They had spent a few days at Harrington's home, relaxing in the peace only a remote earthen village could offer.
Yet Paul knew that both Weyland and Harrington were working hard to set their plan in motion. Weyland barely slept, and Harrington kept leaving his home and returning a few hours' later, bringing strange parcels with him.
Akkan had conquered the sofa, and was now viciously defending it as his possession. He and Paul did a little play-fight, where they both ended up in a tight embrace on the sofa.
Get off my sofa! Akkan screeched softly and kissed Paul, whilst trying to shove him off. Paul clung to the alien's exoskeleton, not letting go.
His shoulder was improving, but it still didn't allow him to put much strain on his arm. Akkan had taken great care of him in the last few days, and he was developing a deeper attachment to the alien than he thought possible. The xenomorph was everything he dreamt of, a loving and caring partner, who was there for him. He hoped to be the same for Akkan, he was certainly doing his best...
Don't ever leave me, Akkan… He hugged the xenomorph tightly again
I won't, came the reply. Akkan hugged back.
They kissed again. Akkan's lips felt smooth, and a slight bit slimy, but Paul didn't mind. They kissed longer, and then Paul felt his lover's inner maw, pushing inside his mouth, and he stretched his tongue out to meet it.
I love you, Paul.
I love you too, Akkan.
And in that moment, Weyland walked in on them
Akkan flinched, withdrawing quickly, and so did Paul.
Weyland stared slightly embarrassed. "Sorry guys. I didn't want to-"
"No, It's okay. What is it?"
"We have to talk. All four of us. The plan is laid out."
"All right."
They had moved into the impromptu war room both he and Harrington had prepared.
It was filled with documents, even a computer screen.
Paul stepped in, followed by the Xenomorph. It was a huge, majestic creature, and Weyland just had to admire its grace and elegance. Deadly elegance.
It was truly the perfect weapon.
Paul stepped up to the table, and Weyland commenced talking. "All right, now that we have finished preparing our plan, I can tell you. We have to get into Weyland-Yutani central operations in London. That's the place where our opponent is based. We have to get inside, and I need access to the mainframe from the CEO's office. Between us and that room is a one hundred metres high tower, heavily guarded, even the perimeter is locked down. It is guarded by a Security A.I., and that is its weak spot. The A.I. has a different power supply than the rest of the building, and there are emergency power generators hidden somewhere in that building too. But the whole power feed is coupled to the A.I. by one large wire. And that is where we strike. That is what I need you two guys for. The A.I.'s feed is routed through the ceiling of the Weyland-Yutani xenobiological division. If it were, say cut or damaged enough, the A.I would shut down, leaving the building unprotected, and the guards in disorder."
"And how are you supposed to cut the cable?" Paul asked.
"I won't do it. You will."
"What? I won't make near that tower unscathed!"
Harrington had produced blueprints of the tower on the screen.
"Oh yes you will. Because we are going to launch a large deception. Paul, you're a scientist. Akkan is a xenomorph. You will get him inside the Xenobiological division, as your charge. Your pet, say. You're a scientist and you made a breakthrough and you want it transferred to Weyland-Yutani HQ. We've gotten you a false ID, and even prepared a transport for you and Akkan. Once you're inside, you can release Akkan, and sabotage the A.I.s power feed. And then literally, all the doors will be open to us."
"I can't do that! I've never done something like that in my life!"
"You just have to act like you did on Sigma-44. Just be a scientist."
"Akkan doesn't like it either. He disapproves of being caged. What happens if we get separated?"
"I understand yours and his concern."
"Can't you give Akkan the keys to his cage?"
Weyland laughed. "Not like he has anywhere to hide it anyway."
"He has. He's just telling me. He can hide the key in his mouth."
Weyland thought for a second. "That could work. How far does your mental communication work?"
"We haven't tried it very far away yet. Probably ten to twenty metres?"
"If the Xeno-"
"His name is Akkan!"
"All right, Paul. If Akkan could release himself, this would make the whole thing easier." He put his hand on the blueprint of the Weyland-Yutani HQ. "The ventilation shafts leading away from the Xenomorph holding pens are closed with a laser barrier. But the ones leading away from the actual laboratory aren't. If you can get Akkan free within the laboratory, you two could get into the ventilation system. From that point on, it's just a short crawl to the AI's power cable, and you can cut off the power."
"And then? We're locked in ventilation shafts, every guard in that building is armed, and they will be looking for us. What do we do then? How do we escape?"
"You don't. You just make your way upwards, whilst I enter the building from the cellar, sabotaging the main power supply. The emergency power will come on, and they will try and get it re-routed to the AI. Whilst the AI is offline, all motion detectors, automated machine guns and automated doors will go offline, and the big blast doors will open. I will short-circuit the maintenance elevator, and get to the level below the office. You will meet me there, and we will, all three of us, make our way into the office, and kill whoever killed my father."
"Do you think this is going to work, Fred? Do you think I am up to the task?"
"This plan might sound like a fool's errand, but as soon as the AI dies, the whole defences die with it. You just have to get that far. What does Akkan say?"
Short silence, as Paul conversed with the xenomorph mentally.
"Akkan says this is insanity."
"Oh."
"But he also says you are a warrior, and he is a warrior, and this is a good plan."
"It's not any good. It's the only one we have."
Paul nodded, and so did Akkan. "We promised to help you. But you have to honour your promise as well."
Weyland bowed his head. "I will."
Paul, dressed in a smart suit, and equipped with sunglasses sat beside Akkan. A cage separated them, with bars just wide enough to allow Akkan to open the lock with his talons.
Weyland is insane. Completely mad. But that's why this might work.
Paul put his head in his hands. I'm completely sweaty and scared of this, Akkan. I'm not a warrior like you guys.
Yet you will manage.
What makes you so sure of that?
You are a good man, and you're smart. You will manage.
Akkan fell silent, and made a very good angry xeno impression. For a first timer, you're good at this.
I hate being caged, even if I'm not really caged and it's for the greater good. But I suppose there's no other way.
Yep. Paul sighed.
Two security guards came up to them. Akkan's cage was on a small trolley, and they were standing in front of the secure entrance to the Weyland-Yutani tower. The ride from Edinburgh to London had been uneventful, he hadn't even been asked to ID himself.
Harrington had done a great job, spreading a small myth that he was able to control the xenomorph.
But these guards looked sinister.
"Are you Dr. Fairbourne? James Fairbourne?"
Paul nodded. That was his ID. Dr. James Fairbourne. "Yes, I am."
"I'd like to see your id card." Paul produced it and the guard scanned it. "You're cleared. The creature has to go in another way though. It has to be guarded and restrained."
"You won't touch it. Nobody touches it. It's been a considerable scientific effort. It listens to each and every command."
The guard snickered. "Yeah. No-One ever managed that."
Paul grinned. "Right, I'll show you." Sorry Akkan…
Never mind.
"Sit!"
Akkan obediently sat on his haunches.
"Lie down!"
Akkan flopped down on his belly.
The guards stared, open mouthed.
"I have an appointment with a Dr. Tabe, in twelve minutes time, and I don't want to be late."
The guards nodded, and helped Paul push the trolley into the elevator.
"You will head up to the xenobiological division, and meet up with Dr. Tabe."
The doors closed on them.
Paul, for some reason I kinda like you ordering me around.
You're a weird xeno, Akkan.
No, I'm not. I love you.
I love you too, Akkan. I have to concentrate now. I have to be a whole new person!
I know you do. I think you're doing well.
Thank you, my love.
The Xenomorph started purring at these words. Is the key still where it is supposed to be?
Yep.
And then the opening door broke their conversation, and Paul stared into the Xenobiological Division of Weyland-Yutani.
And into the face of a woman.
"Welcome, to the Xenobiological Division of Weyland-Yutani. I'm Dr. Tabe, the head scientist."
"Good day, Dr. Tate. I'm Dr Fairbourne, and this is Species 13." Paul pointed at Akkan.
Tate smiled, and helped him pull the trolley out of the elevator. "I've heard it listens to orders. Like a tame dog."
They pulled Akkan into a lab, and Tabe turned over to Paul.
"I'm Naomi."
"James." Paul replied, tight-lipped.
"Well, James, Tell me how you succeeded in turning it tame. Because we've tried everything. After Dr. Schulz returned from Sigma-44 without any results, we almost gave up hope. But now you, an almost unknown scientist, managed to do it. How?"
"By imprinting it. A Xenomorph listens to its queen, and only to its queen. I managed to imprint this one on me."
"So you are its queen?" Dr. Tate's eyes opened wide. "How did you do that?"
Paul took a quick glance at his watch. As soon as he'd free Akkan, the alarm would be raised. It was 11:55 now, and at 12, the guards in the cellar would change their shift. He had to wait till 12 without being noticed or Akkan being freed.
"It was relatively easy. I took the Xenomorph larvae, and kept it apart from its brethren, only showing myself to it as it was being fed. Like with ducks, it worked quite well."
Tabe wasn't convinced. "Really? We tried it, and it didn't work before. The creature got hostile, and attempted to kill the one who tried to imprint it. Why did you manage it?"
"I'm unsure. Maybe it was due to different humans having different attitudes?"
Tabe was smart.
"I want you to prove it to me."
"That's easy."
She stepped back. "Go."
"Sit!" God I'm so sorry!
Akkan sat Hey stop it. You're making me feel guilty.
"Lie down!"
Akkan lay down.
Tabe smiled. "However you did it, it is amazing! I have to go and get Dr. Schulz."
"Who's Dr. Schulz?" Paul asked innocently enough, yet dread filled him. If Schulz was here, he would be in trouble.
"Dr. Schulz used to lead the Xenobiological Unit. He's the appointed successor of David Weyland as the CEO of Weyland-Yutani now. If he likes this, you will get infinite funding!"
Dr. Tabe turned around.
Akkan, now!
He didn't care what time it was. Dr. Schulz as the CEO of Weyland-Yutani? How could this be? He had to tell Weyland.
A clink made Tabe spin around, and she watched in amazement as Akkan fumbled with the lock.
"HEY! IT'S GETTING OUT! IT HAS A KEY" She wanted to flee, but Akkan was faster, jumping out of his cage, and slamming her into the wall. She continued screaming and shouting.
Should I kill her?
Do whatever you like.
Paul turned around, as Akkan crushed her head.