Chapter 12: Race Against Time
For everyone, it seemed that time was conspiring against them. For Ripley, the only way she'd survive having it in her, is if the people from the company cut the embryo out. For everyone else, it seemed that people with guns were a good five hours away.
Everyone realized that the company mostly wants the creature, yet it seems that if they want it, they had to get here before the end of the clock.
The plan to kill the xeno was simple. By having a person be bait, they would lead it to the foundry. There, the creature would be brought to the assembly line, where it would be dropped into a lead-casting mold, and have molten lead be poured onto it. If, during the chase, it decided to take a detour, the other doors would be shut in it's face by Hicks, Hudson or Vasquez.
As Jake walked up to the creature, he was worried about what would happen. He breathed in and out, counted to ten in English and Spanish, and got ready.
Cupping his hands to his mouth, he yelled "Catch me if you can!" The creature moved it's head to face him, and started to run.
Jake, standing a good ten meters away, started to run too. Moving on the tips of his feet, spreading his legs as far as possible, he ran.
He made his way around a corner, and looked back. The creature was following him at the ten meter range.
Jake kept running, and turned the second corner. He heard the door shut to the side, yet kept running.
It was a straightaway from here, and it became a straightaway chase. Jake looked back to see where the creature was. He was greeted by a blank space behind.
Looking up, he saw the creature climbing along the roof. It was a good 12 meters behind, but it moved fast.
Jake kept running. Only 100 yards from the end of the hall. Jake looked up and behind, and saw the creature at ten meters behind him, and closing.
Jake imagined he was playing American football back on Archeron, and he had intercepted the ball for a touchdown.
He was at 50 yards from the other end of the hall when it grabbed him. It leapt from the roof and brought him to the ground.
Jake fell to the floor face first. The creature was bigger than the ones back on Archeron. It seemed that the creature had his legs for a moment when it tackled him, yet lost grip.
Jake got up and ran again. He wouldn't become it's next victim. Looking back, he saw the creature get up and run after him.
Jake decided to follow the advice of Pink Floyd and ran like hell. Making it into the foundry, he could hear the creatures footsteps on the low walkway.
He kept running, and when he was about to fall into the mold, he leapt over it, landing face first on the other side.
Rolling over, he saw the creature was just standing there, mere footsteps away from the mold.
Looking up, he saw Morse on the control platform, standing with Ripley.
He looked back at the creature, which was still standing there. He could see it, just moving it's head around, as if it was looking at the place.
"Hey, come get me!" Jake yelled. The creature just stood there, as if it knew what would happen if he went forward. The creature failed to notice the figure of Bishop walking up behind it.
Bishop then started to push the creature forward, one step at a time. Bishop had manage to have the creature reach the edge, when it wrapped it's tail around his torso and dragged him with it.
Bishop yelled "Pour the lead! Remember my sacrifice!". Morse knew the drill, and pressed a button.
From a large smelting bucket came the liquid. From the edge of the walkway, Jake could feel the heat from the liquefied lead as it poured into the mold.
As the molten metal poured, Jake realized what this all meant. The creature was trapped, and all they had to worry about was the people from the ship getting there in time.
Jake pulled his cellular out of his pocket, and looked at the clock. He'd set a timer to go off if it was too late. It appeared there was just an hour and thirty minutes left. He prayed that the people from The Company would get here.
Jake got up and started to walk away from the mold. Behind him, the mold was filled, and the ends closed, bringing it to the next stage of the assembly line.
However, it seemed that not even the mold could contain the otherworldly beast, as the mold was broken. The creature, glowing red, as if to show the rage it contained, It made it's way to where Jake was.
However, there was nowhere to run any further on the platform. The walkway ended in a metal wall.
Jake looked behind him, right at the screaming beast making it's way to him. Jake felt behind him, and came to rest his hand on a chain. He felt lower, and his hand met wall.
Jake swore he heard voices yelling, and looking up, he was right. Up top, Morse and Ripley yelled for him to climb.
Jake took their advice, and wrapping his hand around the chain, began to climb for his life.