wave of Marines arrived 10 minutes later and started laying mines and other explosives. Once they were finished they headed into the stronghold.

"Ok good job." Carraway said. "We are gonna begin running patrols in 2 hours I do not know how many nest's we are dealing with but there are a lot of Xeno's."

The Marines all looked at each other and smiled. They all knew that it was going to be dangerous but it was something that wanted to do. They were trained to kill Xeno's and that's exactly what they were gonna do.

"We start in 2 hours." Caraway said.

Ellis walked with her father back into the main chamber and sat with him at a large table.

"What troubles you my daughter?" Her father asked.

"I have fallen in love with one of these Marines father." Ellis said.

"You know the rules of out culture." Her father said.

"I do and he has defeated me in combat." Ellis said.

"I must meet this Marine." Her father said. "Bring him before me."

"I will bring him to you." Ellis said and walked down the hall smiling.

Jack was standing guard with Sara and Tim in a corner of the stronghold. Ellis walked up and stood beside him.

"See anything?" She asked.

"Some movement at the tree line but that's all." Jack said.

"Can you get away for a minute?" Ellis asked.

"Yea why?" Jack asked.

"My father wants to meet you." Ellis said.

"Oh ok." Jack said and turned to Sara. "I'll be back."

"Be fast you never know when they are gonna attack again." Sara said.

"Ok." Jack said and followed Ellis.

Ellis led Jack through the hall and into a large room where her father was sitting in a large chair.

"So you the one my daughter love?" He asked seeing Jack.

"Yes." Jack said.

"She strong how you defeat her?" Ellis's father asked.

"I learned she had some hurt ribs and exploited it." Jack said.

"I see." Her father said. "She would win if you not learn weakness."

"I think so. Yes." Jack said.

Ellis lowered her head knowing that was the wrong answer. Her father looked down at Jack then at her and narrowed his eyes.

"Laws state that man must beat woman in combat." He said. "It mute be fair fight. I have the right to set challenge for you and I will."

Ellis stood in fear of the challenge but Jack stood unfazed.

"What is the challenge?" He asked.

"You to bring me head of Queen Black skin." Her father said. "Do this and you may have her."

"Father that's to hard." Ellis said in her native tongue.

"You are my only living child Ellis." He said. "I will only give you the best and if he can do as I ask then he is the best."

Ellis lowered her head and looked at Jack.

"This is my father's wishes." She said. "You must take the challenge or never speak to me again. Please walk away."

Jack looked at Ellis then at her father.

"Where is the hive?" He asked.

Ellis closed her eyes and a tear rolled down her cheek but was hidden by her helmet.

"In the trees in front of Stronghold." Her father said. "You have until sunrise to complete the task."

Jack turned around and walked down the hall leaving Ellis standing in the room with her head bowed.

"You have sentenced him to death." She said.

"We shall see." He said.

Ellis ran down the hall after Jack. He was just getting back to his team when she caught up.

"You are gonna die." She said.

"No I won't." Jack said.

"What's going on?" Sara asked.

"My father has set a challenge for Jack." Ellis said. "He is to kill a Queen Black skin and bring her head back."

"And you took the challenge?" Tim asked.

"Yes." Jack said.

"Are you stupid?" Tim asked.

"I'll do it." Jack said. "But only if I have help."

"You are allowed 3 friends to accompany you." Ellis said.

"Can you go?" Jack asked.

"No." Ellis said. "I must stay and wait for your return or news of your death."

Sara and Tim sat looking at Ellis and Jack and waited for him to ask for their help. Jack was a little disheartened to hear that Ellis could not come with him.

"Sara, Tim can I count you in?" Jack asked.

"Yes." Sara and Tim said.

"Ok then I need one more." Jack said.

"What about that new L.T.?" Sara asked.

Ellis watched as Sara's heat went up and smiled.

"Is he combat hardened?" Jack asked.

"No but he will be good enough." Sara said.

"Ok go get him." Jack said.

Sara ran down the ramp near the wall and started looking for Kenneth. She found him in a tent with Caraway looking over the latest Arial photos. She pushed bask the cloth covering the entrance of the tent and walked in.

"What's wrong Sara?" Caraway asked.

"Corporal Dallas is going out on a challenge." Sara said. "He can take 3 people with him and I recommended Lieutenant Chambers as the 3rd person."

"Whoa whoa wait a minute." Caraway said. "What challenge?"

"Jack is in love with Ellis." Sara said. "Her father has given Jack a challenge and if he lives he can be with Ellis. He has accepted the challenge and if he chickens out he will be killed in accordance to the laws of the Yautja."

Caraway knew that Sara was telling the truth and looked at Chambers.

"It's your call." Caraway said.

"What's the challenge?" Kenneth asked.

"He has to kill a Queen and bring her head back." Sara said.

"That's suicide." Caraway said.

"I'm in." Kenneth said. "I could use the experience."

"You're not going are you Sara?" Caraway asked.

"Yes I am and I won't let you stop me." Sara said.

"I won't try." Caraway said.

Sara walked out of the tenth with Kenneth behind her. She walked up to the others and sat down.

"Ok when do we start?" She asked.

"Right away." Jack said. "I only have until sunrise."

There was a mobile armory near the gates to the Stronghold and the group armed up before heading out of the gates. Ellis stood at the gates and Jack looked back and saw the gates close.

"Ok let's go." He said.

"I think I'm in charge." Kenneth said.

"Not on this mission." Sara said. "For this one Jack is in charge and I don't care that you out rank all of us deal with it."

"Watch it sir she's a fiery one." Tim laughed.

Tree line

Jack and the others slowly walked through the trees knowing that they were being watched by Xenomorphs. Kenneth was almost shaking with fear and excitement. He was jumping at almost every sound and almost shot Tim for just stepping on a twig. Sara grabbed him by the vest and looked into his eyes.

"Calm down or you're gonna get all of us killed." She said. "This isn't a patrol. This is an assassination mission and we are after a Queen."

Kenneth nodded and continued walking. They could see Xeno's just out of their shooting range walking along with them.

"I don't like this." Tim said. "Why aren't they attacking?"

"I don't know." Sara said. "But it can't be good."

They walked for another 100 yards and entered a clearing. There were thousands of Xeno's standing in the clearing and the Queen was in the middle. Kenneth picked up a radio and relayed the co ordnance to the main ship. The main ship fired several missiles down on the clearing killing most of the Xeno's. When the smoke cleared the Queen was standing with a few drones and looking around at the destruction.

"That worked." Kenneth said putting his radio back.

Jack stepped forward into the clearing with his gun at his side. The Queen looked at Jack and let out a roared and started running at him.

Jack looked back at the others and started running at the Queen.

"Let's rock!" He yelled and turned back to the Queen.