The truck-ride to the Weyland-Yutani tower was awful. It was early, Paul was still half-asleep, unlike Akkan, who was wide awake and hugging Paul in the back of the truck.
I'm scared, Akkan. I'm scared of not coming out alive. He pressed against the xeno, feeling the hard exoskeleton beneath his fingers.
Akkan cuddled him, holding him in his big, strong talons. You won't, just stay close to me and everything will be all right.
I just hope you're right…
Hey, do you doubt me? Even in the darkness of the truck, Paul could see Akkan's white teeth bared to a xeno grin.
I don't doubt you. But even you won't be able to stop bullets…
I'll just catch them in my fingers. Akkan went and made a very good impression of laughing, which in turn made Paul laugh.
I love you, Akkan.
I love you too, Paul.
The xenomorph lifted his lover up and slowly, carefully, kissed him. Paul caressed the creature's ridged head as he slowly pushed his tongue between Akkan's fangs, meeting his inner maw, and playing with it. It was a tongue-kiss, an alien tongue-kiss, but they both enjoyed it, and remained in their embrace for a long, long time.
Both of them knew that this day might be their last.
I will not lose you, Paul. Not if I can do anything about it. I will hold onto you, till I am dead or you are with me forever.
I will stay with you forever, if that is your wish…
The xenomorph nodded. Forever…
Weyland stood on the roof of the Weyland-Yutani tower, watching Akkan and Paul make their way towards him. The Shipstern Bluff was hanging limply in the air, the engines already fired up and running.
"Hey, you two! This is our ship, the Shipstern Bluff, piloted by an old friend of mine. Jeanne D'arc is her name."
"Good morning." Paul yawned, and Akkan hissed.
"Slept well?"
"Yeah, kind of."
"Well then let us board and I will explain the rest."
Akkan had some trouble squeezing himself into the ship, but he did manage, the Airlock was sealed, and the boarding plank retracted. Jeanne herself greeted the three.
"Hello, you must be Paul Cromwell! And that's Akkan, the Xenomorph! Welcome to the Shipstern Bluff!"
The inside of the ship smelled slightly musty. It wasn't very large, there was a bridge, a small loading area complete with seating and two double beds, a sanitation area, and a sick bay.
All three crowded into the bridge, where both Weyland and Jeanne were sitting in the pilot chairs. The ship un-tethered, and then, with a soft rumble from the engines, blasted off, upwards into the sky.
Weyland turned over. "I've put a gift for you guys in the hold."
"How long will the flight take?"
"Oh, a few hours till we reach the outer range of the bunker's radar equipment. Then we will dive under the radar surveillance, and make our way to the bunker's exhaust pipe. That will take maybe an hour or two. We will start breaching the bunker at nightfall, under the cover of darkness. I'd say you two go and prepare yourself whilst the two of us fly this ship."
Paul nodded. "Yeah, we will."
Akkan had plonked himself down on the bed. This place smells weird.
Weird in what way? Paul was looking around for the "present" Weyland had promised.
Just weird.
I think this is a smugglers ship.
What's a smuggler?
Someone who ships things from one place to another, things that he isn't allowed to sell there. He does it illegally.
Weyland has weird friends.
That's true. But there is so much about Weyland we don't know, and actually, I don't want to find out.
Me neither…
Akkan bobbed up and down on the bed. I like this. It's bouncy.
Paul giggled at watching the killer alien bounce happily on the bed. You're making a great impression!
What impression am I making?
Well, not the killer Alien.
I can kill someone if that is what you want?
Nooo, its okay, just keep bouncing.
All right.
Paul kept searching, and eventually found a big parcel
There's our present! He set himself down beside Akkan, and opened it.
Out fell two weapon belts. One was smaller, but the second one was enormous. The gun tucked away in the holster was huge as well.
A letter was within it as well.
It read:
Hey Paul
These are your weapons. One is for you, the other one is for Akkan.
I've altered the weapon so it should fit Akkan's grip. It's quite a powerful gun, so tell him to take good care.
There's a bit of ammunition within the belt as well. Show him how to reload and remove the safety. Give him all the tips you can.
Yours is a standard .45 handgun. They are very reliable and not too powerful. I know both of you don't have any experience in firefights, even though I do not doubt Akkan's abilities, tell him to use the gun as a last resort. I'd prefer if you do that as well, just stay behind Akkan.
Fred.
Akkan had managed to pull out the gun, and was exploring it. Paul did have an idea how to use it, and proceeded to tell Akkan how to load, unload and fire it.
I want to try it out.
We can't, not in here. It would damage the ship. Weyland said you should use the gun as your last resort.
What does that mean?
He means only use the gun if there is no other choice.
Why? I want to shoot people.
You don't have a lot of ammunition, and it's probably better to do it quietly. Guns are very loud.
Awws. Oh well. Help me put it on.
Paul helped Akkan close the weapons belt, and the xenomorph grinned. I'm Akkan, special – morph!
You were always special to me, sweetheart.
I know! But like in the movie we watched! Akkan was doing a good impression of pulling the gun and aiming it at imaginary enemies. He spun it in his and like an experienced cowboy, and let it disappear in the holster again. I just can't wait to use it!
I just wish this was all over, Akkan. The faster we get done with it, the better.
Akkan, sensing his mate's suffering, put the gun away, and hugged him it will be all right. After this, we are finally free. Just think about it! We will have a planet to ourselves! Nobody who's trying to kill us!
We will still have to survive…
Don't worry about that. I will hunt, and you will prepare a hive for us to live in.
What happens if I fall sick?
Then I will tend to you and take care that you will recover. You are strong, Paul, stronger than you think. Your wound's almost gone, and only a short time passed!
Still, I've never done that survival stuff before. I've always lived with other humans.
We will be all right, don't worry!
Akkan cuddled Paul tightly, and Paul kissed Akkan's shoulder. Remember the first time we actually met?
The xenomorph nodded. I was angry at you
I was fricking scared of you! You chucked me through the room!
Yeah and the day afterwards you kissed my shoulder, and we hugged. I still remember that really well. You were so sweet to me, Paul
Well, you were too, back in the extraction ship.
Really? I thought I was only horny.
Paul playfully poked Akkan. You were!
The Shipstern Bluff was thundering along, only metres over the Russian tundra. A massive trail of dust and particles followed it.
Jeanne's lip line was clenched, as she manually piloted her prized vessel closely to the ground.
Akkan, Paul and Weyland had prepared themselves, and were now watching here. They were only minutes away from their destination, and Jeanne was really pushing it. The speedometer read 350 kph, as she negotiated a small clump of rocks.
She was going to land the Ship close to the bunker, and stay there so once they were done, they could escape with her.
But now they had to reach that exhaust vent unscathed. Both Paul and Weyland were clothed in black combat clothing, wearing a gun each, and the tame xenomorph also had an enormous gun slung around his side.
They looked fit for war, and they probably were.
"I'm down on thirty seconds ETA!" she said, "You'd better prepare yourself."
The skies were darkening, and whilst she was already flying on night-vision, it wasn't easy. Then she remembered the money Weyland had paid her on her account, and increased the speed a little.
She was enjoying this, enjoying the danger of this mission. It paid out for her in the end.
"All right, there's the pipe. Brace yourself!" She removed the thrust, feeling the Shipstern Bluff slow down, coming to a stop over the exhaust pipe.
"Gas masks now, you two!"
Weyland pulled his over his head, and Paul put his on.
Akkan needed a bit of help, but managed as well.
The three trooped over to the Airlock.
Weyland put thumbs up, and so did Paul. Akkan just nodded.
This thing is uncomfortable.
You need it to breathe, we all do.
I know.
The Hatch hissed open, and they stared down into a large, black hole, belching yellowish fumes.
Weyland pulled a handle on a rope from the roof of the Airlock and started to drop himself down the shaft.
You go first, Paul. I want you to be in the middle.
All right.
Paul took a deep breath, grabbed the handle, attached it to his belt, and then took a step over the edge.
He was dropping downwards at a decent rate, disappearing in the toxic fumes. Akkan followed him, and for a few seconds, they were only dropping downwards, until they stopped.
Weyland was fumbling with a panel. Paul could barely see it, but Weyland seemed to know what he was doing.
The panel sprang open, and was pushed inside.
Weyland pushed himself away, gathered some momentum, and disappeared in the hole.
Paul gulped.
He positioned himself in front of the hole, and slowly clambered in, disconnecting the abseiling rope.
Weyland helped him inside, and gave him thumbs up. Akkan was much more elegant and faster, soon they were all three in the small shaft.
Weyland opened another hatch, and they crawled through it, closing it after them.
The gas masks went off, and Paul took a deep breath. He smelled horrible, of sulphur and other fumes.
"Okay, this shaft runs another twelve metres ahead, and then we can get out into a corridor. So we will crawl." Weyland whispered.
They started crawling. There were junctions and other shafts leading off the main one. The walls were heavy concrete, made to withstand insanely powerful blasts.
At the end of the tunnel, Weyland fumbled with the panel.
He was just going to open it, when it was wrenched open from outside.
Two big hands grabbed him, pulling him out of the shaft, and slamming him on the ground. Blinding light shone into his eyes, and he lost his orientation momentarily.
Paul was grabbed next, pulled out alongside Weyland.
Akkan! RUN! He shouted mentally, as he hit the floor with a painful thud.
Paul had told him to run, but he wanted to help him.
There were more humans outside, and he couldn't see them. It was hopeless.
The hands reached inside again, groping for him, and he pulled the man inside quickly, ramming his maw through his hand.
There was a scream of attention from outside, and he left his victim lying there, and started to crawl backwards.
He had to help Paul, but the humans outside probably were armed and very dangerous.
I will get you Paul. Don't despair, I will.
He turned left, and disappeared into a maintenance tunnel.
I know you will. I love you, Akkan. Paul's voice had acquired a sense of calm, but there was fear inside it.
Akkan would return. He was a warrior, and he would defend his mate, at whatever cost.
But he wouldn't go and suicide. That wouldn't be of any use.