Chapter 5

Kim was bored out of her mind. She had been left alone in front of a screen, that didn't have any sound and was in black and white. She tended to rotate from each screen. The far left one was of Maktel, he was interesting to watch. He seemed to click and yet snigger at Katel. She wondered what he was saying as he seemed to be rubbing up Katel the wrong way. Especially to the point of hissing and rattling his chains.

The centre screen had them both on it and the far right one had Katel in it. She didn't know why but she found herself staring at this one the most. There was something in his eyes when she looked at him. She could only describe is as a shadow. It lurked in the depths of his eyes, it could have just been a shadow made from his helmet piece, or her instincts could be right. It cold be from in his eyes. Like he had something to hide. Something she desperately wanted to reveal if possible.

Kim sighed. It had been hours and the two 'hunters', as the dweeb patrol had called them, had been quiet for hours. She was getting frustrated at this! Her fingers viciously drummed the metal desk and scowled, her patients growing thin. She stared at Katel again. those cuts. They weren't on just his wrists. They were all up his arms too. How did he get those injuries? They look like they were made by some sort of knife or dagger. But how? How could they have been made by a knife when they are chained up?

She sank back in the chair and continued to drum her long nails on the side. this is getting ridiculous! I have been here all day! My stomach is growling and I haven't eaten anything but my muesli. She looked to the corner of the screen and saw the time. 8:00pm! No wonder I am starving! If I am not relieved soon I will do something crazy! Luckily just then none other than Dom, Joe, Brad and General Snide arrived. They lingered outside of the door and she listened hard. From the way they were talking they were miffed about something. They conversed, not knowing she was listening.

"General Sir. How do we continue Project acid blood in the basement if we don't have the Queen? We need her!"

"I know Brad. But she is dying. I have the biggest nerd and walking brain box we have monitoring her life signs. She said a lot of stuff that all meant that Queeny isn't going to be around much longer. She has internal bleeding or something."

"And with her acidic blood, that isn't good is it sir?"

"No Dom. From the looks of things, she isn't going to last much longer."

"Then sir, shouldn't we try to get another Queen?"

"It isn't that easy. The only reason we have this Queen is because she was found in Antarctica, on ice. All our space ships can't find any others like them and the government have kept all the other Queens under wraps. Ivan will not be pleased if we lose her. It will be all our heads that will roll if we lose her."

"It was his idea to alter her DNA sir. Why should we suffer for his mistake?"

"Because he is the one with the huge bank account, our Boss and the one who pays us to do his 'biding'. He will make us pay if the Queen dies. And the worst thing is he made us destroy all the other females that weren't nursery workers. And they are all locked up."

"Why did he make us kill all the other females sir?"

"The Queen knows all her creatures and no matter where you put them, no matter how far apart you keep them, she will talk to them through telepathy. Or at least the guys on level 1 say so. You know the nerds. They are usually right about this sort of thing. But they said to Ivan that if we kept the females that the Queen would see them as a threat to her authority and all hell will brake loose for her to get to them, and kill them. It has happened before so Ivan didn't want to take any risks. So, he had us kill all the females that could become a Queen."

"How many were there?"

"About four. But one could go and make another nest of thousands in a mere year. But no, we had to kill them."

"Why does an army of that size, only have four reserve Queens?"

"Because all the drones are neuter, genderless."

"So they are neither male or female?"

"That's right Joe. They only change their Gender if ordered to."

"Wait? So if the Queen tells them to be female, they grow a pussy?"

"In a way yes. But probably not quiet like the way you chose to put it you sick bastard. I worry about you Brad."

"I just say it like it is sir."

"Well, if we don't find another Queen or a way to save this one, then you will have no fowl mouth to 'say it how it is' with. And neither will the rest of us."

"Sir? What are we going to do with Mr and Mrs Crab face?"

"what ever the hell you like Brad. Just don't do anything that will kill them. they could still be useful. After all, Ivan wants to learn how they heal so fast, so harming them...would be a method of testing they regenerative abilities. Wouldn't you say so?"

"Yes sir. Thank you."

"But not today Brad. You, Joe and Dom can show little Kimberly just how to 'treat' the ugly bastards tomorrow. You are all relieved."

"YES SIR!" Kim listened to the three son of a bitches yell in unison and run off. To where ever they live she presumed. She ran back to her seat and tried to look bored, like she had been sat there all the time. Snide walked in and smirked at her.

"You look tired?"

"I have been sat here, still, all day. I am starving and tired as hell. So back off with the pleasantries or I will make you eat your words. Sir."

"Very well. You are relieved, bugger off and come back here same time tomorrow. Take this card and you will not have any problems getting back here."

"Thank you sir." Kim stood up and took the card. She blanked him and walked, quickly back to her room. She walked in calmly, turned round and slammed the door shut. Then she allowed her face to express her horror. Queen? Project Acid Blood? Drones? Nest? What the hell are they doing down I the lower levels? What the hell did they mean by another Queen? And why the hell did it sound like the Xenomorphs? I knew there had been an outburst in the south, but not here. They couldn't have a nest here. Could they? Wait! They said it was in the basement! Terre is in the basement! Please dear God say she hasn't been drawn into all that shit because of her large head and the brain in it. she is too innocent and naïve to handle something like that! When she gets back here, I will have to ask her just what they are doing with a Queen in the basement. And I hope to dear God that the Queen isn't an Xenomorph Queen like I think it is. Or General Snide is a more stupid, foolish son of a bitch than I thought he was! and that Ivan guy. I don't think I like the sounds of him. He had her DNA altered. To do what? At least the General said she was dying, so it isn't like we are in any real danger, if you can call living ontop of an Xenomorph nest safe. Yes, when Terre comes back, we will have words!

Kim sighed and then growled, frustrated as hell.

"Where the hell are you? You should have come back by now...I hope you are alright Terre. I never told you...but you are like a sister to me. a little, quirky, annoying sister. You damn Yank." She chuckled weakly and frowned. Terre had been worried about being sent to the lower levels of the basement and she had laughed at her. Before sending her off like she was being ridiculous and talking nonsense. But with an Xeno Queen down there...she might be in more trouble than even Terre had thought. She might even be...NO! I refuse to believe she is dead. By God she may be an emotional fool and yes she has a huge, overly trusting heart but she is NOT stupid damn it! if anything griefy did come up she would get out of there and not look back. She would not put herself in danger like that. Would she? What if she didn't know about the Queen? Or what if she did but thought it was...nice? she wouldn't, would she? I mean she always did go on about hating violence and cruelty to animals, but she wouldn't feel anything for the Xenomorphs, would she? No. she is not that stupid!

Kim huffed and sat on her bed. She looked over to see that Terre's bed was still neatly made and untouched. She sighed and began to worry even more. But she is kind. She is sweet and far to willing to forgive, not to mention trust anything. She even said that a piranha was cute and would be friendly if it wasn't in a tank. Friendly? Oh yeah, the piranha would be real friendly, while it gnawed you hand off! And she said that a jaguar would be cool as a pet. A Jaguar? I even told her she was being an idiot. Then she sulked with me. it took me a whole week to make her come round. Emotional fool. Yet...she could be hurt. She could be down there, crying and screaming for her dear life. She could be cornered right now, begging for her life and where am I? In my room, on my bed, whittling like an old spinster! I have to do something!

Kim got to her feet and stormed to her door. However as she tried to open it, it wouldn't budge.

"What the hell? I didn't lock this door!" she brought her fists down on it and tried to break the door down. But as hard as she tried, she couldn't even dint it. she didn't like this, a prisoner in her own room. she screamed loudly and kicked it.

"Calm yourself Kimberly. You have been locked in for a reason my dear."

"Who the hell are you? And where the hell are you?" Kim span around madly, not seeing anyone in her room.

"Your General Snide."

"Sir?"

"Over here." Kim followed the voice to a small palm pilot on the desk. She picked it up and saw a speaker box on the screen. "I took the liberty of placing this in your room. See you are now a special officer of my special unit. You are to remain here in your room until tomorrow morning, where you will have your breakfast before reporting immediately to your station on level 3. There is now a fridge in your room, with a large meal in it, waiting for you. I knew you would be hungry so I took the liberty of placing it there." Kim looked round and saw a small white refrigerator.

"You like to take your liberties don't you sir?"

"Indeed I do. And tomorrow is a big day for you. Today was just for you to get a feel for your station. Tomorrow the work begins."

"Sir, may I ask a question?"

"Yes."

"I have a room mate. Her name is Terre Jones. She didn't return last night or tonight. She has been posted to."

"Yes well she has been promoted. Don't worry of her anymore."

"But sir. Where is she?"

"On another level now."

"The basement?"

"Yes. How did you know that?"

"She told me sir; I was with her when she found out about her promotion. When will she be coming back here?"

"She won't be coming back to that level Kimberly. Her promotion is a permanent position. She is doing it quiet well."

"And what is she doing down there sir?"

"Just some observational work."

"Observational work on what sir?"

"Something big. That is all you need to know for now. No more questions."

"But sir with all due respect, what is she observing?"

"I said no more questions. My you are a curious one. I will see you in the morning."

"But Sir!" but the screen died and the screen dimmed. "Damn." She threw the PP (Palm Pilot) to the bed and sat down. Please oh please say that the something big she is observing isn't the Queen! Oh Terre. I hope you are alright.

Kim worried the rest of the night away as she ate to her hearts content and slept. Her last thoughts were of Terre as she slipped into a much needed slumber.