Weyland and Cromwell stood on the bridge, watching captain Ulridge open the earth defence grid. After he and Weyland had agreed on a deal, there was no need for Akkan to be on the bridge, but Weyland knew the xenomorph wasn't far away from Paul
He had asked Paul to come to the bridge. He wanted to know his whereabouts, in case something went wrong. There wasn't much. Ulridge had used old-fashioned Morse code to signal the failure of the communications system, and was now preparing to link the ship with the earth defences.
Weyland had given Paul a gun, and showed him how to use it, but they didn't have time to do target practise, besides it wasn't possible on this vessel.
It was a small gun, as Paul's wound wouldn't allow him to use larger calibres.
The scientist wasn't comfortable with it, far from it. He detested violence, and was a peaceful nature, and Weyland doubted that he would manage to pull the trigger anyway.
There was one thing though, that could turn the slightly passive scientist into a violent monster.
If Akkan was in danger, Weyland knew that Paul would do anything to protect him, as would Akkan.
He didn't know what the scientist saw in the xenomorph. To him, it was just another killing machine, a smart one, but still nothing more than a beast.
To tell the truth, it disgusted him. It was unnatural, and it was something that should never be. He wanted it to stop.
But that choice was not his to make. He had to re-take a company, not involve himself in the twisted emotional affair his two associates shared. They could do as much as they wanted, as long as they honoured the contract they had.
Once it all was over, he had to honour his side as well.
He brought his though back to the present day. Captain Ulridge had opened the grid, and was now commanding the ship to descend.
"Fred, where are we going to land?" Paul asked, and Weyland turned
"You'll see." he smiled. He couldn't tell Paul outright where they were going, as there were too many witnesses.
Paul was uneasy. He could see it by the way he kept fingering the handle of the pistol hidden under his jacket.
So was the xenomorph, he could feel it. They were wondering what would happen to them now.
Captain Ulridge started his descent on the dark side of the earth. The ship plunged through the atmosphere, the heat sink on the hull starting to glow red.
Ulridge was going down, and he was doing it fast. Weyland started to adjust his watch on local time.
2:48 A.M.
12 minutes till touchdown.
"Captain, how's our ETA on our destination coordinates?"
"Ten minutes, maybe eleven. Depending on whenever I can find your spot fast enough."
"You won't touch down. You'll let get down by means of a ladder."
Ulridge nodded. "Suit yourself."
He turned to Paul "Get down into the loading bay with the xenomorph. Prepare to get out of the ship. We're close to home now. I will stay on the bridge, and join you soon."
Paul nodded, and turned around.
Both of them stood in the loading bay. There was a small hatch on the side, which was being opened by two mechanics.
Akkan had done a bit of dangerous hissing, and Paul then put his good arm around the xenomorph's shoulder, calming him down.
What's going to happen now, Paul?
We're going to leave the ship.
We're going to jump?
No, I think they've got a ladder ready.
What's a ladder?
Oh, you'll see.
Weyland stepped through the huge double doors, and joined them.
The hatch was being heaved open, and a gust of ice-cold air entered the ship.
It was such a change from the almost antiseptic smell the life support system caused to the rich, full smell of a real planet's atmosphere. Paul had almost forgotten the old earth.
"Weyland!" The roar of the engines which was now very evident almost drowned out his words. "I can't climb the ladder! My shoulder..."
"Akkan can carry you, right?!"
"I suppose!"
I told you, I'm not a horse!
Yeaaah I know, but this time you can carry me downwards, can't you?
Of course I can, Paul!
The Alien scooped up his lover in his arms, and Paul felt the supple muscles moving under the smooth skin. Akkan's lovely smell penetrated his nostrils, and he wanted to kiss and hug his lover. Instead, he only clung on, as Akkan pushed his head through the hatch.
They were hovering maybe ten metres above the ground. The ship's engines were roaring deafeningly loud not twenty metres away, and they were pounding the ground, making the few trees and the grass ripple and bend.
They hovered over a small clump of trees, an even smaller clearing being right below them. A ladder was extending from the side of the ship and hanging down.
Hold on!
You're not going to jump, are you?!
No, you twat. Watch me.
And with these words, Akkan started to scramble down the ladder, head first, holding Paul with one arm, and almost falling down with the other three.
Paul's stomach made a full turn, and he closed his eyes, only opening them as he felt firm ground below him.
Akkan set him down. Can't you climb a ladder like everyone else?
No, I can't. I'm a xenomorph, not a human.
They looked up, and saw the extraction ship. It was like a sword in the skies, elongated and rather thin, with huge engines at the front and the back.
Another form, presumably Weyland, started to climb down the ladder. He was hurrying, and jumped down the last metre or so, hitting the soft earthen floor with a thud.
The Ladder disappeared, and the ship roared off into the sky, slowly growing smaller, until it was nothing more than another star in the distance.
Silence fell.
"Gentlemen, welcome to Planet Earth!" Weyland spun around, and laughed. "Especially you, Akkan, as you've never been here before."
How do you like it?
It's wonderful. So free and big. I could run for days without having to stop and turn!
Yeah, that's earth. I'm going to ask Weyland where we are.
"Weyland, were are we?"
"Dear Paul, we are on the Scottish highlands. And in a few seconds, a friend of mine will come and get us. And then we will have a good earthen meal, and a good night's sleep." Weyland laughed, and so did Paul
"It feels good being back, doesn't it, Paul?"
"Yes it does. Akkan's enjoying himself too."
The Xenomorph had started prancing around the two, running a bit and stretching his legs.
"Oh, and Paul?"
"Yes?"
"Tell him he has to stay with you and not hurt anything."
Yeah, I heard, Paul. I won't leave your side anyway. And I won't hurt anyone as long as they're not threatening you.
I know, Akkan.
The xenomorph hissed in approval, and then suddenly froze.
There's someone here. He's scared of me.
"Weyland? I think your friend is here. Akkan's smelling someone."
Weyland drew his gun, and scooted sideways, hiding behind a clump of brushes. Akkan crouched low, pulling Paul down with him.
Stay behind me.
"Hello? Who's there? Keith, is that you?"
"Weyland?" A voice went.
"Yes, it's me, Frederic Bishop Weyland. You can come out, I have the creature under control."
A spindly figure crept from behind a tree. It was holding an old-fashioned hunting rifle, and wore a big, white beard.
"What's that thing? I've never seen anything like it!?"
Both Weyland and Paul got up again. "It's a xenomorph. An alien. It's on our side. It can understand you, but can't speak."
I have a name, too, if you don't mind.
"It has a name. He's called Akkan." Paul shot out defensively, moving closer to the black hulking form of his lover.
"All right then. I'm Keith Harrington, a good friend of Fred Weyland here. Who are you?"
"I'm Dr. Paul Cromwell, and this is Akkan." He pointed at the xenomorph.
"And what are you three doing here, being dropped off by a Weyland-Yutani ship? What's happened, Fred?"
"We need to get in that truck of yours, and back to your house. Then I can tell you everything. Right now, we have to leave this place as fast as we can."
Harrington nodded. He had been an investigative journalist most of his life, and he knew what to do in situations like this.
"Follow me."
They passed into the dark shade of the trees, Harrington using a flashlight to guide them to his truck.
What do you think of that man? Paul asked
He smells honest.
And Weyland?
Weyland is still an enigma. He doesn't smell dishonest, it's not that. But there's something to him that seems out of place. He doesn't care. Not about you, not about me, not about anyone else. But I don't know.
They stopped in front of the truck that belonged to Harrington.
"We three we can get up front, and the creature can go in the back."
"No. Paul will go in the back with Akkan, and we will sit up front."
Harrington nodded, and opened the back door. It was a large metal cabinet, without windows, seating and anything.
Are we supposed to go in there?
Yeah…
I don't like it. I don't like sitting in there. I won't see, smell or hear anything.
"Mr. Harrington, can you unlock the door from the inside?"
"Sure, why?"
"Akkan isn't comfortable with being locked in there."
"Sure, I understand. I'll give you guys the flashlight."
He handed Paul the flashlight, and both of them got in the back of the truck, closing the door.
Weyland got in the cab with Harrington, and they started driving.
"So, what's exactly gone wrong? What are these two doing here?"
"My dad got killed."
"Oh my god. By whom?"
"I don't know. Whoever killed him is now in control of Weyland-Yutani."
"And you want to take back what is yours?"
"I do. And that is where these two come into play. Whoever is in charge now, wants both Dr. Cromwell and Akkan. As long as I have them, and he will know as much as soon as the ship makes its way back. As long as they are in my power, he will not kill me."
"So they are your prisoners?"
"No. They are my associates. We've made a contract, and they will aid me, and once I succeeded I will aid them in their affairs."
Harrington fell silent.
For some time they drove along, the bumpy road making the truck quiver and shake. "So what is your plan?"
"I have one, and that one involves me getting into the headquarters in London"
"How do you want to do that? They will kill you, probably."
"I will need your help. Our opponent knows me, I'm very sure of that, but they don't know Cromwell's face. And they certainly can't differ our xenomorph from another one."
"So what is your plan then?"
"Paul has to get Akkan inside. Both of them will manage to open a door for me. And then I will climb the tower, and find whoever is responsible."
"Sounds an easy enough plan then."
"I need your help for it. I need you to get Paul an identity at their xenobiological division. I need cover. Connections. I trust you know what I mean."
Harrington smiled. "Oh yes. But I won't do it for free. I can't do it for free. This will cost money."
"I do not care about money. I am a millionaire, you do know that."
"I know. Can you get at your money? Or has Weyland-Yutani frozen your accounts?"
"They can't. I've hidden my money. And only one other person knows where it is. And with that person you will make contact."
"Who's that?"
"A friend of mine. She calls herself Jeanne D'arc."