Chapter 11
"Aaaaa!" Terre screamed and clasped her had over her mouth. Had it...just answered her?
There was only one way to be sure. "Am. Am I. Am I a Queen?" she finally blurted out and fought the urge to close her eyes tight.
"Yes my Queen. You are." Terre's eyes opened wide. It had answered her. She even saw its mouth open and form the words like a human would. Of all the things she could have said she showed her natural hair colour in her response.
"You just spoke to me."
"Yes my Queen. You asked a question so I answered you. Or would my Queen like me to be silent?"
"NO. No. that's ok. I'm a little...surprised. That's all."
"Surprised? Surprised that you are a Queen or that I can speak to you?"
"Both really."
"You didn't know you were a Queen?" it rose its head in alarm and she immediately flinched. It lowered its head again so it was at her level and continued. "When did you last come to term?"
"Term?" then her eyes shot open. He had just asked her when she was last pregnant. "I've never been preg, I mean, I haven't ever come to term."
"What? But you are a Queen. My Queen. Where is the rest of the hive?"
"Hive? You mean the other Xenomorphs?"
"Don't call us that! The trappers call us that. And the hunters call us hard meat."
"Then what do you call each other?"
"We don't. We don't interact. Only you, the Queen, talk to us."
"Then what do I call you?"
"What ever you like."
"But you just said not to call you. Never mind."
"I am sorry my Queen. I fear I have been unworthy and stupid with my words. I will be silent now."
"NO. Please. I haven't been able to talk to anyone for a long time. Besides, I don't find you unworthy or stupid. I must be the stupid one. I am blonde after all."
"Blonde?" it tilted its head to one side and looked confused.
"The colour of my hair. It's called blonde."
"Blonde...why would that make you stupid or unworthy. Which you are not. You are my Queen."
"Never mind, erm. What is your name?"
"Name?"
"Yeah, what do I call you?"
"What ever you like."
"Not this again. Look, my name is Terre. What is your name?"
"I have no name my Queen."
"Please call me Terre and why don't you have a name? Didn't your parents call you anything?"
"What is parents?"
"Oh boy. Well, I came from a man and a woman. They came together and my mother became pregnant with me. When I was born my mother and father, my parents, named me Terre. So, did your parents call you a name?"
"I was spawned from a human male. His chest was very cramped, I had to emerge early. I don't remember my Queen, my mother. I never met her..."
"I am so sorry." brushing the gross chest bursting issue aside she couldn't help but feel sorry for it. She had lost her parents a long time ago too and thought that at least she remembered something. This poor creature didn't even have one memory to visit in the night.
She reached forward and carefully placed her palm over its forehead. It instantly began to purr and rubbed its forehead against her hand, like a cat. She smiled and got the courage to stroke its head slowly. It purred louder and lowered to its side, at her side and she turned to face it so she could still stroke it. After about 30 minuets of purring and stroking, it lifted its head to look at her, and for a brief moment, she could have sworn it had its lips curled into a sweet smile.
"Thank you my Queen. But I feel no remorse. I have a Queen. I have you now and I will serve you until death. I will kill for you and do what ever you wish of me."
"Wow. Thanks but you don't have to do that."
"You are my Queen. It is my duty to serve you with unwavering loyalty. Which I gladly apply to."
"That's really sweet. I still don't know your name..."
"I have no name my Queen."
"Well...I could give you one." The creature crawled closer to her and made sure its head was close to her side and the ground.
"You need not honour me so my Queen."
"But I need to call you something. I can't just go around calling you it, you and oi. I need to call you a name. What do you want to be called?"
"What ever you want to call me my Queen. I am truly honoured that you would want to name me."
"Well. No offence but...are you a girl or a boy? I mean, male or female?"
"Neither."
"Huh? How does that work?"
"I am a mere drone my Queen. I have no gender. Only the Queen, you, is female and her daughters and future Queens are female."
"What about males? Don't you have males?"
"We do. But only the warriors are males."
"So will you always be genderless?"
"Only the Queen can give us a gender."
"Give you a gender?"
"Yes. If you were to tell me to become female, then I would start to develop into a female. If you were to order me to become male, I would develop into a male."
"Alright then" Terre perked up and smiled down at 'it'. It wasn't a threat and she was starting to very much like the creature's company. "What gender do you want to be?"
"It isn't up to me my Queen. It is up to you. I have no choice in the matter."
"If, and I mean IF, I were to tell you to be female, what would happen."
"Oh...female...I would grow larger. Like the Queen before you and wait for a male to fertilise me. And give birth."
"And if I were to say male."
"Well I would grow taller and bigger and grow muscles and get stronger and. Become male." Terre smiled and giggled at how enthusiastic it had been about becoming male.
"So you would like to be male." It remained silent, sheepishly silent. "Tell me. Why don't you want to be female?"
"You want the truth my Queen?"
"Is it because you would give birth?"
"No. it is because I would have to leave you to make my own nest. I might even turn on you. I don't wish to ever leave you."
"Oh my. That is so...aww. So sweet." The creature edged its way towards Terre and snuggled up to her. Even Terre was surprised that she let it rest its head on her curled stomach. She had her back against the bars and looked down on the born killer and was cuddled up to her like a newborn kitten.
"Then you will be male. If that is alright?"
"Of course my Queen! I will begin to change straight away! Now I can protect you forever! I will never leave your side as your worrier!"
"My warrior? You mean, like my personal warrior?"
"Yes, that is what a warrior does, protects the Queen." Terre smiled as 'he' wrapped his arms around her and didn't even flinch as a long skeletal tail slithered around her waist, pulling her down to a laying position.
"Now that you are on your way to being male, I can give you a male name."
"Thank you my Queen."
"David?" Terre couldn't help but giggle as he hissed at the name. "Daniel?" once again he hissed. "Danny?" this time he hissed even louder and shuck his head slightly. "Well you look like a D kinda guy. I need a D name that suits you..." Terre hummed to herself over all the D names she new, and then she thought of one that might make him laugh. "Damon?"
"Damon...I like that name my Queen." Terre had only meant the name as a joke, but now that she looked at him, he looked like a Damon.
"Damon it is." She shivered violently and clasped her sides. "Gosh it's cold in here!"
"Are you cold my Queen?" Terre looked down at her stomach and saw 'Damon' looking up at her.
"Yes. I don't think the trappers have ever heard of heat!" she emphasized the word heat with a shiver and chattered her teeth. Then she noticed that her teeth were not all the same length anymore. She licked her teeth and ran her tongue over her canines. They were longer then the rest of her teeth and were sharper too. She instantly forgot about her dental inspection as a new sensation took her attention. Damon's long clawed hands had crept up her black jump suit and held her waist. He pulled her down so she was flat on her back and quickly climbed ontop of her. Terre was about to object when she realised what he was doing. He rested his huge head on her chest and covered the rest of her body with his, wrapping his arms, legs and tail around her and acting like a radiator. She slowly put her arms around his neck and rested her hands on his back. "Thanks."
"Anything for you my Queen."
"Thanks anyway...Damon." Once again she could have sworn his mouth curled into a dazed smile as he started to doze off. He looked to be asleep and she looked him over. He was huge! How could he be laid on her and not be squashed! Then she thought back to how the general said she was fitter and being a Queen. She already knew that a healthy Queen was stronger than a tank, so she assumed that she must be stronger now that she was a Queen. The pleasant heat getting to her, she slowly closed her eyes and her head fell to one side. She fell asleep and unconsciously cuddled up to her new friend, and he held her like a prized possession.
They didn't wake until the next morning and Terre was the first to be roused.
"GET UP! WAKY WAKY YOUR HIGHNESS!" Terre groaned groggily and opened her cold eyes. She saw General Snide smirking at her and instantly bared her new grown fangs at him. A piercing hiss rumbled out her throat and mouth, waking Damon. He looked at his Queen and saw the look of distaste in her eyes. He rose to all of his feet and hissed with her. He spun his long tail round and hit the side of the cage, just in front of the General. He stepped back and gathered himself before stepping forwards again. "Tell it to stand down or we will remove it from the pen."
"Calm down Damon."
"Do you wish for me to kill it? I could stab it with my tail between the bars before it know what hit it."
"No. if you do that then his men will take you away from me...and I don't want you to leave me alone with them." Damon looked back to his Queen and saw how truly frightened she was of being alone with them. he would kill them all for scaring his Queen when he escaped.
"Yes my Queen."
"Thank you." He crawled back to her and Terre kneeled up. Damon sat next to her but stayed focused on the general, ready for anything.
"Good girl Jones. Tell me. What is he like? You were cuddling wit him pretty closely so you must have got to know him?"
"He is more of a man that YOU will EVER be!"
"I take it that was an up yours then, it was loud enough." Snide turned to one side as a lab coat passed him a device. "I have a present for you Jones. This is a translator. So I can understand you. You will screech and a computerised voice will play it back. Here, put it round your neck like a collar." Terre watched as something skidded across the floor and headed straight for her. Damon went to destroy it but she placed her hand on his claw, stopping him. She crawled forwards and took the collar. She wrapped it around her neck and winced as it tightened slightly. It was blue and had sliver rings around the edges. It looked like a space necklace. "How are you feeling this morning Jones?"
"Like I should rip your head off!"
"My Queen, why are you speaking their language?"
"So I can tell him just how much of a jerk he is."
"Please don't translate to it. I find you confusing as it is."
"His name is Damon!"
"Name him yourself did you?"
"Yes actually!"
"And I am honoured by it your filthy piece of MEAT!" Damon arched his back and hissed at Snide, who smirked back."
"What did it, he say?"
"Wouldn't you like to know."
"Yes and you are going to tell me for the sake of your friend."
"He called you a piece of filthy meat and what have you done with Kim!" She jumped to her feet and Damon followed suit, constantly looking for an escape root and danger.
"Nothing as of yet. But I could make her life torture if you persuade me to. So, if I tell you to do something, next time do it straight away." Snide walked over to the cage door and opened it. he stood in the entrance and Terre had to wrap both arms around Damon's tail to stop him from pouncing on him. "I am going to enter, but you have to keep it under control."
"Damon please. PLEASE!" He stopped struggling and looked back at his Queen. Tears were in her eyes and a fiery hatred burned in his chest. His fangs bared and ready to smash open the meats skull for distressing his Queen! But he would do as he was ordered. She might have a plan. He crawled to her side and felt a pang of sorrow and Terre put her arms around his neck, as he was so tall that even when he was sat down her neck came to her side. she was holding on to him for support and protection and Damon just wanted to run before her and protect her, kill the one who was making her feel to helpless and take his Queen far away from this place. But he would wait. If he was patient enough, the opportune time would reveal itself.
"Good little bug drone. Now Jones, make it beg."
"Kiss my ass I will not."
"Think of Kim. It would be a shame if she were to die in her sleep due to faulty piping, directly above her bed." Snide smirked as tears ran down her face. "Now make it beg!" she quivered and looked down at Damon. She pulled the collar off and spoke to him.
"I need you to do something for me and I am so sorry."
"Anything my Queen."
"D." she sniffed and wiped her tears away. "Do you know how to beg? Like a dog?"
"What is dog?"
"Just, sit up, hands like this and make whining noises." Damon brought its hands up like Terre showed him and did as he was told. But he never looked away from her.
"My Queen I am confused. Why am I doing this?"
"Because he told me to tell you to do it. I am sorry."
"You are the Queen! You do NOT do as he, a mere piece of meat, tells you to."
"I must. He has a close friend of mine trapped here and if I don't do as he says...he will kill her."
"Is she...a trapper?"
"Yes. What I mean no." Terre worried herself to how quickly she had answered Damon that Kim was one of them. but technically she was, but not like them. "She is human but not a trapper."
"So she is meat?"
"You could say that."
"Then why care for her? she will die anyway."
"not if I can help it. I am sorry."
"Stop apologising to me. I am a drone, you are the Queen. Queen's do not apologise."
"Ok...but."
"My Queen please, instruct me."
"To do what?"
"To kill the one that clouds your mind and plants fear in your eyes. Tell met to kill him!"
"No, Kim will die."
"She is as good as dead anyway. If he doesn't kill her, I will."
"What!" Terre jumped back away from Damon who just followed her until her back was against the wall. Snide was very much enjoying this and decided to be quiet and watch. "What do you mean you will kill her if he doesn't?"
"My Queen, this meat called Kim. She has too much control over you and as your Warrior, I will not allow one single meat bag to influence your choices. For the good you my Queen I will kill her if she dictates your orders again."
"NO! I will not let you. I will not let you kill her! She means more to me than anything. She has been like a mother and a sister to me from the first moment I met her, years ago. I will not let you kill her!" Terre for the first time in her life roared, her fangs bare and her screeches echoing off every wall, ringing in Damon's head. He shuddered back and whimpered before her. She stared angrily at him for a long time. He just crouched on the ground, head hung low and in submission, not daring to move. Eventually Terre's hard face fell and melted. She walked casually to him and lowered to kneel on her knees. she placed one hand on each side of his face and lofted it to face her. "Damon. You have to understand that when it comes to my friends, nothing will make me do anything to harm them. I would be the same if I were to be put in this same situation but with you trapped out there, your life on the line. I would be as stern with saving your life as I am Kim's. I will not waver on this and you will not hurt her. right?"
"Forgive me my Queen. I should have known better than to question you. I am unworthy."
"No, you just needed to understand. Now you do and all is well. Gosh I am even starting to sound like a Queen."
"Just wait till you start acting like one."
"What?"
"I will not harm the meat bag. As you have ordered me not to. Please, I have a plan to kill the meat behind me. Not yet, but soon. May I kill him then? If I inform you when we are to escape? I only wish to get you to safety." Terre looked to the amused Snide and smirked at Damon, who looked to be smirking back.
"Go for it."
"Is that an...order?"
"That my friend is an order." Terre chuckled and placed the collar over her head. She added one last thing before putting it on. "You can understand what I am saying to him right?"
"Yes."
"Then listen to this and look like you don't, ok?"
"Yes my Queen." She slipped the collar on and activated it. it tensed again but she was ready for it this time.
"Now Miss Jones, what was that about?"
"My friend here was trying to ask me to let him bite your dick off. He is partial to black skin." She smirked and placed her hands on her hips, wanting to laugh as he stared down at Damon with large eyes."
"What do you mean...partial to black skin?"
"I mean he likes you. He wants to know if you taste as good as you look."
"Sick fuck! Get it away from me!" Snide ran out of the pan, slammed the door shut and quivered on the other side of the bars. "tell him to balls!"
"But that is what he wants from you, balls."
"I should have its head for that!"
"What was that? You want to give him head? General Snide you are disgusting!"
"THAT IS NOT WHAT I SAID!"
"What ever. I don't want to talk to you if you are gonna be disgusting and make vulgar comments about my friend." Terre pulled the collar off and zipped it up in her leg pocket.
"My Queen, I didn't say that."
"He doesn't know that." Terre couldn't help but giggle as the General stormed off.
"You know I don't feel that way don't you?"
"Oh I know. it was just amusing to see him squirm like the worm he is."
"I would rather smash my teeth through his skull. But I see the reason behind it. Mental warfare?"
"Oh yes. And I won."
"You are the Queen. You always win."
"I think I'm starting to like this Queen business."
"Good. It suits you." Terre raised an eyebrow at Damon who was laid on his front with his tail coiled around him. she didn't know why but he looked even bigger than before she looked him over. And there was something else too...
"Your acting a little differently."
"Differently my Queen?"
"Yes...and I can't put my finger on why. And are you bigger?"
"You made me male my Queen. I told you I would develop into a male and that involves physical changes. So yes I am growing taller and better built for me role."
"Role?" Terre crossed her legs and sat next to her huge 'cage buddy' and rested her back on his side.
"I am your warrior and protector now. I need to be built to withstand more hazards and stronger to fight for you."
"What other changes will you go through Damon." She closed her eyes and listened to his steady breathing.
"My Skull casing will change. It will no longer be smooth; instead it will groove, dip and curve to my natural skull shape. And my body will become a lot more deadly. More spikes, longer claws and stronger legs for endurance and heavy lauds."
"You said that physical changes are involved. So are their mental changes to?"
"Yes my Queen. I will think like a predator, my instincts will sharpened and my hearing will focus more and on a wider range."
"What about personality?"
"Personality? We don't have personalities. Remember, our kind only interact with the Queen and we don't exactly have conversations with her. only orders."
"What? But we have conversations. You have a personality."
"I...do?"
"Yes. If you didn't you would be an empty shell and wouldn't do anything unless I forced you. And you made up your own plan on getting out of her. so you have your own mind to."
"I do have a personality. That must be thanks to you my Queen. I do not remember anything before you."
"Oh."
"That is a good thing."
"Good good." Damon looked down at his Queen. She was cuddled up to his side and looked to be dozing off. He curled around her and sunk his teeth into the shoulder of her jump suit. He dragged her along side him and encircled his arms around her. He pulled her closer and curled his tail around her leg and his head round her head. Terre shuffled up to him and rested her face on his neck and her hands on his chest.
"I love you my Queen."
"I love you to Damon. And I am sorry about yelling at you, or rather roaring at you earlier."
"You have every right to. you are the Queen. And besides, I liked it."
"You what? You liked it?"
"Yes. I liked it when you took charge and dominated me, like a Queen should. You showed authority and power. It made me quiver with ecstasy and submission."
"Erm, ecstasy? Why ecstasy?"
"Because a Queen should be a ruler and for that brief moment that you raised your voice to me, I saw a ruler in you and it made me shiver. And with ecstasy. All I want is for you to be free, to rule your hive with me by your side, as protection."
"Protection from trappers?"
"And other Queens and armies. But you are safe. I will ensure you are safe at all times. I am your warrior and will protect you with my life."
"I hope it never comes to that. Wait, free to rule my hive? What do you mean by that?"
"You are tired my Queen. You have trouble keeping your eyes open. Rest and let your body continue to change as you sleep. I will watch over you my Queen and protect you."
"Alright." She rested her head onto his chest again, only for one thing to bug her. "Earlier you said you were a drone. Then you said you are a warrior. Which one are you?"
"I am on my way to being a warrior. It will take some time but I will tell you when I am a full warrior. Until then please rest."
"Okay. Thank you Damon. Thank you for understanding."
"No thanks needed my Queen. Rest." Damon waited until his Queen's breathing slowed down to a sleeping rate and stared at her. for an ex trapper she wasn't all that bad looking. He didn't tell her about her hive because he had plans for her that she would not accept right now. Soon she would. He knew she would from the way she took charge over him earlier. She will be a strong Queen and will have a large and powerful hive with many, many children.
He will make sure of it.