Disclaimer: I don't own aliens! So stop asking! However, I own the story idea and all characters contained herein. We now return to our regularly scheduled fanfiction.

Chapter 5

Scream's Interlude

When Xena had first started having the dreams they were very vague. First it was just single cries of "help me," echoing in her mind. Then she could see very fuzzy images. Gradually it had become clearer and clearer and until she could see, but the image was still fuzzy.

She just dismissed them as nightmares. Even though she had seen a group of drones annihilated in her dreams and then a group had turned up missing it didn't mean anything. Dreams didn't mean anything, but as she wondered the corridors of the hive that day something happened that changed her mind.

As she wondered past a group of drones it hit her, she found it harder to lift her feet and keep her head held up. She fell to the ground half conscious. Images flashed through her mind. She was chasing several xenomorphs through the forest. The silent whispering cries of "help me," were still present.

One of the drones stumbled before her. Another one of them turned and doubled back toward it. It picked the wounded drone up and slung it over its shoulder before turning and running again. They were charging toward a cave.

Xena recognized the drones as she knelt down. The one that was being carried was Sonar and the other, judging by the numerous scars on it was Scar. She watched from the angle of whatever was chasing them as it fired two rockets at them. They made it through the cave entrance as the missiles struck the entrance blasting it shut.

The voice that had been crying, "help me" now gave a triumphant yell of joy as the drones apparently escaped. Xena felt relieved as well.

The images faded away leaving nothing, but a vast black expanse. She glanced around finding that she could now move again. Directly in front of her something silver emerged from the darkness. A massive metal xenomorph stood before her.

Xena growled at it and tried to leap forward at it. She only managed to fling herself a few feet forward. She glanced down at herself and saw that she was in the body of a chestbuster. That was why the metal praetorian was so big. The metal monster raised a foot to crush her. Xena tried to slither away, but found herself unable to move, held helplessly in place by some unseen force.

A screech split the air, as a normal praetorian jumped out of the shadows and pushed the metal one away into the shadows. Her rescuer turned and seemed about to speak to her, when her attacker re-emerged from the shadows wrapped its arms around the praetorian's neck. The praetorian grabbed the metal beasts arms and flipped it over its back. The metal xenomorph immediately jumped back to its feet and spun to face the normal one. The two combatants locked hands and began to try and push and shove each other back. The metal praetorian quickly took the upper hand and pushed its flesh and blood counterpart back. The normal praetorian quickly found itself overpowered.

Xena gasped as the two began to flow together like they were some kind of liquid. The result was a half metal, half flesh monster. It turned its head toward her and the gun attached to its chest followed the movement.

The image vanished abruptly and she jumped to her feet. Xena glanced around nervously. Several drones were crowded around her. Xena shoved through the crowd and started hastily toward the Queen's chamber.

That praetorian looked kind of familiar, Xena thought as she entered the Queen's chamber.

(Yes, Xena?) The Queen asked calmly.

The praetorian quickly launched into her tale, hoping the Queen would believe her.

(I've been having strange dreams lately,) Xena began. (I didn't think too much of them until now. I'm seeing from something's perspective and this something is apparently killing xenomorphs. The first time it did this was the night before you sent Sonar out to look for those missing drones. Just now I had one were it chased Scar and Sonar.) Xena waited for the Queen's answer.

(And you're confident that this is really happening?) The Queen asked.

Xena hesitated before saying. (Yes, there have been other dreams, but those are the most important.)

The Queen nodded her huge head and said. (You better go look for Sonar's team.)