Chapter 3: Rescue
Weyland-Yutani Colony World LV-312
Population: Unknown
Hive: 20-30
Time: 1400
Incident: 6 Weeks
They'd been walking for about an hour and a half. According to Freeman they were only about ten meters from the surviving colonist. The narrow corridor they were moving down allowed them to walk only two abreast, so Hawkins and Jones were in the lead, with Ghost bringing up the rear. Ghost jumped a little as Freeman's voice broke the long silence, "Alright, he's stopped. Ahead of you is a service tunnel or an air vent. He's in there."
Hawkins grunted a curse, "I see it. This fucker better not have a bug in him."
"Shut up, Hawkins." Ghost growled, although he brought his rifle up to his shoulder; it was a subject of debate why Ghost insisted on using his Sniper Rifle for all purposes. In a firefight it should have been rendered useless. Then again, Jones would point out during these debates, it is Ghost using it. Indeed, Ghost could rack up as many kills with his rifle in a close-combat firefight as Hawkins could with his Smartgun.
"Fuck you, Ghost." Hawkins grinned, and then stopped in front of a service tunnel. It was small, and seemed to lead to an emergency supply room. Curious, thought Ghost.
"Fuckin' vent's too tight for anyone but you, Ghost. Jones and I'll guard your back, you go fetch our survivor." Hawkins grinned again, sweeping his Smartgun over the area.
Ghost sighed, handing Jones his rifle and cocking his ACP Pistol, "I know, I know. I'll be back in a minute." With another sigh, Ghost crawled into the tunnel, flashlight in one hand, pistol in the other.
"Hey!" he called, "If you're in there, I'm coming in! I'm with the USCM! I'm here to...help...you...Fuck." Ghost crawled into a small room with two lockers. One of which was hanging open. A Pulse Rifle dangled on its strap from the handle, slick with blood. An air vent was open, a small hole torn into it. Underneath it lay a human body, clutching a blinking data pad, with its chest burst out.
"Freeman, Harris here," Ghost spoke into his Comm. Set, pulling the pad from the corpse's hand, "I found our guy. He's dead, alien host."
Freeman's reply was static, "Da...get...here...hurry...we're getti...out of...is place."
"Commander, say again last message." Static... "Commander, say again. Fuck!"
Ghost was about to try again when the sound of gunfire erupted from outside the room. Automatically replacing his pistol for the Pulse Rifle and a few clips, he crawled hurriedly towards the corridor. Half way there the firing stopped, replaced by Jones' soft curses and gasps. Emerging from the tunnel, Ghost swept the area with his rifle before running to help his friend, "Jones, you okay?"
"Yeah...fucker splashed my arm when I gave him a pothole."
"What happened?"
"I don't fucking know. Hawkins and I were guarding the area, Hawkins gave out a shout and started shooting and I swung around. This huge fucking yellow alien charged at us, broke your sniper, took Hawkins and then disappeared. Fuck, Hawkins..."
"He's as good as dead...I lost contact with Freeman, we have to get back to the POC."
"Yeah...What's that?"
"Huh?" Ghost looked at the data pad in his hand, "The dead survivor had it."
"What's it say?"
"I dunno..." Ghost tapped a few buttons and wiped most of the blood off the screen:
THEY CAME DURING THE NIGHT. THEY JUST APPEARED LIKE MAGIC, SWARMING AND KILLING. IT WAS A NIGHTMARE. THE SCREAMS, THE BLOOD. I AM GOING TO DIE HERE. I HAVE ONE OF THOSE THINGS IN ME. IT ALL STARTED WITH THAT NEW SPECIMEN. IT KILLED LAURA, GEORGE AND AARON, THEN IT DISSAPPEARED. PEOPLE STARTED DISAPPEARING. MY WIFE AND DAUGHTER... I FOUND THEIR BODIES. EMILY AND LITTLE ERICA. THEY DIED IN EACH OTHERS ARMS. MY ONLY COMFORT IS THAT I KNOW I WILL JOIN THEM SOON. I FEEL IT, GROWING INSIDE ME. IT WON'T BE LONG. I'VE STARTED HEARING THINGS, AND GETTING GHOST READINGS ON MY TRACKER. I THINK THE PREDATOR RACE HAS COME HERE FOR THE ALIENS. IF ANYBODY GETS THIS...PLEASE. LEAVE THE COLONY AND BLOW IT UP.
THE PAIN. GOD, THE PAIN. IT WON'T BE LONG NOW. EMILY, ERICA I'M CO
"Shit. Well, at least he's with his family." Muttered Jones.
"Yeah. Now let's get back to ours."
