Disclaimer: I don't own aliens, but every character here is mine, and you can't have them!
Chapter 9
Save a Little
"But you can fix it, right?" The marine asked. They were currently in the landing ship leaning over the trashed controls.
"Of course, I can fix it, ding-dong," the second marine replied. "But it's going to take a few hours."
"Well, excuse me," the first marine said. "You're the bloody electrician, not me."
"I'm the electrician, because I'm the only one present who has enough brains for the job," the second marine shot back.
The marine considered a comeback and then decided to let it go. "Hey, you haven't seen Herrera recently have you?"
"No, I haven't," the second replied pulling on a pair of gloves. "But he probably just got lost."
"Well, aren't you worried the bugs'll get him?"
"Not really," the second marine began poking at the wrecked council.
--------------------------------------
Scar entered the chamber and Rachel and Renee looked up from their leaning position against the wall.
(We've a problem,) Scar began and then sighed. (The Queen has decided that letting the humans survive would be a bad idea, as it could threaten the hive's survival.)
"So…" Rachel began.
(The Queen wants to… dispose of this problem,) Scar said. (And if you guys don't agree with this plan… well, then…)
"We end up bug food," Rachel said.
Scar flinched at her harsh words. (Yeah.)
"Isn't there some way around that?" Renee asked.
(No,) Scar shook his head sadly.
"What about your father?" Rachel asked. "You're going to let them kill him?"
(Yes!) Scar growled back. (The family I have now is more important to me then him.)
"Tom isn't a bad guy!" Rachel shot back.
(Oh, no?) Scar asked. (Maybe he doesn't seem that way to you, but why do you think my mother divorced him? Under other circumstances I would gladly let him go his merry way, even if he plans to take that Devil's Light and whip up a powerful super weapon to sell to the highest bidder! Of course, those new xenomorphs are going to be used to do… who knows what! Do you know what else? He's already producing a bunch of weapons and such with his corporation, he bribes politicians and sometimes uses certain legally challenged means to shut down a rival company. That's why my mother divorced him because she couldn't get him to stop all that. She of course didn't know about that when she married him. She saw him as the same nice guy that you think he is. When my mom divorced he took everything he could get his grimy hands on, including me! I'm not going to go out of my way to kill him if I do that I'll be no better then he is, but if it does come to that… that he threatens the hive I won't stand by and watch, I'll stop him.)
Rachel looked horrified. "He… did all that?"
(I lived with him most of my life. Trust me I know what he did,) Scar said.
"What about your mother?" Rachel asked.
(What about my mother?)
"She's on this planet too, looking for you," she said.
(She is?) Scar asked. (How on earth did she manage that?)
"I don't know," Rachel replied.
Scar was silent for a moment as he turned things over in his mind. (Well, that complicates things,) Scar finally said. (But…)
"But what?" Rachel asked.
(Are you and your daughter okay with the hive wiping out the remaining marines?) Scar asked changing the subject.
Renee sighed heavily. "You are sure there is no way to stop this?"
(I'm sure,) Scar said. (The best I can do is save my mom and dad, maybe.)
"I'll go through with this," Renee said. "I'm not happy about it, but if it means that I can't stop it either way, I'm not going to stick to the plan." Rachel just nodded.
(All right,) Scar said turning away. (I'm going to go inform the Queen.)
Scar left the room and hurried to the Queen's chambers. He arrived there and entered. The Queen looked up.
(They're going along with it,) Scar said.
(Good,) the Queen said hesitantly.
(You know my mom is at the facility,) Scar said.
(No, I didn't,) The Queen said.
(Well, she was a pilot so I was thinking…) Scar paused and inhaled nervously. (Maybe she would be able to escape the planet with my dad. I think we can trust them not to blow up the hive, or tell anyone about us.) Scar looked up hopefully at the Queen.
(You don't think they'll turn on us?) The Queen asked.
(My mother won't,) Scar said. (And I think we can trust my dad.)
(All right,) The Queen nodded her large head. Scar turned and nearly bounded away in joy.
(And Anthony?) The Queen added. Scar turned. (You'll probably want to go along with the attack to make sure that they're kept safe, but I don't expect you to kill any humans.)
(Thanks,) Scar said.