Chapter 17

A slick, black xenomorph launched right onto Jackson and knocked him down. The marine hit the hard metal floor with the beast on top of him. He screamed in terror as he vainly tried to force it off of him.

Einrich started to fire at it, but Artorus cut in and knocked her aim to the side. "Wait, don't shoot it!" He yelled.

Jackson watched in awe as the hybrid marine kicked the creature off of him. Artorus watched it keenly as it slid across the floor. He opened fire on it before it could regain its footing.

"Are you alright?" Artorus asked Jackson as he helped him up.

"Yeah, man, I'm fine as I can be about now." He replied in a flustered tone.

"Damnit Artorus, why'd you stop me?" Einrich demanded.

"The thing's blood would just have easily killed him!" Artorus replied, releasing his grip on the startled Jackson.

"Save the chit-chat for later!" Harmon exclaimed as he fired at another dark figure that tried to lunge out from the darkness. "We're on the menu now!"

The two paled, realizing what they had done. "Einrich, go help cover the retreat." He instructed in a professional tone- clashing with the chaotic scene around them.

Einrich and Harmon took up the vanguard while the group filed into the lift, the flare of case less rounds illuminating their skin dully.

Salazar jerked Clement into the lift violently as Jackson manually overrode the powerful doors' lag-time.

Jackson gasped for breath, trying to get his heart beat to slow down. "Artorus," he spoke, gaining the anthromorph's attention. "Back there, when you killed that thing- thanks, man." He added in a serious tone. Jackson gripped Artorus' hand in a ritualistic gesture and shook it.

"Is everyone alright?" Rita asked.

"Yeah." Harmon grumbled as he slumped down against the wall, his helmet slipping over his eyes in the process.

Einrich reclined onto the floor, pressing her back stiffly against the wall. "When I was a kid, I like to watch horror movies." She remarked.

Everyone grew quiet. "Excuse me?" Salazar asked, at length.

Einrich sighed. "Monster movies." She answered. "I loved being scared, seeing the monsters- or whatever else- on the screen."

Rita sat, enthralled by the worlds of the slightly older female. Salazar removed a flask from his jacket and took a quick 'nip' from it, then held it out to Harmon.

The tall man failed to show interest in it, but- surprisingly- Einrich snatched it out of his hand and took a swig from it. She then placed it back in Salazar's hand. "Thanks, I needed that." She explained, somewhat impressing him. She grinned briefly, before resuming her dark mood.

"The monsters were my favorite part, I used to love the monsters- but now it's different. She paused for a moment, coughing from the sharp tinge of the liquor and reddening in the cheeks for just a secant. "I've seen a real monster, but it wasn't fun, like in the movies." She finished.

"Shakespeare said that nothing is good or evil, we only make it so." Artorus spoke to the other, in an eerie tone. "But, those things were the closest to evil I've ever seen."

"Your wrong," Clement chimed in, a strained laugh escaping his lips. "They're not evil, just super-efficient predators."

"You mean super-efficient killing machines." Jackson corrected, hitting a button to make the lift move.

Clement smiled. "Yeah, that too."

"I can't believe this campfire bulshit." Salazar remarked.

Artorus spoke up again. "You're partially incorrect Einrich," he began. "This is a little bit like a movie, in that we have an 'audience'." He finished, looking up at the camera in the corner of the lift.

.o.o.o.

Dr. Geraldy cackled maniacally when he made eye-contact- vicariously through the camera's piercing view- with Artorus.

"Then it is clear now," Geraldy thought out loud. "You will pit your logic and training and experience against my xenomorphs' inborn instinct and hunger and their drive to multiply to overcome." Geraldy spoke to the image on the screen.

He watched as the camera showed the Bowman's wolf smile wickedly. The scientist broke out into laughter, knowing that the "wolf" was looking right at him.

.o.o.o.

Artorus smiled devilishly as the camera, noting the audio link on the wall, below it.

"Heretic!" He shouted. "Let us dance with the devil in the pale moonlight, what do you say?" He asked the camera. He then held up his gun and fired on the camera, blowing it away.

Everyone jumped in surprise. "Artorus, what are you doing?" Rita frantically asked.

He smiled oddly at her, a strange new glint in his eyes. "Rita," he began. "This man thinks he can beat us- beat me!" He added.

Salazar silently took note of his words.

Rita was confused by the answer, but he just smiled at her and seemed to stare off into space- possible at the destroyed camera. "My blood is burning, like fire." He paused. "I've never felt this way, I think I like this- this combat 'high'." He finished, taking on a distant tone in his voice.

Rita trembled. She could see something in his eyes- violence! "The power of battle—"

"Artorus, stop it, you're scaring me." She pleaded softly to him.

Then, he seemed to snap out of it. "I'm sorry." He blurted out, rubbing his forehead.

Only Salazar witnessed the exchange, a strange voyeuristic expression in his eyes.

.o.o.o.

Abel looked off into the horizon. "The Doors." He remarked.

"Sir?" Asked the soldier next to him.

"The Doors made 'L.A. Woman'." He finished. He then turned to the soldier. "What is the status of our forces?" He asked.

"All teams are go, Sir." He replied obediently. "Though the final authorization from WY hasn't arrived yet." He finished explaining.

"The Mainframe has agreed to authorize me with the authority to coordinate this mission." Abel announced. "As of now, I am assuming command of all active forces on this planet- you will find my codes are all in order and my rank with company will allow for measure."

The solder nodded and saluted him. "Yes Sir!" He then turned to clusters of men in the distance. "Fall in line!" He shouted.

A figure phased into sight next to Abel. "Sir, what is the condition of the USCM contingent force?"

"FUBAR," Abel replied. "ShadowFox, I request your presence on this mission, will you accept?"

"I look forward to this mission greatly, sir."

End of Chapter 17

Well, I didn't kill Jackson after all, sorry if I scared you guys. Anyway, the action is a little meager at the moment, but I promise that it will pick up.

So, what did you think of Artorus, was he acting weird? If so, what did you think? Also I've found that after I threw the cast into the fire, they kind of wrote themselves.

It quickly became clear as to who would survive the first attack, and I like the way the remainder of the cast is interacting with one another. I'd love to know what you guys think about what's happening.

Go crazy, I'd love to know who is (was) your favorite character.

Later!

-Bojack