A/N - Sorry for the delay. I'm one day short.

Chapter 11 – Serious Trouble
Valinor
Weyland-Yutani Research Base

Outside of the structure, two aliens edged closer, leery of any trouble. When nothing around the single-story building moved, they mentally communicated with each other and ran together toward the side closest to them. It took them about twenty minutes to evaluate the walls, looking for a way inside. There were no windows and the door on the far side was solid. After finding no possible way to enter, they decided to climb the structure and investigated the flat rooftop.

Finding nothing but a satellite dish and a cooling unit, the aliens ripped at the protruding objects, fighting each other for the best pieces. While tearing the satellite dish from the rooftop connection, the severed wires snapped and sparked, momentarily frightening the aliens into dropping the dish over the side of the building.

After a while more aliens came to investigate. They could sense the presence of prey and also those of their own kind. Four of them. The prey would need to be captured and their fellow aliens released.

But first they needed to get inside.

Valinor
Weyland-Yutani Research Base

Dr Leland paced the floor along the side of the table in the Mess Hall on the second sub-level. Jordan was seated at one end of the metallic table while Phillip Quinn sat at the other end. Also present were five other renowned scientists hired by The Company.

"I'm not giving up on this," said Leland. "We'll just have to keep trying."

"Come on, Leland," exclaimed Jordan. "You've seen for yourself what's happening out there. We'll be lucky if we can find another living person with those aliens running around. If you had instructed Train to go out there and kill that goddamned alien like I told you, we wouldn't be looking at two thousand of them right now."

"I'm not concerned about the aliens out there."

"Oh really? You're not concerned that they might get into this compound and kill us all?"

Quinn raised a hand. "They won't kill us. They'll just take us to their nest and cocoon us for their eggs."

"Oh shut up, Quinn." Jordan angrily folded her arms and turned her attention to the others in the room. "We have to contact HQ and tell them to send a ship for us."

Lieutenant Train suddenly appeared from the metal staircase at the far end of the Mess Hall. "I'm afraid that's not going to be possible."

"Why not?" asked Jordan.

"The aliens pulled the satellite dish off the roof."

Jordan stared at Train with her mouth open. Then she turned to Leland who was still pacing. "Are you hearing this?"

Leland was in his own little world, talking to himself. "Cloning is just too inconsistent. There's got to be something else…something in the genes…something in the DNA strand itself. If I could just…"

"Leland, are you listening to anything we're saying?" Jordan gave up when Leland continued rambling and she turned to Train. "I saw two satellite dishes in the storage room on Sub-level Four. Someone's going to have to go out there and hook up another one to the roof."

Train walked to the wall and pushed a series of buttons on a panel beside a large screen. An image appeared, showing the rooftop, aliens crawling all over it. Beyond the roof, the shapes of more aliens approached the building.

"They're trying to get in," commented one of the other scientists, his voice full of panic.

Train pointed to the screen. "If anyone steps one foot out the door, it's all over. But the compound is secure. Even if they get into the outer hangar, there's no way they can get into the sub-levels without going through the lift and that's made of titanium."

"So what now?" asked Jordan. "We can't just sit here and wait indefinitely."

"They'll give up sooner or later. When they're gone, I'll go out and hook up another satellite dish. But someone's going to have to keep watching this monitor."

Everyone began to murmur to each other, thinking of who the best candidate would be. Just then on the screen an alien approached the camera, its jaws parting in a silent hiss, saliva dripping. In the next instant, its inner jaws struck out at the lens, blacking out the image.

The conference room immediately grew quiet when it began to dawn on everyone that they no longer had the means to see what was outside.

Train stared at the blank screen for a moment, his hands on his hips. Then he turned to look at the expectant faces looking back at him. He was in charge of security. They expected protection from him and his men.

"Any other bright ideas?" Jordan asked sarcastically.

Without answering the question, Train silently walked toward the door leading to some of the crew quarters.

In Orbit Around SR-682 (Arda)

Freak stared at the two Elves and the man as they argued about who they would bring to Valinor. For Christ's sake, they talked about bringing their kids on the Dropship. He shook his head and stepped forward, holding his hands out. "Now hold on a minute, I'm drawing the line on rugrats. It's bad enough all of you folks are involved. You need to cut your list down, please."

Ariedel also stepped in. "Freak's right about the kids. We can't bring them with us. I'm not risking their lives if something goes wrong." Then she turned to Freak. "But we're talking about over two thousand aliens, Freak. We need every hand we can get."

"My team and I are quite capable of handling the bugs. We've done it plenty of times before."

"Hell, two thousand bugs is a walk in the park for us," added Lipinski.

Freak ignored Loop and continued to address the others. "With two Dropships, we can exterminate the bugs topside easily enough. Then we can take an APC to the hive and go underground to finish off the rest. This also gives us a chance to look for any survivors that might need emergency alien embryo extraction. Loop's the best extractor in the field. After that, if we have any stragglers, then we can recruit help to form teams of two or three to help wipe out the rest."

"What about The Company base?" asked Ariedel.

"I've got no doubt in my mind that they've got surveillance on the outside. We'll have to check it out and figure a way to get inside."

"You've given me the impression that your special weapons are powerful," said Thranduil. "Can you not simply obliterate the compound with them?"

Legolas replied before Freak had a chance. "Some of our kin might be in the compound. We will need to rescue them first."

The crew of The Rebel watched from the sidelines. They weren't used to having others onboard the ship, especially those that didn't understand the technology.

Lauren Sanchez leaned toward Zion. "This is gonna turn into a goddamned three-ring circus."

Lipinski nudged Zion from the other side. "Hey, what's with Sushi." The three of them glanced at John Takashi.

Takashi's eyes were fixed on Legolas, or rather on the weapons strapped to the Elf's back. He admired the white-handled long knives, which were similar to a set he had in his quarters and was quite proficient at. When this was over, he planned on asking the Elf if he wouldn't mind a friendly challenge. It had been a long time since he had dueled against a worthy opponent.

"So when were you planning to invite me to your little party?"

Everyone turned in the direction of the Bridge entrance, where the voice had come from.

"Ripley," said Freak. "I'm glad you're here."

Ariedel frowned at the name spoken by Freak and she glared with renewed interest at the woman clad in black leather. Ripley was a name she knew well. She didn't exactly know her personally, but she knew a lot about her. She was the clone created from the blood cells of the real impregnated Ripley who had jumped to her death in the correctional facility of a planet known as Fiorina "Fury" 161. So the rumors had been true. The Ripley clone truly existed. But more importantly, what was she doing on Freak's ship?

Freak introduced everyone to Ripley, making sure to emphasize the regal titles of the two kings and the prince on the Bridge. After that the room grew unusually quiet.

Ripley observed the newcomers and a smile spread across her usually stoic features. "Elves and kings. Sounds like a fairy tale to me."

Ariedel grabbed Freak by the arm and dragged him away from the others. "What's she doing here?" She leaned slightly to glance at Ripley from behind Freak. Ripley was eying Thranduil with some interest.

"She's here strictly as a consultant. A subject matter expert."

"A subject matter expert on what?" Ariedel knew just as much about the aliens as anybody else.

"Crystal, she's a clone. If we find any clones in that Company base, she'll be able to tell us what to expect."

"Can we trust her?"

"She's the one that looked me up a while back. We did a few jobs together before I got my own ship and crew. So yeah, I trust her. I asked her to come on this one because there's a highly probable chance that we'll be running into a clone or two, at some stage of growth."

Ariedel sighed, glancing toward Ripley one last time before meeting Freak's eyes. "Okay." Then she playfully punched his arm. "And stop calling me Crystal. It's Ariedel, remember?"

"Yeah, I know. I keep forgetting."

Legolas stood watching Ariedel and Freak talking together. He could clearly hear their words and was put off by the fact that his wife was not including him in their discussion. He knew there was nothing to hint that Freak had any romantic intentions with Ariedel, but he could not help the jealousy that reared up inside him, that she should depend so heavily on someone else.

When they returned to join the others, Ariedel glanced at Legolas and noted his frown. She purposely moved to stand beside him and reached for his hand. He squeezed it and his frown disappeared.

Freak glanced at everyone. "If there aren't anymore questions, then let's get it going."

Gondor
(Ariedel's POV)

Anwar looked at me with an expression that would have normally brought tears to my eyes. But the urgency of the situation didn't leave me much time for sympathy. "How long will you be gone?" she asked.

"I don't know, honey. Maybe a few days, maybe a week."

"Where is ada?"

"He went with…uh…a friend to go pick up Gimli." I had almost slipped and said 'Freak'.

"And both Uncle Aragorn and Aunt Arwen are going with you?"

"Yes."

"This is the pits, naneth. Who will entertain me?" wailed Anwar. (mother)

I wanted to laugh at Anwar's quip. This is the pits. Where had she picked up that line? Obviously from me. I reminded myself that I needed to watch my mouth around the kids and Legolas needed to do the same. "Well, there's Eldarion."

She looked at me with such shock, as if I had hung her underwear outside the city windows to dry.

"Oh, come on, Anwar, I know you like him."

"I do not like Eldarion!"

"Sweetie, I'm your mother. I know these things."

Anwar plopped herself down on the edge of the bed and covered her face in shame. I couldn't help myself. It made me smile. She was only eleven, going on twelve. But I knew how I had felt about boys when I was her age and a crush was a pretty serious thing. I also knew that I hadn't wanted anybody to know about it, so I understood Anwar's embarrassment about her own mother bringing up the subject.

The door swung open and Legolas walked in. "Are you ready, Ariedel?"

Anwar uncovered her face and frowned, turning to me. "I thought you said ada was fetching Uncle Gimli?" (daddy)

I turned to Legolas and tried to come up with a reasonable explanation for how quickly he had gone to get Gimli. I couldn't exactly tell her that he flew to the Shire and back in a Dropship, which took maybe a half hour, at the most.

Luckily Legolas saw my dilemma and replied. "I ran into him in Osgiliath. Imagine that. He was already here."

I sighed in relief. Good thinking, baby. "Look after your brothers while we're gone."

Anwar rolled her eyes. "Is that not why we have Alma?"

"You know what I mean, Anwar." I pulled her into an embrace, hugging her tightly and then kissing her forehead. "Be good, okay?"

"I am always good," she retorted. Then she turned to accept a hug and kiss from her father.

The three of us walked out of the chamber together. We headed out to the street where the horses and the others waited for us. Aragorn had been left with the task of explaining to Arwen, Éomer and Faramir about the situation. Arwen was the only other one accompanying us. Éomer and Faramir were being left in charge of Minas Tirith during Aragorn's absence. I felt bad for them because they were probably wondering why the plans had been changed. We weren't marching to the Grey Havens with Aragorn's entire army. Aragorn informed them that only a small party was going to the Grey Havens and boarding a ship bound for Valinor. In truth we were returning to Osgiliath and boarding Freak's Dropship which would head up to the starship orbiting the planet. Some things were just better left unsaid.

Alma stood on the street, holding Elril. Brendan and Elfwine were standing with her, as was Eldarion. Legolas and I walked up to them and took turns kissing Elril and then Brendan.

"Listen to Alma, Brendan. I do not want to return to hear that you have misbehaved," warned Legolas. Then Legolas took my hand and we walked together to the horses.

After I mounted Blade, I turned my gaze back to Anwar, who was now standing with the others. She still had that worried expression on her face and my heart literally ached. But I couldn't take her with me. There was no way in hell I would expose her to the cruel and vile world that represented the aliens. I wanted to protect her and my sons from anything that was evil, no matter how badly I wanted to keep them by my side at all times. I gave Anwar a reassuring smile before I turned Blade around to follow Legolas and the others down the street.

Rhovan and Cail joined our party, startling some of the horses that weren't used to the presence of the white tigers. It was decided that the tigers were coming with us because they would be able to sniff out life, if there were any Elves alive in the hive.

I turned one last time in Anwar's direction. She held a hand up to wave and then quickly lowered it when Eldarion came up to whisper something to her. I smiled to myself. It was funny to see her act so shy whenever he was around. Hopefully he would keep her mind preoccupied so she didn't think about me or Legolas too much.

Osgiliath

Freak and Zion patiently waited near the Dropship. So much time had been wasted just waiting. But they both knew the importance of keeping the Dropship away from prying eyes. They couldn't exactly have landed in front of the gates of the white city they had seen from the air.

A short while ago, Freak and Zion had flown Legolas somewhere to the northwest to pick up someone Legolas insisted on picking up. They landed the Dropship a short distance away on the other side of a grove of trees and Legolas had gone alone. Moments later he had returned with a Dwarf.

From a distance, Zion had watched Legolas and the Dwarf approach and he leaned toward Freak. "What's with the midget?"

Freak had raised his eyebrows and shrugged with a shake of his head. "I don't know, man, but this is getting pretty fucked up."

So now they waited for the others to return from the white city because Ariedel insisted on seeing her children before they embarked on their mission. And Aragorn needed to leave instructions for some people while he was gone because he was afterall a king and without his presence all hell would certainly break loose.

But soon enough Freak and Zion heard the sounds of hoof beats on concrete.

Then more time was wasted explaining the Dropship to Arwen. And then Freak had to calm down after hearing that he was also taking along two full-grown male tigers.

As everyone strapped themselves into their seats, Freak left Legolas to strap the tigers in because the big cats wouldn't let Freak anywhere near them, much less touch them.

Unknown to any of the occupants of the Dropship, over the Osgiliath bridge came two additional horses, each carrying a half-Elven child. Eldarion and Anwar quickly dismounted and ducked behind a fallen pillar.

Anwar stared with wide eyes at the Dropship. "Do you see what I see, Eldarion? It looks like some great metal eagle."

"They have gone inside of it," said Eldarion, also staring wide-eyed.

Anwar raised herself from her crouched position and began to move toward the Dropship.

"Anwar!" Eldarion called out. Then he stood up and rushed after her, grabbing her arm. "Where are you going?"

"I am going inside, where do you think I am going."

Just as they reached the ramp, it quickly lifted and closed, making Anwar jump. Eldarion eyed the feet of the Dropship and the opening beneath them. He grabbed Anwar by the hand and pulled her toward the opening of the rear strut. Then they quickly climbed inside.

The Dropship engines started and minutes later it lifted into the air.

Eldarion and Anwar huddled together as the Dropship struts pulled into the cramped space, not leaving much room for them.

"Maybe this was not such a good idea afterall," said Anwar, shivering not from the cold, but from the bold move she and Eldarion had made.

"We must remain hidden, Anwar. If our adanadar discover we have followed, we will be severely punished." (fathers)

"Alma will worry when she realizes that we are missing."

"Faramir will send out the guards to search for us."

Anwar fixed her eyes on Eldarion. "We will definitely be in serious trouble."

Uh oh, what do you suppose those kids are up to? And good going to those that guessed Ripley. For those that don't know who Ripley is, she's the main character, played by Sigourney Weaver, in all of the Alien movies, except for Alien vs Predator. I'll explain more of her character in future chapters.