Cromwell awoke, to the sound of a door hissing open.
He raised himself in his bed, trying to pierce the darkness with his eyes.
It was never this dark in the colony. And the door was open.
A flashlight clicked on, blasting his eyes, and making him wince "Oi! What's that?"
"Cromwell! It's me, Fred Weyland."
"What are you doing here? It's …" turning over to the clock on his bedside table, he noticed even the light of the clock had failed. "What's going on?"
"There's been a development, one you won't like at all."
"What do you mean? What's wrong?"
"It doesn't matter. What matters now, is that I know what happened between you and that creature.
"Akkan."
"Sorry?"
"He has a name. It's Akkan."
"Well. No matter. What's important now, is that someone at HQ has gotten wind of the development here. They want Number 13.-"
"Akkan! His name is Akkan!"
"-They want Akkan. And they want you. Because you're able to communicate with it."
"Fred? Why are you here then? You're from Weyland-Yutani as well. Why are you warning me?"
"Whoever gave these orders killed my father."
Cromwell was silent for a second.
"You get my point? We can be of help to each other. I can get you safely off this planet and-"
"I won't be leaving Akkan to them."
"Cromwell, there's no time. This Xenomorph is replaceable. You aren't. I won't be leaving you to them."
Carefully, the scientist chose his words for the reply. "No. Akkan is as irreplaceable as me. You don't get it, do you? He's a sentient creature like you and me. I'm not leaving him behind. Either we go together or we stay."
For a moment, Weyland stayed silent.
"Can you get him to cooperate?"
"I hope I can." Cromwell replied.
"Well then get dressed and get going. I'm not sure how fast they can fix up the generator. The dark will cover our flight."
Cromwell slunk down the dark corridor, only visible in the muffled light of Weyland's torch.
They passed rows and rows of doors, until they found the one leading to the lab.
"Help me with the door. It should be un-sealed, but I need help heaving it open." Weyland set down the torch, its ghostly glare illuminating his face and the door. Both men prised at the handle of the metal gateway, slowly, steadily pushing it backwards. It slid into the frame, but all of a sudden, it lodged itself at an awkward angle, and stuck.
"Shit!" Weyland cursed under his breath.
Paul? Is that you? Who's with you? What's going on?
Akkan! Stay where you are, we're coming for you.
Not like I have anywhere to go anyway. The sarcasm of the Xeno stung him, but he also felt happiness. At getting out probably.
Akkan stared through the glass, and watched the two humans heave open the door to the room.
Paul, who's that?
Paul looked through the glass. That's Frederic Bishop Weyland. He's our way out.
Weyland? The name rung a bell in his head. Nothing definite, nothing he could put his finger on, but it was there. Why is he getting me out? Isn't he scared? Strangely, the Xeno could not smell fear from the other man.
We've got to get away. There isn't really time to explain! You have to promise me one thing though.
Like what?
Don't kill anyone.
Akkan wasn't sure that this was a good idea. Paul wasn't very strong, and he couldn't pinpoint Weyland's scent.
Okay. Only if they leave you alone.
That made Paul go red in the face. Oi. I'm not your kiddo or something. I can take care about that.
Akkan snorted. We will see about that.
Paul and Weyland started to get to work on the door of his cell, and when it finally slid open, he was greeted by a smiling Paul.
Come on.
Akkan ducked low, through the frame of the door, and he was out. Out in freedom.
He smiled the toothed xeno smile, and poked Paul's back.
Oi you bighead. Stop shoving me!
Weyland measured the Xenomorph from head to toe. Standing higher than him and Paul, the creature flexed its arms and legs, and whipped his tail around the room.
Paul had a smile on his face, and so had the Xeno, as far as he could see.
Maybe the creature would provide a considerable asset to his plan. A xenomorph on his side was not without its advantages.
There was something going on between both Paul and apparently Akkan, which puzzled him. The Xenomorph had put its talon on Paul's shoulder and was looking at him
I don't like him. I want to kill him.
Akkan, I said he was our ticket out of here!
Okay, but afterwards I'll kill him.
Why?
Because he's no good. His scent is muddled. I'm not sure about him.
Paul tilted his head as he watched Akkan look at Weyland.
Paul?
Yes, Akkan?
Why didn't you leave me here?
Paul thought of an answer, but no matter how he racked his brains, he didn't arrive at one. I suppose we're friends.
The xeno smiled Yeah. Friends. Like friends go and hug. You k-
That's quite enough, Akkan!
"Are you two done there? I'm not sure how long we have till someone comes and takes a look at the generator"
"You sabotaged it?"
Weyland nodded "Who else?"
All three left the laboratory, walking down the hallway.
"So, Weyland, what's your plan?"
"I've arranged for a friend of my father to pick us up from these coordinates. At 11 a.m." He handed Paul a scrap of paper. "If we get separated, which might always happen, press on to those coordinates."
"Why do you say that? I mean no-one knows we're leaving… do they?"
Weyland's voice turned grave. "I'm afraid they can figure out something like that. Our enemy is cunning, and will not rest till it gets what it wants."
For some time, they walked along the dark corridors, presumably towards a way out, until Akkan stopped dead in his tracks.
We're not alone.
Paul stopped.
"What is it, Paul?"
"We're not alone" he whispered.
Paul saw Weyland reach into his pocked, and Akkan hissed warningly it's got a weapon!
He felt the Xeno tense up in his mind, as Weyland drew a pistol from his overcoat.
"Fred? What on earth?!" he exclaimed.
Oh my, you really are prey, Paul. Your shouting just alarmed them.
Them?
Did I mention the two soldier guys just two corners away?Idiot!
Weyland had switched off the torch, and Paul could hear a soft clink.
"If they see your friend, they're going to shoot him." Both humans now picked up the voices, two voices, deep and manly, coming from the darkness.
"Sure as hell is dark when the generator fails." The first voice went.
"Yeah. So what did the Colonel say? Go to room 12-4/4 and escort the scientist there to base?
Suddenly, Paul felt Weyland's hand on his arm, roughly shoving him to the side.
"Get into the maintenance shaft. Both of you."
"Fred, you-"
"Don't worry about me" The maintenance hatch opened with a clunk, and Weyland roughly shoved Paul inside.
"Akkan, get in as well."
Paul could feel the alien jump in behind him, and the hatch close tightly.
Oi, Akkan. That's my backside you're pushing against!
Not like I can go anywhere else. This tunnel is small, and your… backside is enormous!
That's not polite! Not at all!
I'm not polite.
Not at all, Paul grumbled mentally, as he started to crawl forwards. He couldn't see, so he had to feel with his hands. The shaft was almost too small for him to get through, pressing down on him. It was so dark...
He heard the voices of the soldiers behind him, and also Weyland's voice.
"Where are you heading, private?"
"Who are you? Put down the gun!"
"I'm Frederic Bishop Weyland. I'm your boss! And as long as the Xenomorph is at large, I'm not putting away my gun."
"Xenomorph?" The voice of the man quavered.
"Colonel Marker is our boss! Not some nitwit from Weyland-Yutan-"
"Listen closely, private." The click of Weyland's gun ruptured the silence of the base. "I told you, there's a xenomorph at large. If you'd kindly keep your voice down."
"Yes, Sir" he heard the soldier hiss.
Then Weyland's baritone broke the silence again. "I trust you two have better things to do than wander around in a given situation. The three of us will now return to your barracks, so I can talk to Colonel Marker."
One soldier protested "We are under orders to-"
"That was also an order." Weyland hissed.
"Yes sir!"
And with those words, the soldiers marched off with Weyland.
Paul waited till he couldn't hear their footsteps anymore. Get back out, Akkan.
I can't, came the reply
Why?
Weyland shut the door on us, literally.
Why would he do that?
I don't know. You brought him, not me.
Paul pondered. He wants us to go ahead.
Right. These shafts are probably enormous. I don't even know where we have to go. Do you?
Yeah I do. I have to coordinates on this scrap of paper.
Oh, you mean the scrap of paper you can't get at because it's in your trouser pocket, and you can't get at the trousers? Because the tunnel is just too small?
Exactly the one...
Come on Paul. Head onwards.
Slowly, the scientist pulled himself forwards.
Inch by inch, he headed forwards, always feeling the xenomorph's head touching his legs
They worked their way onwards through the cramped shaft. The air got hotter, and hotter, and even hotter. Rivulets of sweat were running down Paul's forehead.
This sure is the fast route…
Quit your remarks. I'm trying to think!
That shut Akkan up, at least for some time.
Akkan crawled behind Paul through the tunnel. The Human was slow, only able to use his upper arms to make progress, whilst he just propelled himself forward by using his hind legs, and their claws.
The tunnel was cramped, even for him. Due to the length of his head, he couldn't move it around properly. His arms were up front, but he was lying flat on his belly, unlike Paul, who was sliding on his back.
His dorsal tubes were starting to get in the way. They were sensitive, being loaded with an enormous amount of nerve endings to sense things like vibrations and changes in temperature.
And ever so often, one would hit the roof of the tunnel, causing him to jolt softly. Not that it hurt, but the cold of the tunnel walls just wasn't comfortable.
Akkan looked at Paul in front of him. The Darkness didn't bother him too much, but he could see that Paul was completely disorientated.
The man couldn't see, and his skin had started to become wet.
He inhaled the air, smelling the scent of Paul.
It was nice. Manly….
Lost in thought, he hadn't noticed that the Human had stopped crawling until he was almost lying on top of him.
Obviously he wasn't really on top of him, more his head was lying on Paul's knee, but it was close enough for him.
Akkan, what are you doing
What are you doing? Why'd you stop?
I need a breath. Why did you run into me?
I crawled into you.
Whatever. You're supposed to be the perfect predator so take a bit of care!
Yeah maybe I wanted to.
Right. Like you do. I'm stinkin of sweat right now, it's hot and there's no room.
You don't stink. You're right on all terms but you don't stink.
Right. He could sense Paul's confusion.
Well. I think you smell rather nice. Right. Now he, Akkan, was making Paul compliments on his scent.
Where was this going to lead?
Uh... thanks…how far did we get?
There's a junction up ahead. I think it's around 5 steps.
Xeno or human steps?
Xeno steps. Big xeno steps.
He heard Paul sigh. At least we're making progress.
The Human crawled on, and Akkan followed.