Disclaimer: I don't own aliens.
Chapter 12
Exposed
Sonar roared as he jumped at Scar. He collided with him and they fell back to the ground. Scar used the momentum to roll them over so that he was on top. His tongue shot out and stopped inches from Sonar's head.
(Another win for the human,) Scar laughed.
Scar had spent the last two weeks fighting with Sonar and learning to deal with being telepathically connected to other aliens. He had quickly surpassed Sonar in fighting skill and found no trouble in dealing with the link. He had even explored the hive and began memorizing the corridors and exits.
Xena yawned from her corner of the room. She had long gotten used to Sonar and Scar's fights and no longer found them interesting. Sonar pushed Scar off and stalked off to sit down in the corner of the room.
Scar looked around hoping to find something to do since Sonar didn't look like he wanted to continue fighting. Scar sat down next to him.
(So, Sonar, what's your story?) Scar asked. (How come you're smarter then the average drone?)
Sonar looked over at him and replied. (Most drones that are born away from a hive go insane. I managed to keep myself sane.)
(But how'd you get born away from a hive?) Scar asked.
(Humans,) Sonar said shaking his head. (They took my egg for their experiments. They basically wanted to find out what a xenomorph that grows up away from a Queen would turn out like. It was only through luck that I escaped. The ship that I was on malfunctioned or something and crashed on this planet, you can guess what happened next.)
(Hmmm,) Scar nodded. (The Queen found you and let you live in the hive.)
(Much to Half-Jaw's dismay,) Sonar said.
(Who's Half-Jaw?) Scar asked.
(You saw him before,) Xena broke in. (He was the praetorian that almost discovered you when you were talking to the Queen.)
(Why doesn't he like you though?) Scar asked.
(He doesn't like me because I'm a drone that is just as intelligent as he is,) Sonar said.
(So, he's like a racist?) Scar asked.
(Yeah, he considers the drones to be expendable,) Xena said. (Just a tool to further the hive.)
(That's rather… cold,) Scar said.
Sonar and Xena nodded and fell silent. Scar sighed realizing their conversation was over. He soon found himself asleep.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Scar was nudged awake by Sonar a few hours later. He glanced around as he climbed back to his feet. Xena was also up and standing in the middle of the room.
(What's going on?) Scar asked.
(It's time,) the Queen's voice answered. (I'm going to tell the hive of your existence. Unless you feel it's too soon.)
Dread filled him as he thought of the implications of such an action. (All right, let's do it.)
The Queen nodded mentally. (Xena and Scar will escort you here.)
(C'mon,) Xena said starting out of the chamber. Scar followed her and Sonar down the resin-covered tunnel. Scar was amazed how quickly he had gotten used to these new surroundings. Xena led him down a tunnel he had never explored before. They finally reached the end and emerged into a large cavern.
The cavern was apparently some sort of meeting place. Every drone in the hive must have been there. Five praetorians stood in front of the assembled aliens. Scar noticed that one of them was missing a part of his lower jaw. The Queen was standing in front of the assembled crowd.
Scar realized this was the only time he had seen the Queen without her egg sac or even out of her chambers. He wondered how the Queen could stand being suspended from the ceiling all day doing nothing, but lay eggs. It didn't seem like much of a life.
(Two weeks ago, Sonar rescued a drone from the human installation,) the Queen said. (I doubt that any of you heard about this, but I think you should know something very important about this drone.)
The Queen nodded for him to approach. Scar swallowed and walked to stand in front of the large crowd of flesh-eating monsters.
(He is a former human. He was turned into one of us by his own kind,) the Queen paused to see the crowd's reaction. The only response the drones gave was a surprised hiss. The praetorians glanced at each and Scar suspected they were wondering if their Queen had flipped out. Otherwise they were planning how to make him disappear.
The Queen turned to Scar and said. (I'm going to lower your mental barriers now.)
Scar nodded and felt the Queen enter his mind and remove the blockades. Scar growled as he felt something brush against his mind. He felt it get stronger and stronger.
Scar gasped in surprise. He now felt a small link between his mind and the Queen's. He also felt the other aliens assembled in the cavern. Bits of sensations and thoughts ran through his mind. Scar focused and felt the contact shrink. He was still connected to them, but to a smaller degree.
(I think that we should get rid of this human,) A praetorian that Scar figured had to be Half-Jaw said. (Humans are trouble.) The other praetorian's nodded in agreement.
(That is not for you to decide though,) the Queen said softly. (And I don't want to see any trouble out of any of you.)
(Yes, ma'am,) the praetorian nodded. He glanced over at Scar and emitted a low growl. Scar growled back.
The Queen sighed and stalked out of the chamber. The drones scattered throughout the cavern and disappeared into the hundreds of tunnels. Half-Jaw shoved past Scar and growled as he left.
(Yeah, nice meeting you too,) Scar called after him.