Paul stared at the body of Merrill. Its chest was completely ripped and torn, blood slowly seeping out of it over the white-tiled floor.
He had hated Merrill so much, he couldn't even fathom it.
And he wanted to see him dead before the end. But now, as his broken form lay on the floor in front of him, he wasn't so sure anymore. He wasn't so sure if he wanted to see anyone dead anymore.
Doubt crossed his mind. Doubt that created pain.
And then his thoughts strayed back to moments before.
It was a kill or be killed situation, and Akkan had acted like he himself would've done.
Like he himself already had.
Akkan crouched down beside the body, and fished for Burke's gun. He handed it to Paul
Don't hesitate to use it.
I will, you know that.
Akkan crouched down in front of Paul, and kissed him, spreading xenomorph slobber all over his lips. Everything will be all right, sweetheart. I'm here. He stroked Paul's shoulder.
Once we're out of here I will agree with you.
CHILD!
The mental roar made Akkan shiver and Paul jump
Who's that?
Akkan looked at Paul
It's a queen. She's imprisoned here. Once we are done with Schulz I will have to let her out.
You can't. We can't take her with us.
We cannot, you're right. But we can find something. Akkan kept his gaze.
I'll think of something, Akkan
Child, when will you free me?
Akkan answered reluctantly Once we are done here. Once I have finished my quest I will free you.
He just hoped she hadn't heard Paul's and his conversation.
The queen shut up again, and Akkan shivered. She believed him, yet she sensed something was not okay.
We have to find Weyland and Schulz.
Akkan reloaded his gun, and Paul checked if there were still bullets left in Merrill's.
Exactly six, so he would have to hit to make them count. Fuck.
The xenomorph ahead and him behind, they left the laboratories.
Two disembowelled guards lay like broken toys besides the gate, evidence of Akkan's rage.
They passed the headless xenomorph Akkan had fought, and Paul stopped and examined it.
It's dead.
Yeah, I blew its head away.
It's dead for a few weeks, I mean.
What?
Yeah. Its body is decaying already.
There was metal in it.
Metal?
Oh god, Schulz really did it.
Mhm? What?
He was talking about automating dead xenomorphs.
Automating? Like a robot?
Yeah, similar. He talked about implanting stimulators in the brain to stimulate the movement areas to make the creature, say... remote controllable.
Like you showed me with the small helicopter at home?
Akkan had enjoyed their time with the small helicopter Paul had located, flying it around the garden with increasing ability.
Exactly.
So I didn't kill it?
You did destroy the command unit, effectively cutting the connection.
That's why it wouldn't die.
Yeah probably. I expect Schulz to have controlled it himself, or some other soldier.
Never. It wasn't a human. It had reflexes like me. It couldn't have been a human.
How fast was it? Like, you fast, or like me or Weyland?
No, not like Weyland. Weyland was a slug compared to it.
It must've been an android then. A combat robot.
Sounds interesting. I want to see how he likes my gun...
Akkan drew his large revolver and tucked it away in style.
You behave like a cowboy, Akkan. Paul giggled a bit, despite the carnage and the situation.
I've seen the humans do it on TV. I think it looks good.
It does. But it's kinda new to see a xenomorph doing the John Wayne act.
Yeah, I'm unique. Akkan raised himself proudly, spinning the gun in his talon expertly.
You always were, lovely.
You are special too, Paul. You are smart. I love you.
I do too.
We have to go on. I want to mate again once this is over.
That made Paul laugh out loud. You really plan for the future, you do.
I do. I've got the important things of life right in my sights. He hissed happily. So how do we find Weyland and Schulz?
We need to get to a computer. I can probably get inside it. I know Schulz, he was my boss for a few years.
You look for the computer thing, I will look for things to kill.
They advanced through the dark, damp tunnels, passing rooms, doors, even a small hall completely without meeting anyone.
Where are the guards?
Maybe they went scared.
I doubt it. Smell anything?
Akkan sniffed. Nope. No people close.
Paul scanned the walls for computer terminals. The bunker was ancient, so he didn't see any on the corridor.
We have to check the rooms. You will see the computer terminal. I don't think there will be one out here.
All right.
Akkan slammed one of the doors open, and they looked inside. It was an empty laboratory. Empty and devoid of anything.
No computers, no instruments, just white-tiled walls.
This is creepy. Akkan opened the next door, to a similar room.
The whole place smelled of antiseptic, and a small whiff of decay.
They must've conducted the experiments here. But why has Schulz cleaned out everything?
I dunno, Paul. I've only once seen something like it.
Paul felt the xenomorphs fear, and stroked his intact shoulder. It'll be all right. It will be over soon.
I love you, Paul.
Why are you saying this like that, Akkan?
If this goes wrong, I want you to get out. I want you to-
Akkan, shut up. It can't go wrong. You and I will get out of this okay.
I'm just saying that if I die-
I DON'T WANT TO THINK OF THAT! I CAN'T!
Paul's sudden outburst made Akkan feel bad
I'm sorry. I didn't to make you feel bad.
The human sat down on the white floor and started to sob. It just can't be. What should I do without you?
Hey, shh. I'm not going to die. We'll do this.
At least he hoped he wasn't going to.
Weyland had helped himself to the weapons of a guard who had accidentally come his way.
He now was creeping through the laboratory level. He had seen the xenomorph holding pens and only now realised what Schulz had done.
He must've had a queen down here. Or maybe he still had. A queen laying eggs.
At least a few humans had died as hosts for xenomorphs here.
He would blow the whole thing up once Schulz was dead. This marked humanity's end in xenomorph research. He would not endorse cruel experiments with creatures who were sentient to a point.
They weren't all like Akkan, he knew that, but still Weyland didn't enjoy torture.
He did not mind about selling guns, but he did not want to imprison living things and torture them to death for research. He had no soul, Weyland knew as much, and he didn't feel any pity, but still did not agree with senseless violence. Violence always resulted in more violence.
Well unless it was violence to end violence.
It always depended on the power one wielded.
He, for instance, could not risk a fight against Schulz hand-to hand again. Only Akkan had the brute strength and reflexes to match the android and Akkan was injured. Xenomorphs could take quite a stuffing, but there was an end to what they were able to take.
Besides Schulz was armed with a gun.
Their best choice was to shoot him.
Besides, he still had to find Akkan and Paul. They didn't show up on the computer screen, and Weyland didn't for the life of him know where they were. He did have the bunker's blueprints in mind, but didn't have any idea where they would be.
He had crept through the dark, wet tunnels for a while, dispatching the occasional patrol silently.
They were no match for him. Basically they were untrained amateurs. Well, they weren't, but they were too slow for him at least.
He quickened his pace, eventually, giving up some stealth for speed. They were running out of time, and if they didn't get this done fast, they wouldn't manage it at all. No doubt Schulz had already prepared an escape route, and whilst he couldn't escape over the tundra, as the Shipstern Bluff was still waiting up there, he might have other routes.
It waited and cost money, Weyland thought and chuckled. Jeanne would bill him every possible billable hour, have sex with him again, and then leave to goodness knows where.
It had always been like that. It wasn't like they were in a relationship, far from it, neither of them were actually able to love the other, but it was like they couldn't let go of each other either.
They had met again and again, on some mission, whatever the reason, and each time spent every possible hour together.
He was glad though, whilst seeing Akkan and Paul's gay sloppiness, that it wasn't that bad with him. He loved himself for being himself. He like to calculate, to weigh in the odds and chose the right side every time.
And he was sure he had chosen the right one this time.
Quite by chance Akkan and Paul had met Weyland again. A meeting at gunpoint, with Akkan's small cannon aimed for Weyland's head, and Weyland aiming the guard's rifle at Paul
After a few second each of them lowered the gun, and Weyland and Paul laughed.
"I thought Akkan was one of these Xeno monsters."
"Akkan though you were a guard. Luckily he didn't creep up on you and kill you."
"I suppose! Right, now down to business. Akkan, we will patch you back up as soon as we get to the Weyland-Yutani tower again. Now we have to find Schulz."
"Sure. Do you know where he is?"
"No, but I suppose he's trying to get away. You've seen the blueprints too. How could he get away?"
Paul rubbed his forehead for a second. "He won't try and get away over land. He's much too smart for that."
Weyland nodded. "But he will escape. Schulz wants to avoid confrontations. He is programmed to do so."
"Programmed?"
"Oh, you didn't figure it? Schulz is an android."
That explains the strange scent.
Paul rubbed his head again. It didn't make sense. "Why would he act human?"
"He's been built to do so. I don't know his full purpose yet."
Where does the fresh water come from?
"Akkan's wondering where the fresh water comes from…"
Weyland spun around, slapping his head. "I've been an idiot! There's a fresh water supply, of course! There's an underground river running right past the bunker to ensure fresh water! That's it!"
"Do you remember where it is?"
"It must be right on the lowest level! Beside the generator chamber."
"Then let us go! Let's finish this."
Paul, be careful down there. I think she is down there as well.
The queen?
Yeah. I feel her in the back of my mind constantly.
The door to the generator room unbolted, and the three were hit by a heatwave. Huge machines were rigged to the wall, heating up the whole room. There was a hiss of static and the smell of exhaust fumes in the air.
Two guards, completely surprised at the door opening, were quickly taken down.
"SCHULZ! WE'VE COME FOR YOU!"
The three stepped into the room. Weyland silently waved Paul over to him, and pointed towards Akkan and then towards the other side of the room.
Bits of machinery were scattered around the open space.
Akkan, me and Fred will go left, you go right.
I will. But take care. Tell Fred that if anything happens, I will kill him.
I think he knows that. Paul replied drily.
Good.
The Xenomorph crept low, over to the right side of the large hall. The ceiling was at least ten metres high, the two generators giving off a steady throb. They were standard issue fusion generators, working flat out to power the whole complex.
Weyland pulled Paul down, and the two slunk around the shadows to the left.
This was it now. Either they got Schulz, or he got them.
Just a few words on the next chapter. It might take a while, as it's the final showdown, but it will be much longer and much greater than all the other chapters before it. Stay tuned!