Obsidian Mystery

Outsider sat there in the central unit with Snake-Eater and the others, they were trapped. Gun ciphers were patrolling the halls and they couldn't make it to any of the exits without getting hurt or possibly killed. With the altered Xenomorph Queen on the loose, it would mess everything up if they encounter her. Bali's team still haven't arrived yet. Hitachi was with him and Blood House, they were in the computer room trying to get a generator started so they could get the computer working so they can find the closest exit. The Unblooded were in the other room resting, they needed it. They have been in this room for a good long hour or so, no one has dared step outside that door for fear of getting killed by the gun ciphers.

Outsider laid her head against the cold wall, her legs pressed against her chest. The pain had receded only a little but she only could do little and she hated that so much she felt like ripping someone's skull open and have their brains cooked in olive oil. She hated being weak.

Knight... she could still feel him, he was still back in that room where they left him. He wasn't dead, but alive. She opened her mind and connected to his, he was a bit in pain and he was . . . happy.

'Knight?'

- - - -

Knight back flipped through the air and lands on top of an unarmed Marine shattering his ribs and smashing his insides, Knight then thrusts his tail into a Marine's back and threw him into the wall. He had killed them all on his own, leaving a few unarmed so he could practice with them, he knew this was cruel but he had to train himself to be more quicker if he was going to fight Bur.

He knew everyone was upset and thought he was killed, they will get a surprise from him soon. He also knew that Hitachi would be furious to hear that he was alive, he could feel her sadness and possible fury.

Bur fled when Knight closed the door and took on the Marines, the coward. All the Marines were dead thanks to Knight's quick speed and aerobatic moves. He stood there looking at all he has accomplished on his own, he has never took this many humans out before and he was proud. But he still needs to be quicker, he saw how fast Bur was when he fled. The thought of Bur cowering in a corner made Knight laugh out, he needed a good laugh.

Outsider spoke to him in his head and he replied with a simple answer.

'Yeah, Queen?'

- - - -

Outsider smiles, he was alive and enjoying himself. She figured he was having a fun time but still, he shouldn't have done it alone, not without her. She looked at Snake-Eater, she smiled at him when he looked at her. At least he wasn't worried as much as he did awhile ago. Hitachi would peek out the door to check on Outsider, Outsider would wave to her in response. Outsider brushed a strand of her hair behind her ear and talks to Knight.

'Are you all done cleaning up?'

'Yes, wait till I tell you what I found.'

Outsider looked at Zombie and Snake-Eater, they were talking on their own escape route.

'Something interesting?' She asked.

'I'll tell you. Where are you?'

'In the central unit with Snake-Eater.'

'Be right there.'

Outsider stood up and looked out the shatter proof glass at the factory below, they were building and making things here. There was little she could do now, the pain in her chest caused her to do little, she could hardly run anymore, something was doing this and she had to find out what it was. At any cost.

Bali, Hitachi and Blood House came in and shook their heads.

"We need gasoline to power it. We fixed the starter but we really need gas now. With some gas, I would be able to turn on the lights and computers to find a map or something. Tell ya guys the truth, well... I never been in this part of the facility."

"What? I thought you knew this place inside and out!" Zombie growled as he hit the table with his fist, this startled the sleeping Unblooded and they fell off the chairs they were sleeping on.

Bali shakes in fear and backs off.

"I-I would h-h-h-have been caught! I'm only allowed in certain places, how do you spy when they see everything?"

"More like: How do you escape when they see everything?" Outsider said to herself but she knew everyone heard her so she looked down at the factory. She could see something down there other than gun ciphers, she looks back at Bali. "You need gasoline right?"

Bali nods his head and soon rubs his arms, the facility was very cold for some odd reason.

"That's right."

Outsider points down at the dark factory, Bali wouldn't be able to see it anyway.

"There's some down there, I see a container that says 'Gasoline' on it."

Snake-Eater crossed his arms, cocked his head and looked at Outsider funny, as did Hitachi, they knew she was up to something.

"What are you suggesting?" Snake-Eater clicked.

Outsider crossed her arms and tilts her head in a cocky way at Snake-Eater, mimicking his look, this made Hitachi giggle, Outsider looked so cute like that.

"I can get it, if Bali were to go he would surely get lost. I, on the other hand, know where to go, plus those gun ciphers won't attack me. They are programed to kill Xenomorphs, plus they need me alive." She punches Snake-Eater on the arm like she did in the old days. "After all, you're to old to go down there. I'm more likely to find it and bring it back without breaking my back."

"Your in no condition to go down there, what if there's xenos down there or what if the gun ciphers spot you that weren't programmed not to kill you? Surely more Ooman's will come. I told you before, the condition your in is not good, you need to rest and keep your strength." Snake-Eater said in a very concern way, now that's just odd.

Outsider placed her hands on her hips and looks at him, a bit of fury behind those teal eyes.

"So you're saying I'm not that dangerous? You're obviously senile. I'm the most dangerous thing on this planet, gramps. But hey, if you wanna tag along and suffer my power first hand be my guest."

This left everyone speechless, mainly Snake-Eater. He took that very hard, well everyone did, but he took it the most. Being called 'gramps' was one of the things he never wanted to be called.

Outsider knew she won this battle and walked to the ladder, she felt a bit better which made her smile inside. Snake-Eater couldn't find any words, he just couldn't believe what she said, even as she disappeared from his sight he couldn't say anything. He just stood there in shock.

Outsider drops at the bottom of the ladder and looked around, she could see ten gun ciphers patrolling the factory and the gas containers were on the other side at the far end.

Bali looked around the room and soon found N.V.G. (Night Vision Goggles) in one of the many drawers, he puts it on and looks down at the factory, everyone did but the Unblooded. They fell back asleep on the floor, they didn't bother to even get back up or sit back in their chairs.

Outsider carefully looked around a metal post that supported one of the assembly lines, a gun cipher was around the corner. She watched it closely and it soon moved on, she made a dash and slid under the next assembly line.

"Where is she? I lost sight of her!" Bali said trying to adjust the N.V.G., Hitachi turns Bali's head in the direction.

"She's over there."

"Oh..."

They watch Outsider as she easily avoided the gun ciphers and soon she disappeared from their sight completely. This caused Snake-Eater to panic a bit but he couldn't say anything still, Hitachi knew that he was still shocked by what Outsider said, she wanted to bust out laughing but she fears that Snake-Eater might crack.

Zombie looked at Snake-Eater and placed a firm hand on his shoulder, Snake-Eater sighs heavily, he was really troubled about something.

"Don't worry Gysu, I'm sure she's okay. After all, she comes from your strong family line."

"That's not what is bothering me Tue, I know something is wrong with her. It's causing her physical condition to decay as well as her mental state. You saw the flames in her eyes, something is making her like this."

"She might be angry at herself for being weak, I knew someone like that years ago."

Snake-Eater knew whom he meant, Snake-Eater was like that years ago till he met Outsider again, but this time instead of the little child he had known was now a grown adult and she was vicious yet kind. He hated himself for many reasons but it was Outsider's grace and personality that he forgave himself and moved on. He had a short temper then and now has none, but he does like the small insults but when Outsider called him 'gramps' was a very hard blow.

"Anyone see her?" Bali asked, he was concerned for her after all it's his mission to get them all out alive. Just the thought of getting them out haunted him, where the hell was he going to take them? Paris?

"I don't see her anywhere." Hitachi confessed, she couldn't see her at all, it's as if Outsider vanished.

Bali ran to the ladder and looked down to see Outsider looking up at him which made him scream and run to safety. They watch as Outsider pulled up a gas container but Hitachi couldn't see Outsider at all, the Predators couldn't either.

"Can't see me?" Asked Outsider as she dragged the gasoline across the room.

Hitachi shook her head along with the Predators.

"You see, I am able to cancel my body heat, even from the most sophisticated heat vision, I am invisible." Outsider revealed herself to their eyes and senses, Hitachi giggles a little to herself. She never expected this from Outsider.

Bali looked over the desk at Outsider, she was looking at him funny. He knew the impression: 'What the hell are you doing?'. He stood up and walked over to Outsider, taking the gasoline he walked to the generator.

"..."

Outsider shot a look at Snake-Eater, she knew he was still speechless.

"Listen, I know that your tongue is being withheld but you still don't need to be mad at me. So deal with it." Outsider clicked.

Outsider walked over to her swords and sat down next to the vent, it was big enough for her to crawl in. But they weren't going to use it since Hitachi wasn't small anymore. Bali starts the generator and the lights came on it the room along with the computers. He came out smiling ear to ear but that soon changed when they heard the sound of scraping claws coming from the vent, everyone quickly got ready but Outsider. She just sat there waiting for the creature to come out.

The vent mess was pushed off as the creature came out, it kept its glance to the floor as it stood up. With quick action he looks at them and smiles.

"Knight!?"

He looks at them all and keeps on smiling, Hitachi couldn't believe her senses, he was standing there in front of her, she had to make sure. She walked over and began to poke him and feels Knight all over to make sure he was alive.

"I'm real."

Hitachi smiles very joyfully and hugs Knight tightly, he didn't mind this at all. His armor skin protected him from the tight squeeze but he enjoyed it. She sat him down and the others come over to greet their comrade.

"We thought you died." Snake-Eater told Knight, Knight just smiled and rubs his gut. The wound from that one gun cipher still hurt.

"Not really. They outnumbered me and opened fire, their weapons weren't armed with armor piercing rounds unlike the others. Bur fled as soon as I took them on, the coward. I'm sorry if I worried you all, I didn't mean to." Knight looks at Hitachi and grins. "Did you watch her?"

"Of course I did, in fact we all did."

Knight looks at Outsider, she was sitting there with her eyes fixed on him.

"Queen?"

"What was the thing you wanted to tell me?"

Knight helped her to her feet and rubs his head against hers.

'An escape route.' Knight said to Outsider through their connection.

Outsider smiles and kisses him on his head, he was cold as usual.

"Aww what a touching moment we have here."

They look at Bali and Hitachi's radios. They knew who that was but how the hell did he know about their reunion with Knight? How the hell did he know where they were? Where the hell was he!? Hitachi grabbed her radio and responded roughly.

"All spoiled thanks to your interruption you dumb ass. Why don't you do us all a favor a leave before the audience gets pissed off?"

Snake-Eater smiles at that response and high fives Hitachi, but Bur laughs on the end in full heart. That was depressing, Hitachi is getting agitated with Bur and his smart-ass mouth, Outsider told them that he was a smart-ass male Triple Breed.

"Hahaha! You're nothing but an extra in my script so don't get too carried away now. Your biggest scene is over, queeny."

Hitachi knew another smart-ass come back.

"I don't ever remember being part of your crappy script, Bur."

Knight and Snake-Eater both grin at Hitachi, she had on a smug look and again it was taken away by Bur.

"Well then, why don't you show me what a first-class-script is like. Through your own actions, for Mother wants to see you."

Now that went too far, Bali grabs the radio from Hitachi before she got really mad. He knew she wanted to say some more smart-ass responses but it was best left unspoken, she might say something that she might regret later. Snake-Eater tries to calm her but it was Bali that drew their attention.

"Sorry to break the bad karma with some bad news but look down there!" Bali screamed.

They all quickly looked down at the factory to see altered xenos appear, they were coming out of the doors, holes in the floor and the walls. Soon one of the walls breaks apart showing the Queen.

"Holy shit! It's the Queen! It's the Queen!"

"Her name is Xulki, but WYC call her by a code name: Bloody Mary. She's been altered so much that she wants to kill everything, if her own children get in her way she will kill them as well."

They all look at Outsider for a quick moment.

"She knows we're here, she wants us dead as well. The gun ciphers will not hold her off for long, we have to leave now!" Knight ordered, he pounds his tail on the ground waking the sleeping Unblooded.

"What's with all the noise? Some of us are trying to get some sleep." One Unblooded clicked.

The young Unblooded walk out of the room and look at everyone. They were surprised to see Knight.

"Hey, I thought you were dead."

Knight chuckles and looks at him, Knight was also taught the Predators language from Outsider.

"Yeah, I've been getting that a lot lately." Knight said with a smirk, he did his best at clicking. He gave that smile mostly to Hitachi. Since his near deaths in the sewer still haunt them both, he has cheated death to many times, Knight knows he has a long 'death bill'.

The Altered Queen shrieks in anger and attacks everything in the facility, Outsider just watched her, she knew the feeling. The feeling of destroying everything in your path, the worst path to journey.

"Quickly, seal the ladder off so that the smaller ones don't get in. Bali, hurry up and find that map!" Snake-Eater ordered.

Bali runs to a computer and types madly looking for some kind of map. Zombie, Hitachi and Knight quickly cover the ladder, Knight looks at Outsider. She soon fell backwards and he caught her.

"Queen?"

"Sorry. I'm really tired for some reason, Knight."

Knight knew that this is what Bur meant back at the storage room.

"Outsider will not travel too far. I know where she is, what they did to her, it will do many things. She hasn't adjusted to it just yet, but soon she will. She will have to accept it or die with it, not even her loyal Knight can save her from it."

"What is it?!"

"Oh, you all will find out soon. If she dares leave this facility, it will kill her from the inside out! Hahaha!"

Knight growls in anger which drew Hitachi's attention, she knew something was very and seriously wrong with Outsider.

"Knight, what's wrong?"

He looks at her trying not to show any rage for Bur, he knew Bur was watching them and he was enjoying it.

"They must have planted something in her, something that if she doesn't accept it will kill her. I have to find some kind of X-ray machine or something."

Hitachi knew that Knight values Outsider more than his own life, but unlike ordinary xenos who follow every whim of the Queens wishes, Knight makes his own decision even if it goes against Outsider's. But Hitachi also figured that Outsider was a mother to him, he did tell her that Outsider was waiting for him.

Knight placed Outsider in Hitachi's arms for a brief moment to open the door, Hitachi didn't understand what she was feeling and seeing. It was a memory, not her's but Outsider's...

Hitachi was watching this all as if she was just standing there in the shadows of the trees, at a white sand and rocky beach. A man sat there on the shore with two swords standing erect in the sands beside him, Hitachi recognizes the blades, Black Dawn. Hitachi looks beyond the man down at the water, a white Yautja with black stripes appears from behind a stone that stood in the water, she was decorated with sea shells. Hitachi looks back at the man he was waving to someone out in the water.

"Dad! Watch me!"

Hitachi looks at the child, she looked familiar, the white Yautja walks over to the man and sat down next to him, they both watch the little girl swim around in the water.

"Only two years old and she knows everything. I don't have anything else to teach her, she knows more than I do."

Hitachi walks closer to the man and the Yautja, the man leans back and smiles.

"You know, I still can't believe she killed a Great Warrior Serpent. She played with it before killing it, I mean that thing was huge Wind Moon! I say about half as big as a Queen!"

"I know Silver Dream I was there too. Also, you never seen a Queen before."

"I can imagine can't I? So tell me more of these Great Warrior Serpents." The man chuckled.

"Well, the Great Warrior Serpent's have another name for they are rare to find in hard-meat hives. So rare that they only come around during a blue moon."

Hitachi heard those names before . . .

'Silver Dream . . . Wind Moon . . . Where did I hear these names before?'

"What were they called again?"

"Many call them Knights. They're as strong as a Queen and are half her size, my studies on them show that the Knights are one of the best hard-meat out there. Sometimes they're even stronger than their Queen. I heard rumors that sometimes they do what they want even if it goes against their Queen's demands and wishes. Even some leave the hive to start their own. Only a few have ever been seen before and only a few records of their existence."

"Wow, our little one killed one. I still can't believe it."

The man lays back on the white sand and looks at the sky but soon was jumped on by the small girl. He looks at her and smiles.

"How's my little Queen?"

"Good! Hey I saw a shark in the water and guess what?"

"What?"

"I killed it! It's laying over there."

Hitachi looks at the dead shark, it was as big as Silver Dream.

"Holy hell, that's huge!"

Wind Moon stood up and walked over to it, she soon drags it over and guts it.

"Honey, you brought us some dinner."

"I know."

The small girl looks up at Hitachi while Silver Dream held her in his arms, Hitachi could feel the girl's happiness but soon everything faded away to show something she wished she never saw.

She was up in a tree looking down at a group of men and four Yautja. She looked around and saw Wind Moon laying there, not able to move, Hitachi looks back at the group. She notices Silver Dream standing there with Black Dawn laying on the ground beside him and arrows in his chest. Hitachi didn't understand and soon she found herself standing in front of Wind Moon, a clear view of what was going to happen. Silver Dream was looking right at someone, Hitachi looks at the dark figure in the crowd, she knew what it was.

'Death...'

Hitachi recognizes that these Yautja were Bad Blood, she watched as Silver Dream stood there with no fear but courage, waiting for death to take him. As the leader of the Bad Blood silt Silver Dream's throat Hitachi couldn't look away. She watched Silver Dream, he looks up at the sky and Death closed in. Soon Death faded away and Silver Dream dropped to his knees.

"Find her!"

Hitachi was terrified by all this and soon they left, she watched as Wind Moon crawled to her love and embraced him one last time before she too faded away. Hitachi looks up in the tree, that little girl was sitting there and she soon climbed down. She walked in front of her parents and took up Black Dawn telling them everything will be fine and that she'll dream about them.

Hitachi watched as time flew by and soon slowed to show another group of Yautja, one of them looked familiar. The small girl prepared herself but the Elder calmed her down.

"Are you okay?"

The small child held Black Dawn firm in her arms along with feather earrings and a shell.

"Father, what do you think happened?"

"I believe Jihloks did this."

'Jihloks?! That Yautja that killed Silver Dream was Jihloks?!'

Hitachi was starting to understand what was going on, she was seeing Outsider's burdens and pains.

"Gysu, watch her. We need to clear the area, they might still be around."

"Yes, father."

Hitachi watched as Gysu sits down next to the small girl, he strokes the small child and soon cradles her in his arms.

"Listen, everything is going to be okay, your cousin is here for you."

"Thanks Gysu..."

Hitachi was shot back into the present, everything was still the same, Knight was getting the door open and the others were doing their own things.

'What in bloody hell was that?' Hitachi thought.

'My memories . . . my burdens . . . my pains . . . Snake-Eater is the only family I have left.'

Hitachi looks at Outsider, she was sleeping but how was she talking to her? Hitachi felt awful and full of sorrow, Outsider has been in pain since she was young, constant pain.

'Death took me once before . . . It will not claim me twice.'