Disclaimer: Aliens is copyrighted by their original owners, Scar, Snarl, Sonar, and the other fan characters are copyrighted by me, that means no using without permission!

Chapter 2

Aquatic Annoyances

The swimming hole was an underground lake in the hive. The water was muddy and very cold. It would be unpleasant to a human, but xenomorphs could withstand the cold void of space, so it was no problem for them.

Xena was submerged up to her neck on the opposite side from the beach. She was just relaxing and enjoying her privacy. The lake was hardly used as the drones didn't swim for fun being mindless and the other praetorians were too serious to goof off. The only people who used it regularly were Scar and Snarl. Xena groaned as she heard rapid footsteps and the two named xenomorphs bounded into the cavern and dove headfirst into the water.

The two youngsters then proceeded to chase each other across the lake, splashing, and roaring excitedly. Xena groaned and sank her head beneath the water. She didn't feel like talking to them right now.

Underwater her visibility greatly decreased and she could no longer see them. However, that was no problem. She let out a low growl and her echolocation showed the two xenomorphs.

This continued for Xena didn't know how long. She stayed underwater the whole time since she didn't need to breathe, but kept an eye on them, much less they spot her and try sneaking up.

Xena had almost fallen asleep, when their play abruptly ceased when Scar looked in her direction. For a second, Xena thought she had been spotted, but Scar merely turned to his companion and said something privately to her. Then they both turned toward shore and climbed out of the water.

She waited a few seconds before submerging and looking around. They were nowhere in sight. Xena sighed and leaned back against the cave wall.

(Look out below!) Scar shouted as he and Snarl released their grip on the ceiling above her.

(What the…) Xena looked up just as they let go. She screamed in spite of herself as they dropped into the water, narrowly missing dropping onto her.

The duo surfaced laughing hysterically.

(You idiots!) Xena growled.

(Oh, come on, Xena,) Scar said. (You should have seen the look on your face!)

(Xenomorphs don't have expressions,) Xena stated. Scar and Snarl laughed even harder.

(Laugh while you can,) Xena said leaning down toward them menacingly.

(Come on, Xena,) Snarl said swimming back away from her nervously. (It was just a joke.)

Xena roared as she jumped toward them. They both dove under and took off at full speed. With a kick of her powerful legs, Xena was after them. The two broke apart and Xena decided to pursue Snarl. Xena slowly caught up to her trapping her between the wall and herself. Snarl doubled back and tried to escape, but Xena cut her off. Snarl turned and began swimming in the opposite direction. Xena followed and began forcing Snarl closer to the wall.

Realizing she couldn't out-swim or out-smart Xena. Snarl turned and headed toward the wall. Xena followed. Snarl leapt out of the water and grab hold of the wall. She quickly started to scramble up it, but she felt something close around her tail. Xena had grabbed hold of her tail. The praetorian pulled and yanked her off the wall. Snarl broke into a swim, but Xena still had a hold of her tail.

Xena hissed in satisfaction as she reeled Snarl in by her tail. She grabbed the drone's body and flung her into the air. She landed with a splash a few feet away.

Xena dove underwater and released a burst of echolocation. As the sound waves, returned she found Scar. Adjusting her course, she swam toward him.

Scar proved a more difficult challenge as he had more experience in his xenomorph body then Snarl did. Xena tried to trap him against the wall, but Scar managed to dart past her. She tried twice more, but he managed to escape. Xena growled quietly and tried the process again, but this time when Scar tried to swim out of the trap, Xena's tail shot out and tried to loop around his leg. Scar fought her grip and with a twist of his body managed to break free. Xena jumped after him, but he quickly changed course and darted to the side, avoiding her falling body.

(Can't catch me,) Scar mocked. (Perhaps you should let up on the after dinner snacks!)

Xena growled and swam after him with renewed vigor. This time she simply gave chase rather then tried to trap him. That plan seemed to be working as Scar was tired from his previous activity, while Xena still had plenty of energy. However, as Xena closed the gap, Scar got some outside assistance. Snarl swam in between them and Xena had to stop or plow through her. Xena moved to the side, but Snarl followed and blocked her way. Xena growled and lifted Snarl out of the water.

(Hey, put me down!) Snarl shouted before Xena hurled her across the lake.

Xena turned back to face Scar, who was a short distance away and had watched her confrontation with Snarl. Xena started after him and he turned and swam for it. To Xena's delight, she saw that she was closing the distance between them and would soon catch him, provided Snarl didn't interfere again. Soon, Xena was literally right on his tail. She reached forward and grabbed a hold of it and pulled Scar in. She lifted him into the air and then threw him into the water.

(Get her!) Scar shouted as he surfaced and swam toward Xena. Snarl followed close behind him. Xena let them come and braced herself as they leapt forward grabbed onto her, hoping to knock her to the ground. Their plan backfired though as she leaned forward and collapsed onto the lake floor with them pinned beneath her weight.

(Okay, you win,) Scar said. (Let us up now.)

(Oh, I don't know,) Xena replied. (Its kind of relaxing lying here on the lake bottom. Maybe I'll stay here a while.)

(Seriously, let us up, Xena,) Snarl said.

Xena ignored her. She felt Scar shifting around beneath her. Scar managed to shift to a position to where he could bite her and that's what he did. He sank his teeth, both mouth and tongue into her armor.

(Nice try,) Xena said. (But your teeth can't penetrate my armor.)

(I've still got one more trick up my metaphorical sleeve!) Scar said and he began to feel around under her belly, looking for the weak spot in the praetorian's armor.

(Oh, no you don't,) Xena said and increased her weight on him, preventing him from moving his arm.

(Are you done yet?) A voice asked suddenly.

Xena jumped off the two xenomorphs as through they had suddenly become electric and looked up at the speaker, a xenomorph drone.

(Oh, Sonar,) Xena said relieved that she had not been caught playing by another praetorian. (I was just teaching this bugs some respect.)

(Uh-huh,) Sonar said and turned to Scar.

(What's up?) Scar asked.

(The Queen wants us to go investigate the disappearance of a couple of drones,) Sonar said.

(I thought the Queens didn't care about a few drones,) Snarled said harshly.

(It was probably just a Komosloth attack,) Scar said. (And besides I thought the Queen monitored all the drone activity outside the hive.)

(Normally, yes,) Sonar said. (But they were out of range and exploring some new territory.)

(So I'm part of the exploration team?) Scar asked.

(Yes, and so is Snarl,) Sonar said.

(Why me?) Snarl asked.

(Because the Queen wants to see how you do in an actual fight,) Sonar said. And to see how well you follow orders, he added silently.