Lex was present in human form as Chief Harrigan was laid to rest in a city cemetery. There were a large number of dignitaries from all over the LA area and even some from out of state. The official explanation for his death was that he was killed in a drug bust. A number of other officers were also buried at the same time.
Lex felt guilty for Harrigan's death and hated herself as a person. She had compromised on so many things and was in the company of violent murderers. As the funeral continued, Lex could sense that someone was watching her. She cast a red rose on the casket and walked off.
Meanwhile, back on the ship the Prince oversaw the repairing of the communications center Lex had destroyed. "My Prince, we do not have the parts to repair our communications," a subordinate guard said.
"Can you improvise?" the Prince asked impatiently.
"It is…possible that the humans may posses the parts we need," the guard said.
The Prince curled his lips at that as if insulted by the very suggestion. "Tell me what we need and I will see to it," he ordered.
Another subordinate guard came to the Prince to address him. "What is it?" the Prince asked annoyed.
"We found something in the planet's oceans."
Lex was called into the ship for an emergency meeting. As she came into the ship, the Prince's guards were examining a hologram of Earth. Lex felt queasy as she wondered if this were some sort of invasion. She saw a number of dots on the coasts of South America, Africa, and Australia.
"There are reports in the southern hemisphere of the planet of animal attacks on the coasts," the Prince explained.
Lex nodded, she had heard about this on the news. "The attacks are consistent with that of an Xenomorph attack," the Prince continued.
"How?" Lex wondered.
The hologram map focused on the island off Antarctica. "The Xenomorph Queen was not destroyed in the usual way. Its head was never recovered as a trophy because the three youths were not able to defeat it. Instead it was cast to the bottom of sea for future recovering. But that recovery never occurred, because of the Xenomorph hybrid attack," the Prince said disgusted.
"What are you saying?" Lex asked.
"The Xenomorph Queen is alive and has reproduced using the marine wildlife as hosts," the Prince said.
Lex gave the Prince a stunned look. "But it was frozen at the bottom of the ocean. It was chained up," she protested.
"The chain is made of metal and will corrode quickly in salt water. The Xenomorph can also hibernate in extreme cold environments like space," the Prince said.
The hologram map showed temperature changes in the Earth's oceans. "Due to climate change the waters surrounding Antarctica have warmed freeing the Xenomorph Queen. As summer approaches the southern hemisphere the temperature will become warm enough for the eggs to hatch."
"There are millions, maybe billions of fish in the oceans," Lex realized with horror.
"Your concern is justified. If it is not stopped all of Earth's oceans will be void of all life. And then the Xenomorphs will eventually come on land," the Prince said.
"We have to stop them," Lex said alarmed.
"We are one ship and you have damaged our communications. We will not be resupplied or reinforced," the Prince said annoyed at her.
"You have to do something," Lex demanded.
The Prince saw his subordinates staring at him as he talked in English with Lex. It was surreal to have prey even on the bridge and even more so to be conversing with the Prince. "Come with me," he ordered her.
Lex complied following the Prince to one's of his chambers. The Prince sat down on this throne and closed his eyes in reflection. "To save your planet I will be risking my life as well as my subordinates," he said.
"It is your fault this happened. I didn't hold the Queen in a pyramid so you could hunt them every one hundred years," Lex said angrily.
"I wasn't involved in that decision. That decision was made by my ancestors thousands of years ago. You failed to contain the epidemic," the Prince accused.
"I was a rock climber and a travel guide. It wasn't my responsibility," Lex argued.
The Prince paused to consider his options. "If I save your planet you must become my mate and bear me children."
There was a long pause between them. "You can't just arrange things like this. We don't have a relationship. I hate you," Lex said truthfully.
"The deal stands," the Prince said dismissively.
"You won't let the Earth die. You need us humans to hunt," Lex called his bluff.
"There are hundreds of worlds upon which we may hunt. Losing Earth would be a tragedy, but one we can accept. Besides, if I die to save your planet I will never be able to hunt humans in this life," he said.
"In this life?" Lex asked skeptically.
"In the next life I will hunt the damned human souls for all eternity," he said.
"That's sick," Lex said disgusted.
"You should read our holy texts if you hope to understand us," the Prince shot back.
There was a pause between them and the other hoped to call the other's bluff. "Alright, I'll do it," Lex said finally.
"Good. A shuttle will be departing to the nearest outpost so that Yautja Prime will be told what has happened here so reinforcements may arrive. In the meantime, we will immediately begin the hunt against the Xenomorphs so as to save your planet," the Prince said.
The Prince then lifted himself from his throne and towered above Lex's frail human form. "There is a high likelihood I will die to save your world. I desire an heir from you before I perish. The child will be unique in the species," the Prince said authoritatively.
Lex simply stared at the Prince as she realized what he wanted. "You will remain on the ship until you revert back to your Yautja form," he ordered.
Lex simply said nothing as shock crept in. The Prince walked off back to the bridge leaving her alone with her thoughts.
The ship rose from the LA construction site and using a cloaking device disguised the disturbance as an earthquake. The ship accelerated into space and aimed towards the Antarctic continent. Lex and the Prince watched the view screen as the ship reentered Earth's atmosphere and found the island.
"Land your team on the surface and begin setting up charges," the Prince ordered his subordinate guard.
"Charges?" Lex asked curiously.
"We must close up the hole and make sure the humans do not discover the pyramid," he said.
Lex watched helplessly as the Yautja warriors went to work to plug up the hole and remove any evidence of the massacre that occurred there. Every member of the crew that had gone down there would have died in vain. None of the discoveries made would ever be brought to light.
"Prepare to dive below the surface," the Prince ordered.
The Yautja ship lowered down into the icy water and kept its cloak to block sonar. The ship's instruments immediately worked to identify the various species of fish in the water. The ship cruised deeper into the ocean until it was pitch black. The pilot became dependent on his instruments to know where he was going.
"Send out the probes," the Prince ordered.
Small black spheres exited the Yautja ship and immediately started scanning the bottom with a red light. As the probes scanned, a hologram map of the bottom surface was detailed. The water tower was quickly discovered but not the Xenomorph Queen. The chain holding the Queen gone had been broken off. The probes then began searching the general area for any sign of the Queen. The ship's sensors created a red flash once the probes had found something.
"We have detected the Queen's blood," the pilot informed the Prince.
"So, she's here somewhere," the Prince said softly.
Hours went by as the probes continued their search for the Queen. Meanwhile, the guards on the island had laid down the charges and then detonated them. The hole was completely filled up and all evidence of the whaling village was gone. Lex waited in her room as the Yautja continued to monitor their screens.
Her brown skin was becoming yellowish and patterns were starting to emerge. With each passing moment, she was getting closer to becoming an adult female Yautja. Thoughts of how she could be a mother to an alien baby, a monster baby went through her mind. Could she ever love such a child? During her human life she had dreamed of meeting the right guy and having a normal family. Now, she was stuck in a nightmare.
As the changes continued, she took her human clothes off and slept while the Yautja searched.
Within a day the probes found an Xenomorph biological signature near an underwater volcano on the fault line. "Clever girl," the Prince muttered.
"If we use our laser systems it could cause an eruption on the ocean floor," one of the guards noted.
"We must capture the Queen alive and use her as bait. The other Xenomorphs will come to her aid," the Prince reasoned.
"Temperatures will exceed tolerance level close to the volcano and poisonous gases will be present. The pressure is higher than any we have encountered my Prince," a guard said.
"Good, it sounds like quite the challenge. Begin preparation for a walk on the surface," the Prince ordered.
Lex watched curiously as the Yautja put on modified suits. It was the first time she saw them suit up so extensively before. Each Yautja put a modified helmet on, which would protect their cranium from the enormous ocean pressure. They placed a scuba tank on their back which was then connected to their helmet through a series of tubes. Instead of flippers, the Yautja wore boots resembling that of astronauts. Monitoring equipment and tools were placed on their belts, wrist bands, and on the sides of each leg. Each warrior had a plasma cannon on their right shoulder and a spear.
"Each of you will have a self-destruct mechanism, but it will only be triggered by me. Otherwise, in your passion you may destroy yourselves and additional members of the crew. If I am killed then the pilot will order the self-destruct. The use of the self-destruct is of last resort. We do not want the humans to come here searching for radiation signatures. Understood?" the Prince said.
"Yes Sir!" they all said enthusiastically.
"Our mission is to survey the area. If you encounter the Queen attempt to capture her but do not kill her," the Prince ordered.
The Yautja warriors then went to dive bay, which was a pressurized room with an opening in the bottom. Each warrior dived into the water and hit the bottom with a thud. Immediately their boots stuck to the surface so they wouldn't float away. The warriors then marched in a wedge formation on the ocean floor.
Lex watched the viewing screen as the Yautja slowly made their way across the ocean floor. On the ocean floor it was pitch black requiring infrared scanners in their helmets. The Yautja would occasionally see temperature flashes, which were fish. Lex waited anxiously as they moved closer to the underwater cave. Part of her wanted them to succeed to save the planet, but another part hoped the Prince would die.
The ship sent an energy sensor wave towards the Yautja and saw a large group of temperature readings. The pilot immediately attempted to decipher the information. On the ocean floor a Yautja warrior was suddenly hit.
"I am detecting multiple large signals in your area," the pilot reported.
"Can you identify?" the Prince asked.
"No, I cannot tell what they are," the pilot replied.
Lex looked at the familiar shapes on the screen. She saw the familiar shape and fins. "They're sharks," she said.
"What is a shark?" the pilot asked.
"It is a fish with large jaws and sharp teeth, but they don't swim this deep," Lex explained.
The pilot watched as several dozen of these "sharks" swarmed around the Yautja warriors on the ocean floor.