Disclaimer: I don't own the series that this fic is based on, but I own the story concepts and characters of this fic.

Chapter 11

The Cyborg's Story

The three aliens descended into the dormant volcano with Xena leading the way. They reached the ground and continued crawling toward the ship.

(So what kind of defenses do you think this ship has?) Snarl asked as they neared the looming structure.

(Watch out!) Xena cried before grabbing both of them and jumping forward. A few seconds later, blue flashes of plasma crashed into the ground they had just been standing on.

(Thanks,) Snarl said as Xena set her and Sonar down.

The three then faced the things that had fired on them. Three defense drones were hovering above them. A gun similar to the cyborg xenomorph's was attached to the side of the circular pod. The xenomorphs jumped to the side as the drones fired again.

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Esiki glanced back at the cyborg. It had raised its head as soon as the skitir had appeared. He glanced back at the screen. It was linked to the cameras in the defense pods and was showing all of their sight. Part of the screen, became static as one of the pods was destroyed.

"Send out the cyborg," Esiki ordered. "Order it to capture all three alive and withdraw the drones."

"Yes, sir."

"It's about time I expanded my army of cyborgs," Esiki said to himself.

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Snarl jumped to the side and avoided the shot from the second drone. She had just taken down one of the flying pods, but now the robots had moved up and she could no longer reach them not to mention ten more had arrived.

Spinning around she charged toward the ship. Five of the pods followed. Reaching the wall, she darted up it until she was equal to the defense drones' height. She pushed off the wall and fell toward the five drones. She reached out and crushed two of them with her hands. Her tail shot up and slashed through a third. She landed on the ground and spun to face the other two drones.

Xena leapt and her claws closed around one of the drones. She landed back on the ground and immediately lunched a spray of acid at another drone. The acid covered the robot, Xena didn't wait to see what happened to it and turned and sprayed another drone. She grunted as she felt something small land on her back and then leap off. She glanced back and saw Sonar slash his claws into a drone in midair. He landed and immediately jumped back onto her. He jumped into the air and his tail stabbed through another drone.

Two missiles plowed into the ground next to her. The resulting explosion knocked her off her feet. She jumped back to her feet and faced the cyborg. Sonar jumped to her side. Snarl stood on her other side and growled at the cyborg. The cyborg stood silently with its plasma caster aimed at Xena.

The female praetorian dropped her hostile stance and took a step forward. (Devin?)

Both Sonar and Snarl glanced at each other. Snarl had first heard of that xenomorph after her mother had died. He had been Xena's mate before he was somehow killed by a komosloth.

(That's impossible,) Sonar said. (He's dead.)

A blast of plasma launched at the three aliens. Sonar and Snarl jumped to the side, but the ball of energy was aimed at Xena and she didn't have time to dodge. The blast hit her in the chest and knocked her to the ground.

Snarl screeched with rage and charged at the cyborg. She jumped over one of the plasma blasts and raked her claws across the cyborg's head. The cyborg ignored the wound and launched its tail forward. The blunt side rammed into Snarl's head and knocked her to the ground.

The cyborg didn't notice that Sonar had snuck around beside it until he jumped onto its side. His claws barely penetrate the hard chitin. He opened his mouth and his tongue too bounced off the hard armor.

Sonar cried out as the praetorian began bucking, trying to shake him off. With a mighty heave it sent him flying. He landed on the ground and a blast of plasma hit him and sent him skidding a few feet.

The cyborg turned away as soon as it was sure Sonar was unconscious. Something large rammed into it and knocked it back.

(Ready for round two?) Xena growled as she punched the praetorian's jaw. The cyborg's metal tipped tail flew towards her. She stepped back and grabbed it as it flew past her. Xena yanked on the tail and pulled the cyborg off its feet, then she jumped on top of it and pinned it.

(You always were a lousy fighter, Devin,) Xena said as she punched him in the head again. She punched him again. The plasma caster rotated up and fired, but she was at an angle that it couldn't hit her at. Two more punches and the praetorian was bleeding from his mouth. Xena stopped hitting him hesitating as the more blood leaked from his mouth.

(Do… it…) the alien panted. Xena threw another punch. The xenomorph's head was slammed into the ground from the force of it. (Okay, that's enough.)

Xena got off him and stepped back. The xenomorph's voice no longer sounded stressed, or weak.

(Devin?) Xena asked as the xenomorph got to his feet. He nodded. (Why the heck did you want me to punch you in the head?)

(I was hoping it would destroy the circuits controlling me,) he said. (Look's like it did.) He spat a mixture of blood and spittle out of his mouth.

(What if it didn't?) She asked.

(Then I'd be dead,) he shrugged. (So what? Better dead, then a killing machine designed to cut down your own species.)

Xena took a deep breath and collected her thoughts. (Okay, let's see if I got this right. Those aliens found you after you had died, resurrected you, to hunt xenomorphs. What for?)

(Their whole planet is overrun with xenomorphs,) Devin said. (They were hoping an army of cybernetic xenomorphs would be able to take it back, but they were worried and wanted to test this idea.)

Xena glanced at both of her unconscious allies. (Is their anyway you could get us into that ship?)

(Why?) Devin asked. (There's just one drone in there.)

(That drone is a friend of mine; he's like Sonar, sort of,) Xena said.

There was a pause and then Devin said. (Sure, I can get you in.)