Underground Facility

Ripley's eyes snapped open, and she sat straight up in her bunk. She had dreamed - the only way she could explain it - that she had seen through the eyes of a xenomorph. It was young, newborn. She felt it bursting through an unfortunate person's chest, ripping through bone and muscle and skin. She tasted the air, felt the rush of fresh life...and the drive to breed. In that moment, Ripley knew that a xenomorph queen had been born. Which meant their time was running out. She didn't try to sleep any more, instead reaching out with her senses. She figured this facility was manned by fifty, maybe sixty soldiers. That wasn't counting civilian contractors - a dozen or so janitorial and maintenance workers. So about seventy bodies. Seventy potential hosts. Ripley felt her gut churn, but it wasn't out of fear for herself. It would be a miracle if even a fraction of the population escaped the shitstorm that was ahead.

Ripley rose and dressed, choosing loose clothing to give her the most mobility. She knew it was not yet 0500, but there was no use hanging around. She slipped out of her bunk room without disturbing Call, who was in sleep mode. She cursed under her breath when she saw a guard posted in the corridor. Her mind raced, searching for a solution. For some reason she looked at her nails, and she got an idea. She had never tried climbing walls before, but if a xenomorph could do it, then couldn't she? She experimentally grasped the wall nearest to her, pleased to find that her nails punched into the rock enough to give her a firm handhold. She took off her boots and tied the laces together, slinging them around her neck so she could use her feet to climb as well. She felt a surge of satisfaction as she climbed up the wall with ease. Now for the real test - the ceiling. She kept to the corner, away from the lights. She was now about ten feet high, at least four feet over the head of the guard. She climbed as quickly and as silently as she could, hoping that she would not dislodge any rocks or dirt as she passed over the heads of the guards. A few minutes later, she arrived at the Weapons Depot undetected. She dropped down to the floor. She tried the door, unsurprised to find it locked. She examined the lock, taking a deep breath before punching through it with her fist. The door opened, and she went in. There were racks and racks of weapons and ammunition, and all kinds of explosive ordinance. Drawing from her past memories, she picked up a rifle and a flamethrower, and multiple rounds of ammunition for each. She also picked up two pistols, which she holstered on each hip, and a grenade belt. She was about to make her way out when Captain Slate came in, holding a mug of coffee. She seemed unsurprised to see Ripley already kitted up. And if she noticed the broken lock, she didn't show it

"I guess I'm not the only one who couldn't sleep," she said, sipping her coffee. "But I'm glad you're as eager to get going as I am. I've already sent for your friends, Call and Johner."

"What about Vriess?" Ripley asked.

"See for yourself," Slate said with a grin. "Come in, Vriess."

Ripley was honestly surprised to see Vriess walk in on his own. His paralyzed legs seemed to have been encased in mechanized armor, similar to those of the loaders that Ripley had run in her past life. The power legs responded to his brainwaves, allowing him to walk on his own once again.

"It's a miracle, baby!" Vriess crowed in delight. He started looking over the racks of weapons to choose his arsenal. "I'm ready to kick some alien butt!"

A few minutes later, they were joined by Call and Johner, who immediately brightened when they saw Vriess.

"You got new legs," Johner said, clapping him on the shoulder. "Now you can get back at me for all the crippled jokes."

"Don't sweat it," Vriess said, cheerfully giving him the finger.

Call gave him a little hug.

"How does it feel?" she asked, winking. "You're part android now."

Vriess laughed in agreement. They all gathered as much as they could carry, then headed to the motor pool. There, they were joined by four soldiers in full tactical gear. They were armed to the teelh, with everything from knives and pistols to sniper rifles and bazookas. Ripley felt a wave of deja vu, but she kept it to herself. She knew they would need all the firepower they could get. Slate introduced the soldiers as Thompson, Lee, Davies, and Smith. They all had the grizzled look of experienced fighters. Thompson was a huge bear of a man, every available space on his body covered with some kind of tattoo. Lee was a smaller man, but his eyes held a cunning fit for a strategist. He also carried a compliment of explosives, obviously a trained grenadier. Davies was stocky and built like a tank. He was carrying heavy weapons and ammo. He didn't say much, but he nodded at Ripley in respect. Smith was tall and lanky, and as handy with vehicles as he was with a sniper rifle. He shook Ripley's hand as they all boarded the transport. They were about to leave, when Dr. Dawson rushed in, climbing into the transport with surprising agility. She was carrying a large duffel, no doubt filled with medical supplies.

"Erin, what are you doing here?" The Captain said.

Dawson gave her a serious look. "I have a feeling you're going to need a medic around, for what you're going to do."

The Captain looked like she was about to argue, but she held her tongue. Dawson was right.

"Let's go," was all she said. Smith jumped into the driver's seat and drove them out of the motor pool and away. No one really spoke on the way. Cpt. Slate had briefed the soldiers on the nature of the mission. First priority was to find and rescue the lost patrol. The second priority was to destroy the alien nest...if there was one. The ride was about thirty minutes, but after twenty minutes the wreck of the Auriga came into view. In the light of the dawn it was dark and shadowy. Lee sighted the patrol's jeep, but no one near it.

"Maybe they're holed up inside," Thompson suggested.

"Then we'll have to go in," Slate said grimly.

Ripley frowned, but said nothing. It was about to begin.