Akkan was in a dark corridor, running, always running. He could see doorways leading away from the corridor, but only managed to get glimpses of what was inside, before he passed them.
Behind him was something else, something darker, something he tried to get away from. He couldn't smell it, but could feel its hot, rancid breath on his dorsal tubes.
He ran, ran, until his legs buckled beneath him. Akkan collapsed on the floor, he tried to scrabble on, but no avail.
Turning around, all his strength drained from him, as he saw what was chasing him.
It was a xenomorph, but unlike him. Its skin was hanging in shreds from the exoskeleton, part of its head had dissolved, leaving nothing but stinking, oozing green patches. The xeno prowled closer, leaving the darkness, a darkness even Akkan's gaze couldn't pierce, and, hissing threateningly, advanced on him, tail raised.
Akkan wanted to flee, but his legs would not obey him.
The xeno advanced, and before it could bring down its tail, Akkan heard one last time a scream. It was a scream so devastating and fearful, so filled with despair and longing, his heart broke.
"AKKAN!"
Weyland had come to visit them.
Paul was sitting at the table, but Akkan had hidden somewhere in the house, chewing on a big stripe of meat.
He didn't want to see Weyland right now.
His mind was still troubled. Schulz' bloated and aged face floated through his thoughts, blotting out anything nice.
He could hear the two of them talking, his ears were good enough for that.
"Paul, where's Akkan?"
"Somewhere in this house, I suppose."
"Can you summon him?"
"He's not my dog and he's certainly not yours. He will come if he's interested enough, but rest assured he will be hearing you.
"Very well them. We located Schulz."
"Where is he?"
"In a bunker which he developed into his own personal bio lab. It is in old Russia, deep underground, built to withstand a nuclear impact. He is hidden down there with his personal staff, and he won't leave it. He never will, not as long as I am in power."
"So what is your plan?"
"Basically it is the same thing we did in London. We will attack him in his stronghold. He won't expect us to do it."
"Don't underestimate Schulz, Fred. He is very smart."
"I will not. The three of us will enter the base by the means of the exhaust gas ventilation shaft."
"We won't be able to breathe there."
"Don't worry, I'll get some gas masks made up for you and Akkan."
"And then?"
"We find Schulz. We kill him. Basically we will kill anyone who gets in our way."
Paul shivered a bit. "I don't like to kill. I don't want to kill."
"Then just stay behind Akkan and me. After we killed Schulz, we will get out and detonate and explosive within the bunker. The shockwave from the blast will obliterate any evidence down there."
"And after that, you will bring us to the place you promised me?"
Weyland nodded. "Yes. I will show you the planet once Schulz is dead."
Both fell silent.
Paul, tell Weyland I want a gun. Akkan said to Paul.
"Akkan wants a gun."
"What?"
"He said so himself. He wants a gun."
"I can't give him one."
"He is insisting."
Akkan gobbled down the chunk of meat and vaulted over the balustrade, dropping down into the hallway with a loud thud. Weyland jumped slightly, and Akkan had noticed his left hand snaking into his jacket. He was no fool. Akkan hissed.
"He doesn't know how to use one."
"You just tell him."
Weyland fell silent for a second. "All right. We will meet tomorrow at the Weyland-Yutani Tower for preparation. It shouldn't take more than a day."
Both Akkan and Paul nodded, and Weyland got up again. "I will take my leave. Thank you for the... hospitality."
The xenomorph hissed in response, as the door fell shut.
He is an idiot! Akkan growled.
I know he is … debatable, but he is our only way out of here.
I hate him having so much power over us.
Akkan hugged Paul.
He could've done worse things to us. We might already be dead if he hadn't helped us.
That is true though...
Paul kissed Akkan. Are you sure you want me to come with you? Maybe it is a better idea if the two warriors did this on their own.
I won't let you out of my sight, certainly not going somewhere far away without you.
I could stay out of the Bunker.
No. I want you at my side. Besides, I can't talk to Weyland anyway.
Really? I though you just didn't want to.
No, I don't think I can.
But you can talk to me, why?
Because you have my blood as well as human blood.
Yeah, that might be a solution.
Akkan lifted Paul up, cradling him in his arms. No human could do that.
Paul smiled. Yeah, your strength is awesome. He stroked the ridges on the xeno's skull. My sweet warrior.
We will get Schulz. You'll see, it will be easy. Weyland is good with plans like that.
Last time it almost got you killed, Paul retorted.
It was a minor hiccup and you resolved the situation okay.
It was sheer luck we survived unscathed.
Akkan playfully nibbled Paul Oi, it was my superior abilities that saved us. You're just a defenceless human one has to take care of.
Paul boxed Akkan Watch your tongue, biggy.
Biggy?
You're big.
I am Proudly, Akkan raised himself to full height.
My sweet warrior.
My sweet… umm… Akkan suddenly knew he didn't know how to call Paul
A short silence enveloped them.
You fail at romantic things, Akkan.
I don't even know what you are. You're no warrior. You are no breeder, and no worker. So what are you?
Paul sighed. I'm a scientist. A researcher. I want to find out new things.
Oh, that sounds interesting. So what did you do before we met?
I helped Schulz kill others of your kind.
Akkan almost dropped Paul. You did what?
I didn't want him to kill your kind. But I did nothing to stop it. It is my fault.
This didn't make sense to him. What did you do?
I didn't do anything. I watched Schulz conduct painful tests. To try and tame them. I never did anything myself. I couldn't….
We must kill Schulz. Akkan growled.
Do you want to kill me now too?
This turned the Xenomorph quiet for a second.
No. You made a mistake. But you didn't know better. But you should now.
There was no love in the Xenomorphs voice left. It scared Paul. Akkan went on: You will help me get my claws on Schulz.
Paul nodded fearfully. He had just noticed how dangerous Akkan really was.
If they ever broke up, he doubted it would just end in tears.
It would end in Blood. Akkan would kill him. Because he wouldn't see him more than prey. He didn't want to die.
He was scared of Akkan right now. Not the blind rage of the Xenomorph scared him but the note of coldness creeping into his voice right now. It was the instinct of survival, something so overpowering that Paul would not stand a chance.
Paul? Why are you afraid?
He gulped. I'm afraid of you.
You shouldn't be. I'm the only one whom you shouldn't be afraid of.
You've just behaved really wrathful. It scares me.
Akkan fondled Paul's hair. Don't be. I love you, and once we bind ourselves together, nobody will cut that bond.
Nobody but death.
It was Akkan's turn to shiver now. I don't wanna die.
I don't either. Paul replied fervently.
You won't as long as I'm watching over you.
They kissed again.
Weyland was standing on top of the Weyland-Yutani tower, watching the Shipstern Bluff manoeuvre into place alongside the tower.
It tethered itself, and hung in mid-air, its large engines idling down, still radiating heat.
A hatch unsealed, and a small landing plank pushed its way out, hitting the roof of the terrace with a small thud.
Jeanne D'arc left her ship, and walked down to Weyland, hugging him for greeting.
"Fred! It's so nice of you to come and meet me! As I can see your plan worked fine, Mr. Executive!"
"Jeanne, thanks for answering my call."
"When you call, I will be the first to answer."
"More like when my money calls."
She giggled. "Exactly."
"Accompany me to my office, and we will get down to business."
"All right, Mr. Executive."
They descended into Weyland's office, and he sat down on his large chair.
"There we are then."
"What's the plan?"
"You need to fly me, a friend and a xenomorph below the radar of a Russian bunker to its exhaust pipe."
"A XENO?"
"A tame one."
"Okay, then you're going for the danger close bill."
"I certainly will. You will have to fly not even ten metres above the ground over the Russian tundra."
"All right! So now I get the ship-in-danger bonus as well! What do you want me to do else? Nuke a small village?"
"Yep."
"You're not serious, are you?"
Weyland grinned. "I am fully serious."
Jeanne gaped at him "What do you want me to nuke?"
"A Russian bunker."
Now she was grinning. "All right. I think I have what you need. It will cost extra though."
"I can bill it to the firm."
"All right then. When do we get started?"
Weyland grinned even wider now. "Tomorrow."
"Right. So you want the last-minute booking fee?"
"Exactly."
Jeanne grinned. "How about I send you the bill right now?"
"Just hand it in at the guys on the floor below me… and try to ignore their sour smiles."
Jeanne got up, stepped over to the door, and left the office. Weyland was left grinning, softly tapping on the wooden plate of the table.
He pulled out a file from the cabinet behind him, and deposited it on the now empty table. It was the file he was going to give Jeanne after she had returned. It contained everything he knew about the bunker, and she would prepare a flight route for tomorrow.
Whilst she was away getting her bill paid, an enormous bill, no doubt, he called down to the guard's armoury. "Hello, this is Mr. Weyland on the comm."
"Mr. Weyland! Nice of you to call! What help can I give to you?"
"I want a gun. A gun to be wielded by a hand about triple the size of a human one. You got anything for me?"
There was a short silence. "I'm sure I can cook something up till tonight."
"Good."
He closed the communicator again, as he heard steps outside the door. It swung open, and Jeanne entered again. "Your accountant is really a sour man."
"He does his accounts. I don't care how he looks."
"I don't either, but he did a fair fussing about."
"The money did get through, didn't it?"
"It did. I just checked. Not from your system, silly, I asked my ship's service android."
Weyland nodded. "Here is the file you will need, it has everything in it. You have my numbers if you have any questions. We will start our flight tomorrow at 0900 hrs sharp."
Jeanne smiled a bit, and put the file down again. "You want me gone that fast from your office? Mr. Executive has work to do, I gather?"
She leaned on the table, coming close, very close to Weyland. "Is the work really that important that you can't spare a few minutes for me?"
"Knowing you, I'll be hours till you are satisfied." He remote-locked the door, and pushed his chair backwards. "But yes, my work can wait."
"Oh, that is really nice of you." She advanced up to him, sitting down on his lap.
"Sure."