DISCLAIMER: This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events and incidents are either the products of the author's imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental. I do not own Alien/Aliens or the materials associated with the film/novels franchise. What I do own is this story in part or whole, the plot and set-up of the plot, and original characters that came with it.

The Captor, the Captive and the Captivated
1-0: Fidelity

Year 2094, April 30 (17 years later)
West London, United Kingdom

Stop that.

Why am I still thinking about that? And today of all times?

"The progress we have on these third generation embryos is more than promising for emulation in deep space travel," I slink my way out of the swivel chair and point Mrs Oram to the microscopes in question; there are over three of them, all lined next to each other on the table before us. She follows my suggestion—I notice her teeth chatters a little in this cold room. "With the help of our machine, these embryos could be kept, stored and birthed anywhere where there is enough oxygen. So far, there has been no signs of cellular degeneration within these embryos—therefore we believe they will be born healthy regardless the length of travel."

When she says nothing, my mind strays back to the Synthetic.

His long, trimmed blonde hair. His big blue eyes. His structured jaw and facial muscles made up of hardy bones and well-timed curves. Something about him reminds me of a star. He sparkles. He shines. He lightens up the dark. If I'm anything in this solar system, I'm the moon and he's the light that makes me glow a little.

"We have also tried and tested these embryos on two separate occasions," I shake my head and pause now for effect instead—Mrs Oram doesn't seem to notice my small daydreaming. "The first was with the Lunar 7, orbiting the Earth over two years' time and then returning to Earth. Upon returning, the embryos were 'birthed' and reintroduced into the wild without any accidents. The second is a repeat with the same starting journey as the first, except that that batch of embryos were birthed within the International United Alliances' biosphere dome on Luna and—well, I'm sure you've heard the rest of it in the news by now!"

Maybe it's the room. Maybe it's reminded me of that winter's night in Bristol.

We really shouldn't stay in here too long. I'm getting migraines already!

"Yup," Mrs Oram chuckles as she fiddles with the magnifier, "They wouldn't stop saying your name all day every day on the TV!"

Right.

Because of my impeccable timing, the news channels have all been talking about my last press conference. Of course, it was nothing compared to the news of Weyland-Yutani's merger or the announcement for the construction of its first colonisation ship—the latter has been circulating since it was broadcasted early last year. Nearly 2 years have now passed and that still shows no signs of slowing down.

"Well, anyways," I brush a stray lock of hair from my face, "I believe these cows and the others are going to be a great addition to the terraforming of Origae-6."

Mrs Oram's small smile is now ear-to-ear—she's been doing that a lot every time she'd visit our facility. She's already gotten so used to wearing this ridiculous lab suit—since it wasn't a full-body suit (more akin to a jumpsuit than a hazmat) or made out of thick plastic material, it's actually very hard to get used to. In fact, I sometimes get conscious of the way it glides over my normal clothes underneath because the white, almost transparent fabric is like a thin sheath of artificial skin. Mrs Oram herself likened it to condoms and that made me even more conscious of it!

As I stare back at her, I realise that she was actually taller than I ever was (I've forgotten!). I notice that her blonde hair's gotten longer too and dark roots began to grow from the top of her head. Her tanned skin is still looking good as well—I wonder if it's that new vegetarian diet and pure water regime that's been so effective. I should really cut down on my meat eating ha—

"Wow, very good!"

I nearly jump at the sound of her voice; she's giggling like a child now, but it is enjoyable to see. I follow her as she takes a look into the next two microscopes.

"Looks like the Covenant is really going to be the new Noah's ark! Chris is so going to freak out once he finds out about this!"

I nod. "Oh, yes, with human couples and all!"

"You know, I'm glad you've convinced the board to take these with us," Mrs Oram looks at me square in the eyes; her tone was serious. "This is amazing work! Even though we're not aware of any present lifeforms there, having a sense of familiarity with these Earth animals would definitely make it easier for us to colonise Origae-6."

"Don't get me wrong, Mrs Oram, I—"

"Karine. How many times have I told you to—"

"Karine, I didn't approach the board over this. My husband, Julian—"

"Had influence?"

"Well, I'm not too sure myself! His last name is Hastings," as I shrug, she begins laughing at my dry, British humour and I smile back.

"Or maybe it's just your newlyweds charm that's working on him?"

"Oh, I'd like to think so! But alas, men hadn't been responding very well to romantic treatments lately!" she bursts into fits of laughter at that and I let out a snort, "Anyway, as you know, Hastings Ltd has been at the forefront of the Covenant's construction crew. His father knew the Chairman of Yutani Corp as they were in the same university together and it also helps that my husband is a geologist with expertise on terraformation. In fact, he knows Mrs Branson—she actually taught at his university several years back!"

"Yeah, she did mention that back at the wedding…"

Ah, yes. The wedding.

My wedding.

"Oh, I still haven't told you just how irritating it's been to have the men in our lives behaving just like children!" Karine resumes with elevated voice, "I know we were so rowdy and drunk at your wedding, but that's nothing! This is hardly any—"

I narrow my eyes as she went on, elaborating mainly on how the rest of the male crew of the colonisation ship has been insisting on carrying kegs of beer like pirates of old times. She told me even her own husband is excited in the same childish way whenever he speaks of making of the first ever sermon on a distant planet.

I still can't believe that the wedding was only a month ago.

I play with the ring on my finger.

Why?

It feels no different somehow. It doesn't feel… special.

"—I think this trip's just… going to be a man-made miracle and I still can't believe we're actually playing a huge part in it," I stop reminiscing the moment she stops talking and pats me on the shoulder. "Hey, you okay?"

I startle back to her. "Yes, I'm fine. Man-made miracle, indeed."

"You were staring at and playing with your ring! What's wrong? Post-wedding jitters?"

Now that's just funny!

I scoffed, "It's nothing, really."

"You know you can tell me anything, right? What, is it something about Julian? Is he not… um, giving you what you want?"

That made me laugh.

Do I come across as high-maintenance?

"What?" she sneers again, "Boys can talk big before the wedding and shrink once a ring is around their finger!"

"And which finger do you mean, really?"

Karine blushes and pokes at my side. "Oh, you pervert! I guess that means you don't have any problem in that department now, do you? I was just being a good friend, anyway!"

I don't know how I could possibly tell anyone about the strange relationship that I have with my husband. I don't think it could come across as a good thing for the both of us even if I did.

After all, he does look like him.

"Nah, he's wonderful—really!" I sheepishly knead on the back of my neck. "We're doing great ac—"

"In bed?"

"Trust me, he's fulfilled his duties as a husband!" I make a face—a cross between winking and sticking out my tongue.

She laughs aloud again.

"But I was just wondering…" I begin to fiddle with the sleeves of my suit. "Did I ever tell you that I was the one who proposed?"

"Well, this is an era of strong women," she shrugs, "More women are now exploring the option to work out-of-orbit. So I'm not at all surprised!"

I lower my head, bobbing it as if to look like nodding. But I didn't truly agree.

Because why do I feel so terrible about it?

I couldn't possibly tell her just how lost I feel in this marriage, as if I was a third wheel and is stringing along the ride of someone else's life. Of course, then again, I can't say that I'm just as honest in this marriage of convenience, especially given the fact that—

"Tell me something, Aine," Karine senses my being uncomfortable with the subject, so she changes it; she takes a good look around the lab and taps on the switch panel just behind the microscopes. The white blind disappears and the glass window reveals multiple other scientists working in full hazmat suits in the other room. "The Covenant's christening is in another three months' time, but why did it take you so long to join the party?"

I sigh. "First of all, I'm not joining the party—my research, the embryo bank and my machine is. Secondly, I had to find legal ways around my mother's contract. This organisation was hers from the very beginning and she started this off as merely an embryo conservation project, but bureaucracy as it were has a tight grip upon every hold. So I had a lot of red tapes to bypass! I could only bypass them when—"

That's the cue for Karine to reach out and squeezes my arms. When tears fall off from my eyes, she pulls me into a hug.

This seems all too familiar.

"I'm sorry, honey," she murmurs as she rubs my back, "It's still very raw, isn't it? I shouldn't have—"

Perhaps too familiar—

"I—I'm… fine. Really." I manage to speak, but effectively it sounds like a broken record.

—even more so now as she strokes my hair.

"Shh. It's okay. Just breathe. Take your time."

I hold back my tears. My eyes sting.

When she backs away, I breathe in deeply and exhale a long sigh, but my body is afflicted by slight tremors—I hope she doesn't notice.

That's right. At the end of the day, there will be no relief for the loss that I still feel even now…

"My mother has kept this project a secret from the world," I sniff as I speak—the cold temperature is making it worse. "Her reasoning was questionable… but then again, given what threats the Covenant have received too, it was no wonder that she would keep its publicity at a bare minimum. She didn't want people to think that she was abandoning Earth or humanity for that matter—she loved every one of these animals. She kept them all in this way just so that I would be able to tell and show my children what they really are… in a better world."

"She was a visionary."

"Indeed."

"Look, this project is obviously very, very dear to you," Karine is speaking slowly, as if she's afraid her next few words could physically cut. "But that's the very reason why you really should go on this mission with us! With Julian!"

Is she trying to tell me something?

I turn to her slowly. "Karine, I…"

"Nope, you know what? It's okay! I was being a rude friend… again! I am so sorry," she pats my elbow and smiles nervously. "I will continue to nurture these babies in your place! The people of Origae-6 are forever in your debt!"

I laugh at that. "We don't even know if this would really work there!"

"If it worked on simulations, it will work in real life!"

As our laughter mingled, I feel slightly better than seconds ago.

But I'm no less suspicious.

"Anyways, I shouldn't keep you any longer," Karine makes a visible shiver and growls, "Best get our cold-sushi asses home to our husbands now!"

There it goes again. What is she trying to say?

I nod.

As soon as we're stripped off the 'condom' suits (and laugh all about it as we always do), we're back to the normality of blouses, cardigans and jeans. And flat heels.

I walk her out to the parking space outside the facility. She's still laughing—this time, talking about her husband's future cheer and joy about this collaboration (which was understandable considering his strong religious background).

I have to say, it is apt that they named the ship "Covenant" and that my mother's lifelong project joins this colonisation mission. I joke with Karine and say that I would be willing to bet that Chris will fall down on his knees and pray the moment she reveals the whole 'Noah's Ark' concept to him. I even ask her to pay me $100 if he would call himself the next Noah. She laughs it off loudly. That made me smile.

We then drive off our cars in separate ways, but not before she had officially invited me to the christening of the said spaceship. She tells me that it wouldn't even take much of my time, but I suppose out-of-orbit travel is still fine. I assure her that she will see me there in a few months' time.

Any chance of interstellar travel is too much too soon for me. I only opted out of it due to the emotional duress that I'm currently under.

If she hadn't passed, I would've—

I can't possibly be traveling for a distant planet and leave the very Earth I buried my mother under in just the same year! I can't consider myself to be that cruel—to myself or anyone!

Ah, right. But then, there's Julian. And there's—

The drive home leaves me weary and my mind is churning every second of the way. I keep thinking back to what happened in that little flat in Bristol and about that Synthetic who saved my life.

I have to face the facts: I'm missing him. Especially in my time of emotional turmoil.

I arrive home to find it empty.

It's a modest flat with two bedrooms and an open-planned living room cum kitchen. We had everything that we needed here despite us making enough income (and inheritance) to afford a little more. It always seems cosier and smaller when it's stuffed and messy to the brim with our things like this—I best clear some of these things and maybe take a nice, hot bath.

Once I'm finished with the cleaning up and bathing, I take my time to brush my shoulder-length black hair in front of the mirror—curls begin to form naturally at the ends. The faded freckles on my pale face made me wonder if being happier within my marriage might've actually helped with my skin regime. I stare closer into my own eyes, wondering why it always look darker than black instead of the livelier brown it should be—I suppose that's the curse of the Asian gene I got from my nana. I wonder why my hands are trembling as I continue to brush my hair.

Even after all that, I still find myself alone. So I start to prepare for dinner: beef broccoli and Spanish omelette—since those are Julian's favourites. Then I go through the preparations for my embryo bank's donation to the Covenant. By the time I was done, it's already half past eight. I'm about to call my husband when I hear the front door open.

"Speak of the Dev—"

Julian beams as soon as he finds my face. Almost inhumanly.

He doesn't look at all suspicious (and I have been expecting it). His slicked back blonde hair is as tidy as it was this morning, his three-piece grey suit clean without any obvious smear or smudge. He's brought his work home again, though.

I stop at my tracks.

Maybe this is what Karine was trying to tell me. The signs were obvious after all; he's been travelling back and forth between here and Arizona. He's helping Mrs Branson – the wife of the Covenant's future Captain – with all the terraforming equipment. He's preparing for something.

My gut is wrenching.

"Hey, wonderful!" he winks and locks the door behind him. I approach him slowly, collect his coat and kiss his cheek. But then he swoops in for my lips instead and laughs off my stiff reaction. "I have great news!"

Oh, no.

Please don't tell me. Don't tell me he's made a decision about us without going through the motions with me!

"R-Really now? Wha-What is it?" I hang his coat with trembling hands.

Being taller than me, he makes it obvious how dominant he is; he pulls me by my waist and kisses me on the lips again. "Guess!"

Don't tell me. It's about him and the Covenant, isn't it?

"Is it about… y-your father, perhaps?" I attempt a smile.

"No!"

Damn it.

"I have no idea what you mean, Julian," I frown at him. "But just… please don't tell me you've made a huge decision without consulting me."

He returns my frown. "It's an opportunity of a lifetime, Aine! I'll be making history!"

Oh, God. He is going.

"Can't you just be happy for me?"

I choke. "I-I am… I'm happy for you…"

"Well, what's done is done!" he gives out a forced sigh as he falls onto the couch, "But anyway, you're looking at the second terraforming officer aboard the Covenant!"

I'm at a loss for words. I'm not sure about everyone else, but I hate being right.

"I know you don't want to go," he gets back up and stops in front of me, gauging. Julian begins to touch me, rubbing slowly from my hands up my arms as if to comfort me. But I was seething with pent up anger, rage and frustration—not that he seems to have a clue. "So I've asked them to include me aboard on my own…"

No. How did he pull that off? Everyone had to be a married couple!

This can't be happening.

Why can't anyone or anything just pick my side in my time of need?

I find the next words harder to say. "So you're going to just leave me here… alone?"

"Come on now," he nuzzles his face in the crook of my neck. "I'm sure you'll be happier here alone than crowded in space… You'll be closer to your mother!"

—who is now dead.

"Y-you're right," my voice is breaking—again, not that he's noticing.

He reaches out and holds me close.

But that didn't make me feel any better.

How could this rival against the Synthetic?

"Thank you," he snickers and walks off into the kitchen. "So, what's for dinner?"

Well, at least he's hungry today.

"Oh, you've made beef broccoli! And Spanish omelettes! It's as if you knew I had news to celebrate! Love you so much, Aine!"

I need to sit down. I need to think.

"I should also tell you that I'll be heading off to Weyland-Yutani's facility in Arizona permanently to join the rest of the crew. You're welcome to join me there, of course—even though you're not one of us, your embryo bank is a huge deal now! You could still work—"

Mummy, what should I do?

I twist the ring on my finger around and around as I fidget, continually listening to my husband's excited chatter.

But my heart has already dunk into the floor and through the mud.

"—and there's a great deal you'll need to teach the crew about your machine, too! So it would be great if you could be with me there! Captain Branson has asked about you. I told him you couldn't possibly leave Earth… since—well, you know. It's understandable and all! But his wife thinks you should come with me too—the woman thinks the world of your mother, Aine. I think it'd—"

This is forcing my hand. My guilt-tripping him with his favourite dishes isn't working—or perhaps it has and now he's guilt-tripping me because he doesn't want to, in fact, have me join him in Arizona. Because I can't see any other way around this.

Perhaps I should just see how things will go and try it out. Maybe I'm not cut out for space travel enough to be dismissed—so it's a win-win, right? Maybe I get to find out what Karine meant or what all this shitting lies meant.

Oh, God.

Am I missing the bigger picture here? Should I just wallow in self-pity and stay here on Earth? Or should I pick up my heart pieces in space instead? Since I didn't get lucky with billions of men on this Earth and ending up with one so callous as Julian, I might've a better chance with those colonists!

No, I can't think like that! This is monumental to humanity's evolution and history! This isn't just about Julian and I or a group of like-minded scientists experimenting on a new planet! Just because he's an arsehole, doesn't mean I should be!

But what would my mother want me to do?

"I will need to start packing soon, love," he talks between eager bites, seemingly ignoring my dazed look and all this eager talking is suspicious. "We'll need to pack up some personal items for me to bring to Origae-6… Can you even imagine what that's going to be like? To start over—"

His words catch me off guard.

Bugger. That was my light-bulb moment.

Author's Notes: Hey guys! Did I establish her character or even the mysterious mood enough? And can you guys guess what Aine is to the Covenant (i.e. botanist, biologist, etc)? Btw, second to Daniels, Karine is my favourite. I really liked her going "Don't say that!" whenever Maggie (Tennessee's wife) keeps asking her to wear gloves for fear of contamination. I think it was very human of her... ;)

I will discuss the timeline soon. If you wonder if she has ever known David or the Prometheus crew, well, you'll need to read to find it out. No spoilers!

June 7 - Final edits included. Expanded a bit more on her history with Synthetics (which you will know the significance soon enough)! ;)