Disclaimer: I don't own aliens. If I did you would be watching this on DVD instead of reading it.

Chapter 11

It's a Small War

(Get to the human installation,) the Queen ordered.

Scar, Sonar, and their small group of drones turned toward the base as the Queen explained the attack plan.

(Half-Jaw will meet you with a large group of drones,) the Queen told them. (We'll just charge in and take down the humans.)

(You mean the old suicidal alien approach?) Scar asked. (I'm glad I'm going to be elsewhere.)

Scar pushed through the branches blocking his way and caught sight of the base. He also caught sight of Half-Jaw and his group.

(So we're going in?) Scar asked.

Half-Jaw growled. (Yes, we're going in. We can't wait or the humans will repair their ship and escape.)

Scar nodded and the praetorian charged forward. Scar followed him and the group of drones did the same. They emerged from the forest and climbed straight up the wall. They reached a large window and began climbing in.

(Let's go,) Scar said as he and Sonar broke off from the group and charged down one of the hallways. He would rather have sought out his mother first, but he didn't know where she was. And he was pretty sure his dad was right where he left him.

(How do you know your father's this way?) Sonar asked.

Scar smiled mentally. (Trust me. I know.)

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Tom strained against the black strands of alien substance that bound him to the ceiling. Unfortunately, it was supposed to hold the aliens prey for incubation and could hold stronger creatures then him in place.

He was trapped on a storage room ceiling. He groaned in discomfort, his throat was dry. The door finally opened and Tom began making a muffled cry for help. He stopped when he realized his rescuers weren't human.

The two aliens that entered immediately looked up at him. He was pretty sure that they're laughing at his predicament. One of them jumped to the ceiling and stuck next to him. Its teeth were inches from his face.

(All right, Dad,) Scar snarled. (I'm going to cut you loose. If you know what's good for you, you'll stay in this room.)

Scar grabbed the strand of resin covering Tom's mouth and ripped it off. Violently.

"Ow!" Tom shouted. Scar chuckled and ripped more of the cocoon away.

"What's the big idea, gluing me to the ceiling?" Tom shouted as Scar ripped away more resin. Scar ripped the last of it away and Tom dropped face-first to the floor with a scream.

Scar dropped back to the concrete floor and grabbed the back of his dad's shirt. He pulled him to his feet.

(Where's mom?) Scar growled.

"What?"

(Where's mom?) Scar said it more threateningly this time.

"Why do you need to know?" Tom asked.

(Because in about five minutes, twenty aliens are going to start ripping this place apart. If I don't find mom, then I might not be inclined to keep you from joining the rest of the marines.)

A human scream reached their ears, followed by the sound of gunfire.

(Now,) Scar growled.

"You won't be able to find her quarters without a guide," Tom said. "I'll lead you to it."

Scar reluctantly nodded.

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Jean walked down the empty hallway. She nervously clutched the piece of broken pipe she had armed herself with when the gunfire had sounded.

Turning the corner, she found herself facing one of the aliens. Her eyes widened. It was huge almost twice the size of the other aliens. Dropping the pipe, she turned and ran for it. The alien roared and charged after her.

She ran. The creature's footfalls were closing in on her. She came into a large open room. She charged toward one of the doors. She stopped. The door wasn't opening. She frantically looked for someway to trigger it. On the wall, beside the door was a card scanner and she didn't have the card. She turned back to face her pursuer.

The alien had her cornered. It was slowly approaching her. It knew its prey was trapped. Jean saw that the alien was missing a piece of its lower jaw. The xenomorph opened its mouth revealing its tongue.

Half-Jaw hissed. He would kill the human despite the Queen's orders. After all, he could get away with it.