. Lorna watched Shadow leave. He moved out the door, her eyes watching the tip of his tail disappear. She sighed and looked at her feet. As different as they were, she did enjoy his company. It gave her a warm feeling. But she didn't know why she felt this way. He's an Alien for Christ's sake! A natural born killer. There is no way I could feel that for him. She curled up into a ball, holding her bent legs tight. She looked around and remembered what had happened. The xenos attacked, killing and cocooning all humans they found. They were quick to work. She had to give them that. Making this place she barely knew into an unrecognizable hive. Shaking her head, she tried to digress into another subject. The calm routine of her life slowly edged in. Before the incident, life was simple and good. She didn't have many friends but the pay was good. Telling her father that she wanted to go into teraforming got only a chuckle from him. He said that all it ever resulted in was a lot of death and loss of money. If only she had heeded his warning, maybe she wouldn't be in this mess.
Her schedule was easy: Help build the structure of the Atmospheric processor, and fix any kinks and dents as it was furnished. It had taken several years but she felt it put her talents to good use. Unknown to most, Lorna was a brilliant Structural Engineer. Her input was invaluable in the early stages of its construction. Once the basis was build, she was offered th chance to leave and take her money. She refused however. Claiming that she wanted to "See it through to the end" She had been around ever since.
So tell me, human. Why can you understand us so easy? Lorna almost jumped out of her skin. Blinking she tried to answer.
Uh...I don't know. She herself didn't know, nor how she could answer. It just sorta seems easy for me.
Humans weren't made for our form of telepathy. I've tried to communicate with your kind before. Every attempt I have made has failed.
Lorna's eyes bulged. You mean you've tried before?
Yes. I might need your species for food and reproduction, but that doesn't rule out curiosity for your behavior. Lorna couldn't believe her head. A killer, being somewhat sentient enough to think about other forms of life. Now that she thinks about it, it never occurred to her that a Xenomorph could even think.
Shadow really kicked the shit outta that theory huh? He had throughly proved that theory wrong. She felt something out of place once again enter her mind. Undoubtedly the Queen. She didn't like this invasion, and closed up her mind as much as she could. Only thinking of darkness seemed to help. She splayed on the bed, and let sleep consume her.
PVS
Shadow crawled his way down the long steel corridor. Now that most of the colonists were either dead or cocooned, things were almost dead quiet. Except for the occasional scream let off by a dying or frightened human. He moved into a place where the humans seemed to rest and eat. It was a long and wide corridor, full of doors and exits. Humans would dwell in one of these small exits. A scent crossed his path. It was human. It had a large tang of fear. Yes... just ripe. Shadow, like other Xenomorphs, liked the taste of humans full of fear. It always made the meal all the more satisfying. Following the somewhat stale scent, he stumbled into another of the small exits. It was pretty dark, but Shadow could see nonetheless. The Queen had ordered the lights to be disposed of. This had meant that any xeno able to break a light or disable some power would do so, leaving most of the complex dark. He made his way to what seemed like a closed wall. Putting his head closer he could hear whimpering. The sound came from the other side.
Shadow toke another whiff, this time dissecting it more. It was a male. Just barely old enough to count as an adult. Shadow didn't care. The human had trapped himself. And Shadow was hungry. He lifted his four fingered claws, and thrust them through a crack in the wall. Inside it he heard a quick yelp. Grasping the sides with his hands, he began to pull the wall apart. It was easy enough. Xenomorphs are very strong anyways. The walls two sides slid into the others surrounding it. He walked in. Th room was much smaller than the other he was just in, and was slightly brighter. He heard a terrified voice speak up.
"NO, no no no! PLEASE god no! Not like this!" the man was shrunk into a ball shrieking like a child. "Please don't. NO!" The human put his hands up, as if to protect himself. Shadow crouched down. He was so tall he had to almost get on all fours. He leveled his head with the humans. The human stared at him all the while, crying but now frozen in fear.
He hissed: "Hello my delicious little meat-snack. You've just earned the honor of sating my hunger." The human began to bawl after his hiss. The human couldn't understand him, but Shadow did. Thats all that counted. Shadow grinned and opened his mouth. The human now glared at the silvery teeth inside. Suddenly the inner mouth was thrust through his skull, into his brain. The human died immediately, going limp. Shadow held his head up with one of his huge hands. He took bite after delicious bite as he feasted on this humans brain material. Soooo gooood... he thought to himself.
The brain was by far the tastiest part of a human. And it always felt to restore him somehow. Not just hunger wise, but mentally as well. Once finishing his sweet treat, he looked towards the humans body. He tore into the rest of his meal, riping flesh and organs alike. Blood was spraying everywhere, Shadow almost completely covered himself with it.
Minutes later he finished, leaving only bones and scraps of clothing. He was unbelievably content. With a full enough stomach to last him for the next few days, he got up and left the dwelling. Now he must return to Lorna, and attempt more to find out what made her so unique, and beautiful. Shadow couldn't help himself. Even though they were different species, he still saw beauty in her. The Queen regarded humans as inferior and ugly, teaching this to all her children. But this Lorna Reeds was different. She stood out from the others, and deserved to be more closely watched and cared for. Thinking of her face gave him a slight sense of arousal. He felt something between his legs rise and show itself. He looked down at his length. Then he looked up and gave a chuckle like hiss. Thats crazy. Her and I could never do that. But deep down he wished they could.
Within a few minutes of crawling around, his shaft had re-entered his body, returning his physical form back to normal. He shook his head and took a sniff of the air. It was heavy with blood. Then he remembered what he had done minutes ago. I don't think Lorna would like to see me like this. Better find a way to clean up. He looked around for some way to accomplish this. He searched the exits for water. Lucky enough, one of the smaller rooms in the exits had a tank full. He wondered a little on how it got there, but let it go. He was just happy he had found it.
Shadow slithered in and spun himself slowly around. This cleaned off the blood and most of the smell. Leaving the tank he looked himself over, seeing the glossy but black muscular form again. There. More presentable. He left the apartment and looked for a way back to his female.
PVS
Lorna awoke to the uneasy feeling of being watched. Opening her eyes slowly, she saw a pus-like yellow creature. It looked like a worm. And it had teeth!
"AH!" Lorna yelled as she jumped up and off the bed. She then felt really dizzy and dropped onto the floor, everything in a blur. Her vision cleared as she slowly got up, holding her head. She looked around the dull room. It was all the same. She them directed her attention to the bed. The thing wasn't there anymore. Movement flashed in the corner of her eye. She looked towards it. It was the same worm like creature, but it was in the corner of the room. It was scrunched up and making a low hiss.
What the hell is that? She pondered. The thing then stopped hissing, and tilted its head at her. She felt an all to familiar buzzing noise in her head. It cleared and then she could understand.
What do you mean "what am I?"?
Lorna's jaw dropped and hers eyes almost fell out of her head. What. The. Fuck?
Y...you heard me? She thought, trying to direct it towards the strange creature.
Of course I did! But how can you hear me? The thing asked.
I don't know. And what the hell are you anyways?
I'm a chestburster. But mom says I'm going to grow into a drone soon, like my sisters. The creature gave a little jump in excitement. Then I'll be able to help mom out.
Lorna was so confused. Why could she understand this thing? And who is mom? She was about to ask it that before she heard the distinctive sound of chittering metal. She looked towards the door, and saw Shadow enter.
"Shadow! Thank god your back." She ran over to the xeno and wrapped her arms around him. Shadow seemed surprised by this but welcomed it. He hugged her back and let Lorna go.
Shadow. Do you mind explaining what's going on? Lorna's tone seemed pleading, as did her eyes. Shadow turned towards the worm thing and grinned. Looking back at Lorna he answered.
I see you've met one of my sisters? Lorna only returned a poker face. I'm sorry. I forget your not one of us. She is a chestburster, how all of us start out after we leave our host. We are small and weak, but after time and food we grow into what you know us to be.
Lorna's processed this and spoke. So after the facehugger lays the egg in a human...she gulped, remembering the cycle from her high school class. That is what comes out? And it grows into a xeno?
Shadow seemed to shrug. In a matter of a few hours, yes. Shadow turned towards the chestburster, and put open hand to the floor. It wormed it's way over and into his hands. He brought it up to his chest and held it there, again turning to Lorna. This one, my sister, will soon become a drone. A hive worker. The chestburster looked up at him and gave a happy hiss. Lorna was still so confused.
Ok. So the Queen's the mom, right? Shadow nodded. Then all the eggs she lays are her children, making you and her sisters. Lorna put two-and-two together, and finally understood the procedure.
The chestburster looked to her. Shadow says your different from the other humans Lorna. That you could understand us. I like you! It jumped from Shadow's hand onto Lorna's shoulder. She flinched but didn't freak out, unlike last time. Lorna looked to it and saw it stand much like a snake on her shoulder. It looked at her and tilted its head. Lorna heard her name in surprise, but guessed Shadow had told her.
I guess she really does like you, Lorna. Shadow gave three quick hisses, which sounded like a laugh. Lorna put her hands up to the creature and it crawled into them. She cast Shadow a quick glance of awe and walked to the bed. She sat down on the dull teal covers and stared into her hands. Shadow sat down beside her, basically towering over her. He as well stared into her hands.
Lorna sighed and gave up. I can figure this all out later. For now we need to give you a name, don't we?