Authors Notes: I did not expect to actually write a new chapter for this story but here it is anyway, after watching all four aliens films almost back to back it inspired me and I found writing this chapter easier than expected. I hope to actually finish this story as I have plenty of ideas for it, I hope some who had followed this story will see the new chapter and comment on it.
+AMTH+
(Hadley's Hope)
Bishop quickly moved to help set Gorman and Wierzbowski in medical and then began to work analysing their injuries, thankfully whilst badly injured it was clear Wierzbowski would live as would Gorman who had only suffered a mild concussion. He set up what medical equipment and medication they would need before moving to check the remaining members of the squad; thankfully even Ripley gave no argument over this check-up considering her hatred of his kind understandable as it was. He dealt with the burn on Hudson's arm which thankfully wasn't too bad; clearly he had not got a full blast of the creature's acid like blood. The rest of the squad survivors had mostly superficial wounds; they were mostly in shock or various states of anger.
"How are they?" Ripley inquired looking focused once more.
"Lieutenant Gorman has suffered a mild concussion but should awaken in the next couple of hours, as for Private Wierzbowski he has suffered explosive wounds to his arms back and sides and some blood loss" Bishop answered. "He should recover in time but he is in bad shape and will not be able to fight for some time" he added. "Private Hudson received a bad burn on his arm but clearly didn't receive a full blast of the creatures blood to burn through his arm, he can still fight and the rest of you received mostly cuts, bruises and knocks" he finished his report.
"Alright people let's face facts we just had our mission turn sideways on us and we are in bad shape, nearly our entire squad has been wiped out and we are for now trapped here" Hicks said loudly gaining everyone's attention. "But we still have a job to do so first thing first we need to plan how to survive here until we can figure out a way to get the second drop ship down from the Sulaco" he continued.
"We need a full floor plan of this place so we can try and barricade ourselves in and keep those things out" Ripley cut in.
"That didn't do shit before but slow them down lady" Carl growled out still reeling from the quick reversal of fortune this supposed rescue had taken, he cursed the fact the marines had even tried to look for other survivors as he had already known there would be none. "Why would this time be any different?" he demanded to know.
"Slowing them down is what we need to do, we need to buy ourselves time" Ripley shot back. "The more time we have on our side the better chance we have of getting out of here" she stated hotly getting rather fed up of the man's aggressive nature. "Hudson I need you to pull up all the plans of this building you can find, especially anything that shows where the entrances to the ducts and vents are" she added turning to comtech who was pacing up and down and looking nervous as hell.
"What's the god damn point we're fucked" Hudson snarled as his agitation which had been building since he had watched his friends and fellow marines been all but butchered by those monsters except for two who unfortunately were captured and were about to be subjected to the worst fate he could imagine exploded. "Those things will come in here just like they did before and they are gonna kill us all" he spat close to a complete breakdown of his control.
"Hudson just relax, I am getting tired of your outbursts just as much as I am getting fed up of Carl's aggressive attitude" Ripley shot back knowing the only way to get Hudson to focus was to give him a sense of authority to answer to like he would Apone who was sadly now just another victim of the aliens. "Now focus, we need you clear headed, now get on the terminal and pull up blue prints, floor plans anything that could show a way into this compound" she ordered.
Hudson stared at the woman and began to see a little of the certainty that must of helped her live through her first encounter with these damn monsters, instead of succumbing to panic she digged deep and stayed focused and controlled. He took a deep breath and tried to force back the rising panic he had been feeling since the Crowe had been taken and assault on his squad had commenced. Tessa moved to his side and rubbed his arm hoping to help him regain some kind of control, she had not liked seeing the quick collapse of Hudson's confidence. Granted with what they had all been through she understood why it had happened, she had seen some of her fellow colonists go through the same process.
"Remember Hudson these people have survived longer than we have been on this rock with little food or water, and none of the weapons we have access to still" Ripley told him. "Even Newt a young child has survived, we can too" she assured him even as she indicated the watching Newt.
"Alright I'm on it" Hudson responded as he found some measure of control from Ripley's words as well the close contact from Tessa which helped him focus on the task at hand.
And Ripley had a point, the colonists had survived with very little going for them especially in terms of weapons. They had no pulse rifles or grenades not even any flame units unless they managed to cobbles some out of whatever supplies they'd had. Even a little kid had managed to survive until they had arrived, and if she could do it then surely well trained marines could survive until they figured out how to get the second drop ship from the Sulaco.
"Bad question I know but how long before you guys are declared overdue so as to expect rescue?" Kara inquired beating Ripley to the question even as it entered her mind to ask.
Hicks exchanged dark looks with Vasquez before turning back to Kara. "17 days" he answered.
This answer did nothing to help Hudson hold onto his new found control, 17 days was beyond what he believed they could last should they fail to get the second drop ship down here but before he could even begin to say anything he felt Tessa grip his hand tightly as sign not to let whatever it was loose. He took a deep breath and pushed it aside, he had a task to complete and thus he moved to get to work on it. He headed for the terminal with Tessa following and began to look for everything Ripley had requested, Carl glared at Ripley having not missed her comment about his aggressive attitude before he walked out of medical and back to what they not deemed the command center.
"Alex, I want you and Vasquez doing patrol with trackers until Hudson can find the plans we need to start ceiling this place up" Hicks ordered. "We can't let one of those bastards in here, stay frosty and alert" he added as the two marines nodded and moved to comply.
Even as he left medical, Alexander exchanged a quick glance with Kara before fully leaving. Kara watched him go hoping none of the monsters tried to get in here before they had tried to at least barricade the place up. She decided to try and get some sleep and insisted Newt try as well, there were plenty of beds in medical they could use. The little girl gave no protest but she did cling to Ripley for a bit before she managed to get her to let go. Ripley watched them go before deciding whilst they were now waiting for Hudson to the find the plans they needed and Gorman was out cold to do some investigating. She still had deep suspicions on how the colonists had located the derelict, now she had to find proof. Burke had slipped out of medical once Bishop had given his evaluation of Gorman and Wierzbowski's conditions, and she was certain he was more concerned about Gorman who he could manipulate to do things his way than Wierzbowski's. If there was any information here she could use to prove the company had sent the colonist to the derelict without warning them of the danger, she did not want Burke destroying it.
"Keep me informed on their conditions Bishop as well as your research on those facehuggers" she ordered over her shoulder to the android.
"As you wish Ripley" Bishop responded in compliance noting the woman's hatred seemed to have dimmed somewhat since they had landed on this planet and he wondered why but then he hoped it was a sign their relationship would improve as the mission progressed.
+AMTH+
Burke jerked awake feeling sluggish and annoyed, he had not meant to fall asleep but since the brutal slaughter of the marines he had suddenly felt the toll of the day or days. To be honest he had lost track of time since just before they had departed the Sulaco, he had not expected the aliens to be so intelligent as to take out the lights and use the darkness to their advantage. Nor had he expected them to be so quick and agile, nowhere in Ripley's reports did she mention this kind of information. More and more he was convinced if they could capture one, even one of the smaller face hugging creatures could be invaluable to the bio-weapons division. He could be a millionaire and set for life, hell if he could capture one and bring it back he could be promoted several times for finally succeeding where so many had failed before.
And he would do it despite Ripley's and her daughter's attempts to ensure the creatures total destruction, stretching he looked around the room he had found and noted it was silent and empty. He was hungry so he decided to go to command and find some of the supplies they were lucky they had secured which included military rations and water, not something he would enjoy eating but it would do to state his hunger. As he exited the room he frowned as the nagging feeling he was forgetting something came back to him, he'd had it off and on since landing on this planet but what he'd forgotten he could not recall. Shrugging he decided it couldn't have been important, he almost started whistling but just managed to stop himself as it would not do to seem happy considering what had happened only an hour or so before.
In the main communications office Ripley was going through the data banks of the last dozen or so communications, back tracking from the just after the colony of Hadley's Hope had gone dark. Whilst the actual communications dish was cut off from the actual colony transmitter, the databanks were still accessible which is exactly what she needed to look through. Granted there were a lot of transmissions to go through, even after the colony went dark there was still a dozen transmission logs from various colonists trying to send calls of help or messages to family still on Earth. It was a mess but she stayed focused looking for the log that ordered the colonists to the grid reference where the derelict was located, she didn't care how long it took she would find that log.
In command Hicks stood looking out through the tinted windows of the command complex, the sky was black and lightning could be seen in the distance even as rain constantly fell. The whole planet was dark and miserable when they arrived, but it seemed to be getting worse the more time they spent here. It didn't help that most of his squad had now died on this planet, some of them he would even call actual friends beyond just fellow marines in the same squad. One of them was in critical condition down in medical, his commanding officer was unconscious suffering from a concussion and for now they were trapped on this hellhole of a planet.
Turning back to his thoughts on Gorman he did not forget how the man had all but come apart during the firefight against the aliens, it had been his attempts at regaining some kind of control that had distracted Apone allowing him to be paralyzed and dragged away to the worst fate he could imagine. Getting a concussion was a small price to pay when he considered that, he knew Vasquez blamed Gorman for Drake's death and had he not stopped her she would have killed him. Even if the man recovered from his concussion and regained consciousness he doubted if any of them would listen to him now, he had proved he was not fit for command. Which meant it was up to him and Ripley to lead from this point forward, he had missed how the woman had assumed command as soon as Gorman had lost it. If not for Ripley, he doubted any of them would have escaped the hive, now she was gaining respect and control of his few fellow surviving marines even himself as she took charge and did her best to help them survive.
He ignored the entrance of Burke who quickly retrieved some rations and some water, he did not trust or like the man and he had not missed Ripley's suspicions of the man either. In fact he recalled Ripley's accusations against the company since waking up from cryosleep in detail, if the man was working some angle to get a specimen he was playing it close to his chest but he also recalled it was at his insistence that they check out the sublevel where they eventually found the hive. He used looking for survivors no matter how slim as the excuse and Gorman had fallen for it, they had gone and they had been taken apart leaving them in such dire straits. He doubted that had been part of any plans Burke might have, but he would not allow one of those things to get off this planet if he could help it. Even if it meant all their lives were forfeit, they could not be allowed to each Earth or any of their other colonies.
Burke sat and began to eat his rather lack luster meal but as he had already thought it was better than nothing, he glanced at the Corporal who stood looking out of the complex window and tried to think of how to best manipulate the man just in case Gorman remained unconscious. Gorman had been handpicked to lead this mission because he was not very experienced and was easy to manipulate, his view of the company was also better than many of his fellow soldiers. Hicks was proving to be like many others rather cold where the company was concerned, possible he had friends or family who had fallen afoul of the company's business practices that often left many in debt or fired. Worse he was taking suggestions from Ripley like he did when she advised he nuke the colony from orbit, more than likely had they managed to take off in the dropship and do as she advised she would then advise they nuke the derelict as well.
That would have been a disaster especially to his plans, whilst he did not consider the deaths of Ferro and Spunkmeyer as a good thing as they had been his easy ticket off this planet it had at least stopped Ripley's and Hick's attempts to wipe the aliens out. That had at least given him more time to recover a specimen, but his options were becoming more and more limited. He had to find a way of getting hold of something he could bring back, the big ones were clearly not an option but perhaps one of the eggs might be a viable option. If not that then if he could catch a new born when it was small and just burst from someone's chest, he ignored that this would require someone else to be subdued and infected by the facehugging parasites these things begin as. But could he count on someone else been subdued and infected and then stop the aliens dragging the poor sod away, if they could prevent such a person been dragged off he could then stick the specimen in cryosleep. Perfectly preserved until they reached home, and best yet they would have plenty of time then to observe and experiment with an infected host.
But the odds of that happening were slim and worse more than likely if someone did get infected, the others would try and kill them as an act of mercy uncaring of the scientific and more importantly at least in his view monetary stakes. He had to start coming up with a plan not only to get a specimen but to also ensure none of the others especially Ripley interfered in him bring it back to the company, the question was how to do both. Then he remembered there were two live specimens in containment jars down in medical that Bishop was studying, suddenly smiling he quickly finished his meal and headed for medical intent on ensuring once Bishop was done both specimens would be preserved and returned to Earth with them. He would have no trouble with the android as he was programmed to obey no matter who it was giving him orders, all he had to do once this was done was prevent Ripley and the others finding out.
+AMTH+
Ripley blinked twice as she almost missed the very log she had been looking for, dated three days before the colony went dark. It ordered a survey team to the co-ordinates of a suspected crashed ship, it had no warnings of the dangers involved or what kind of creatures lay within the ship. All he did say was for them to investigate the crashed ship and bring back any specimens they found within, how someone in the company could be so damn stupid as to send just one survey team to that ship after all she had told them. But then she recalled who she was dealing with, this was the same company who had all but ordered her and the rest of the Nostromo crew to be sacrificed as all that mattered to them was getting an alien specimen. Still if they wanted the specimen as badly as they seemed to you would think they would take better care of those they send to retrieve it, or more to the point send specialists with military weapons to ensure they recover one instead of sending unarmed unaware colonists.
The colony of Hadley's Hope had like her crew from the Nostromo been sacrificed due to the stupidity of the company's over eagerness to achieve their goal, uncaring of the realities of what they were attempting. Their actions had cost far too many lives and it had gotten them nowhere because they did not have the guts to risk themselves to achieve their goals, they'd rather risk others to do their dirty work for them then and then dispose of them right after. Still she had the proof now that the reason Hadley's Hope's colonists were dead was due to the orders of the company, she would see them burn for this and for what they had done to her and her lost crew and even more so what they had tried to do to her daughter before she had been found.
As she printed off the order as well a copy of several calls for help she had discovered, she found her eyes dropping down to see finally who had sent the order to Hadley's Hope. Her blood instantly began to boil as she saw the name underscored below, that fucking arsehole who had assured her that they had only come here to find survivors and destroy any aliens they found had been behind the whole thing from the beginning. Burke was responsible for the death of Hadley's Hope, for the deaths of Newt's parents and the other families that had died here. She was going to make him pay for this and for daring to think he could play her and get her to unwittingly help him get a specimen back to earth, she took the printouts and began to storm out of the room when she got a call on the comm system.
"Everyone is to return to command" Hick's voice ordered. "Hudson has the plans we need to barricade this place and Bishop has found a new problem we have to deal with" he added making her frown.
Whilst her hatred had begun to lesson towards Bishop as it was becoming clear he was not like Ash, she was still cautious where it came to the android. Still if he had found a new problem, she was wanted to know what it was. Burke could wait, he wasn't going anywhere whilst they were stranded here. Of course she had the option of telling everyone who turned up in command, she did not doubt Kara and the other survivors would lynch him and she doubted that Hicks or any of the other marines would seriously intervene on his behalf.
+AMTH+
Ripley entered to find everyone bar the injured two members of their group was gathered around the map table, she ignored Burke and focused on Hicks and Bishop who stood at the head of the table. She would deal with Burke and his deceit later, she had the proof in her jacket pocket. She had time, right now they had to focus on securing the complex. She glanced down at the map screen and noted the plans already up, hopefully there were not too many entrances into this complex they had to seal up. She listened as Hicks and Hudson laid out the main vents and ducks they had to seal off, luckily they had plenty of welding torches and supplies to do the job. The corridors were another matter she noted, sealing off those corridors they were not using was going to be tricky and she said as much.
"Thankfully we recovered several robot sentry units with scanners and display intact, they each have 500 rounds each" Hicks responded with a smile that was shared by Hudson and Vasquez and Ripley guessed they were relieved at the added firepower these units gave them. "We'll seal up the service tunnel they are using to move back and forth then weld the ducts and vents that lead to us and then barricade the intersections here and here" he continued pointing out each location as he went on the map. "Then we place two sentry guns here, two more here and the final three right outside command and medical, with a free field of fire it should be a shooting gallery that should back them off each time and buy us some more time to get off this rock" he finished.
"Sounds about right Corporal, although I also would suggest sealing the main doors to the complex as well just to help slow the aliens down" Bishop spoke up with a nod of his head as he took in what Hicks had planned and saw no flaw in it.
"Alright people we have a lot of work to do in the next few hours and we are gonna have to do it quickly without issue" Hicks stated as he looked around at the assembled group.
"Which means everyone chips in including you Burke" Ripley said with a twisted grin at the company exec as she remembered how he had done nothing to help prepare for the mission back on the ship and now she knew why.
He was too busy planning how to get a hold of an alien specimen, uncaring of the lives of the marines just as he had not cared for the lives of the colonists when he sent newts parents to the derelict. For now she would focus on helping secure the compound but then she would confront Burke, it was time he started to sweat knowing his ruse was up and she was onto him.
"Before we get to work I should also point out Bishop has found a new problem" Hicks said quickly regaining Ripley's attention thus missing the glare Burke sent her for her comment not that she would have cared had she seen it.
"What Problem?" Kara inquired leaning forward with interest.
"I have begun to note serious discharges from the AP station, it is possible it sustained damage from the dropship crash" Bishop reported. "But that is not a certainty at this point it time, it could be some other issue which we can manage" he added seriously. "I will keep an eye on it and inform you if it becomes dangerous" he told them.
"You do that, how is Gorman and Wierzbowski?" Ripley inquired as Bishop turned to leave.
"I believe Private Wierzbowski will live and regain consciousness in a few hours which is a much better than I anticipated given the nature of his injuries" Bishop answered. "However Lieutenant Gorman remains unconscious and probably will until I can isolate the paralytic the aliens use to sting their victims rendering them immobile" he reported.
"Wait, Gorman was stung when?" Hicks demanded to know as they had not noticed any marks on the man but then the escape from the hive had been chaotic in the extreme and the trek back to command was nerve racking been so exposed in the open.
"My guess would be just as the APC pulled out of the hive one of the aliens tail managed to penetrate the thin glass of the top screen and it was that attack that dislodged the ammo cases which rendered the Lieutenant unconscious" Bishop explained. "You focused your attention on the blow to his head when you first checked his vitals, thus you missed the stinger mark on his lower neck which was hidden by his shirt collar" he continued as they all listened. "I found the mark and after a blood test found alien cells in his blood indicating what had happened, I need to find an antidote to the toxin which they use to paralyse their victims" he finished.
"Is it possible the toxin will wear off in time?" Burke inquired inwardly cursing at this turn of events as it meant Hicks and Ripley would remain in charge for the foreseeable future.
"Unknown at this time" Bishop answered with a shake of his head. "The toxin is quite powerful and considering the time it would take them to take a paralysed victim from the colony to their hive at the beginning of the attack, I would speculate it could keep them paralysed for hours perhaps even a full day" he told them.
"Oh god" Tessa moaned as she imagined her friends stuck to walls in the aliens hive waiting for their chests to erupt unable to move or escape or even to try and kill themselves mercifully.
They would have felt every agonizing shift of the alien within them as it grew before it erupted out of their chests, ripping their ribcages open like the bones were made of plastic. She could not imagine a more painful and awful death, she closed her eyes and said a silent prayer for her lost friends even as Hudson who stood next to her unseen by the others reached down and gave her hand a comforting squeeze which she eagerly returned thankful to be reminded they were no longer alone in this hell.
"First we secure this place and then you get to work on finding that antidote as it may come in handy later" Ripley said to which Bishop nodded in agreement.
"Ok people, let's get to it" Hicks ordered as he led them out of command.
Burke wished he could break off and head somewhere else as he hated having to chip in and do any serious work, it was one of the reasons he had joined the company as it allowed him to spend most of his time behind a desk. But Ripley was keeping a close eye on him and thus he could go nowhere, the group split up into groups ensuring each had two welding torches each and set about securing the compound. Hicks and Alexander ensured to lock down the front entrance as Bishop had suggested, Hudson and Vasquez set about sealing of the intersections whilst the others began to seal up the vents and ducts as fast as they could. They all knew time was against them, the aliens knew they were here and it would not be long before they came for them.