Chapter 2
Conversations
Starling watched as the group filed into the mess hall, their clothes were all thickly covered in sweat and mud, their faces for the most part show exhaustion. They all approached the tables and quickly sat down, exchanging a few quick words before noticing there was a new person in their midst.
Hyde jumped on a table, forming his hands around his lips. "Alright everybody, before dinner we have someone to meet!" He suddenly yanked Jason onto the table aside him, the sudden movement causing him to look around at the new faces, his heart nearly bursting from his chest. "This is Doctor Jason Starling; he's new here so why don't the rest of you pleasant folk introduce yourselves."
It was then that Hyde let go of him, and Jason, now completely embarrassed, this not being the way he wanted to be introduced to a new group of people at all. This isn't a sports game! I'm not a wrestler! Were the thoughts that flew across his mind as he angrily sat back down in his chair facing the gathered group of individuals who stared back at him.
The first to approach was a woman in her early twenties, wearing a black tank top that left her waist entirely exposed, and over her legs she wore black jeans. Her hair was jet black, put into a ponytail in the back. It was a popular look, and she undoubtedly pulled it off, not as fit as Jessie, but still obviously one who enjoyed a good work out.
"What's up?" She said casually spinning her fingers as she talked. Jason noticed two pistols hanging loosely from her belt, one for each hip. "I'm Ranger Nicole Kaleso, and don't you ever forget it." she jabbed him in the chest before walking off, a hand resting on her hip.
Jason watched in amazement the words "thanks…" slipping from his lips smothered in sarcasm, knowing he already had someone on his list of people to steer clear of. What a bitch.
Next came up a man, who was strong in build and actually clean shaven unlike Hyde, a rife hanging from his shoulder by a thick leather strap, so he already knew this one would be a ranger before the man extended his hand for the shake.
"Ranger Dick Larison, here to serve." He delivered a firm hand shake, Jason instantly wishing all the other rangers hand this level of discipline. "I hope you enjoy your stay here, Doctor Starling."
Dick joined Nicole on the table across the room, and Jason was now approached by a young woman of Asian descent. Not as fit as the others, she showed a bit of weight, but overall was an attractive individual with short black hair that seemed to have been combed with great pride.
"Ummmm, hi," she blushed nervously extending her hand and giving him a very limp shake. "I'm Doctor Lisa Walker. I'm…so happy to see a new member in the science group. Yaaaaay…" She quickly turned; her face tinted red and scurried off to a table on a table several yards away from the one
the rangers currently sat down at. Jason, not knowing what to think of that and looked to the last person left to introduce them to him. A man in a nice leather vest, trimmed beard and long hair of gray that gave him a much older look then he really was.
When he stepped forward he already knew this was Doctor Sillias, one of the best field researchers of the last twenty years, and it was now up to him to leave a good first impression while also not giving off the impression of being an arrogant ass fresh from school.
"I'm Doctor Sillias," the man said, shaking hands with Jason as he ran responses through his head trying to figure what he could say to a man of this stature. "Glad to have you aboard, Jason. I'll try not to bore you too much during these next few months."
"It's an honor to be offered the opportunity to work with one such as you." Jason said, not able to come up with anything better for the moment and hoped it wouldn't come back to kick him in the ass. Nothing was worse than a stuttering kiss-ass.
The older man simply laughed and patted him on the back. "Kid, trust me, don't feel honored by working with an individual such as myself." He began to lead him over to the table that Lisa had grabbed for them. "You see, I'm sure you and Lisa will be able to do greater things then I ever imagined, I am just the beginning of this research, it's up to you two and all the other fresh candidates who've worked with me to carry my torch so my dreams, and yours can be achieved, thus paving the road for other hopefuls in the field. You get me, Jason?"
"Yes I do." Jason nervously nodded his head repeatedly, which was followed by Sillias grabbing the back of his head and stopping the motion.
"Okay son, just move your lips and let the words come out. Don't give me this bobble head bullshit, it really gets annoying."
"Yes sir!" Jason was already having different opinions of the doctor, not knowing what to think of him in person. Was he a nice guy or an asshole in disguise? Hopefully he'd find out relatively quickly.
Sillias sat down in a hair in the middle of the table, placing his elbows on the table and interlocking his fingers and looking over his two assistants once Starling had taken his seat across from him and to the left of Lisa.
"Well welcome to the group, Doctor Starling." Sillias began. "I want to straighten some things out about your work schedule, which quite frankly I slapped together." He pointed to him multiple times as he seemed to be mentally looking for the right words to say. "Your grades are fundamental and it is a great treat to receive a graduate of your level of intelligence on my small operation."
"Thank you sir." Jason stammered, close to blushing by the mere fact that Doctor Sillias was saying this and not a family member, or some other biased individual.
"Now I seriously do mean that, Jason." He licked his lips, smacked them together three times and then continued on with his talk. "I want you to be up and ready to go to the main science building at around nine o'clock AM, which should mean that the sun is up and we can look forward to a nice day's work. You'll get off at five o'clock, which gives you plenty of time to wander around the facility before the ten o'clock curfew. I want you in clothes you aren't…afraid to get dirty in."
The dinner was pasta and soup, and the groups stayed separate from one and other the entire time, only taking glances from across the room every now and then. The science team's three members were having a calmer, casual conversation while the rangers hollered and laughed, their voices being heard throughout the large mess hall, which had obviously been meant to accommodate a larger group. There were twenty large tables over all, and both groups could've used one, but for meals they seemed to enjoy staying apart, considering their individual interests obviously varied greatly apart between the intelligence barriers that had been formed simply by their professions.
"He seems like such a dweeb, ya know?" Nicole said between mouths full of noodles, making slurping noises as they slid down her throat.
"Isn't that what he's hired for?" Hyde said in the Doctor's defense. "Rangers still outweigh the total number of scientists on a scientific facility so why doesn't she shut up about them? We get paid, end of story. "
Jessie nodded her head, pointing her spoon across the way. "You see Lisa? Such a virgin, isn't she?" An obvious attempt by the leader to change the subject from the one Nicole had started. "Totally flipped and went loopy over the new Doctor. She couldn't have been more obvious."
"Yeah, like no other little girly here has blushed…" Hyde said under his breath, which Jessie pretended not to hear.
"What do you think, Dick? Come on, you have to have some negativity towards the new guy." Nicole said stubbornly crossing her arms, trying to get them back on the subject that she wanted to discuss at the moment.
"Oh go drive yourself in a ditch, Nicole!" Jessie said loudly.
"Dick looked over an emblem burned onto the medallion of his necklace, which up until now he'd had concealed in his shirt. "I think the new doctor deserves nothing but our respect. He's young, polite and has done nothing wrong, other than getting a higher paying job then us."
Nicole promptly gave the lot of them the bird, leaning back on her chair with a grunt of dissatisfaction, knowing she'd clearly been beat by her home crowd and that there would be no use continuing her attempts at stirring up the emotional pot.
"What's up with the new Doctor's hair and clothes?" Jessie said with a smirk. "Pretty damn nice, not exactly good for what's the equivalent to a ten month camping trip, I mean what was this dude thinking when he packed?"
"For all you know those could be his worst clothes." Hyde laughed. "His family's probably fucking loaded, I mean come on, with him graduating so young his whole family's probably in the field."
"Or…" Nicole snickered, "He's a vampire and he's using his sexual appeal to draw in fellow nerds like Lisa."
Hyde laughed loudly as the others imply smiled and chuckled lightly at the comment, Nicole frowning when she only got a small reaction to her comment. She looked to Dick, who still sat eying the medallion intently, his head seeming to be limply attached to his neck. He did this whenever he was alone, and it really bugged her, that and his goody two-shoes attitude regarding every single situation they were faced with.
"What the fuck is that thing, Dick?" She finally blurted out after staring for awhile.
He slowly looked up at her, his blue eyes connected with hers before looking back down to his necklace, watching its surface gleam brilliantly in the light. "This is just something I carry for luck. Family heirloom, I suppose you could call it, but technically I haven't inherited it because my dad hasn't died yet." He ran his fingers along the grooves. "He felt its good fortune saved him during his military service, so he wanted me to keep it and have the powers that saved him watch over me now that I was out in the world on my own.
"Okay, okay, didn't need your fucking family timeline." Nicole said turning away from him in frustration. "What the hell is wrong with all of you tonight? You act like there's nothing to talk about when normally you can't shut up!"
"You do enough talking for all of us." Hyde said yawning, and throwing his disposable soup cup into the trash can.
Sillias placed his tray on the table. He smiled and set his elbows on the tale looking over to Starling. "So, Jason is it? It's always nice when we get a new member on the research team. Typically we only get new rangers. There lot comes and goes on a regular basis, while new research members come for three months to two years, if they make it that long." He took a sip from his cup. "So how long you here for, Jason?"
"Four months." Jason replied, stirring the steaming cup of soup, wondering what the ingredients consisted of in the foul colored brew.
"Well, that's a good long course for a first timer. Lisa's here for three more months herself. Finishing up a nice eight month term, you see."
Jason looked over to her raising an eyebrow. "How many have you done expeditions that is?"
She looked over, looking side to side as she did. "Oh, this is, this is my second assignment since I started working for Weyland-Yutani. My first was on Deltos-63KXCV, studied reptiles and such under Professor Belts. That was a four month stay, just like yours here."
"Belts is pretty big in that field." Jason said before slurping one of the slimy noodles. "What was he studying when you were with him?"
She sat for a second thinking, dabbing her spoon in and out of her cup. "He was looking at skin textures of small reptiles. The company had him working on vehicle designs, so he used reptiles and their scales as a basis for a skin for the new APC designs. He wanted to find out what could make them lighter, and more durable." She took a spoon full of broth and noodles, quickly swallowing it. "He likes to apply natural design to human creations, because he thinks nature creates the best quality innovations."
"Who's to say that isn't true?" Sillias said pointing to her. "Belts is a friend of mine, and you need to always remember that nature creates things the way it should be" Already finished with his soup he threw the cup into the disposal bin. "Nature gave us superior brain functions, which means we must use those brain functions to replicate the things we lack from nature."
"Of course, sir, I never said that wasn't true. I just wasn't there long enough to tell how the scale texture would help the vehicle designs."
Jason looked back and forth between the two not knowing how to get involved in the conversation. With a sigh he decided to kick back and listen to the conversation instead. Sillias was different, compared to what he'd expected signing up for this assignment. He couldn't confirm whether or not the scientist's kind nature was great, or something that could cause him some trouble down the road. Ever since he'd first dreamed of this profession he'd been kept under the thumb of a superior, but Sillias seemed more open to letting his aids do as they pleased, and Jason had yet to figure how he'd handle that level of freedom when it came to work.
"Anyway," –Sillias leaned forward looking at both him and Lisa – "I think I'm gonna head of for the evening and catch up on some much needed sleep." He handed Jason a small sleeve of paper. "I expect you to be up and ready for action in the early morning. Since it's your first day the rangers will take it as a great pleasure to wake you personally." The aged individual smiled. "Take it as a push from a helping hand, because once you get used to the schedule you won't have to put up with much of it anymore."
He stretched as he pulled himself from his chair. "I hope to see you both up and running at full efficiency by sunrise." He extended an arm to Jason, his hand in the shake gesture, which Starling instantly accepted, receiving a strong shake from the senior researcher. "Good night you two, and Jason, make sure to settle in real well."
"I will sir"
"Very good, you two just stick around awhile and exchange chatter." With that he turned heel and walked away, slamming the mess hall doors behind him.
Lisa stared at Jason awhile, desperately searching for the right way to approach the new employee without sounding like a social reject. Needed to find some common ground, a subject that they both could enjoy discussing, or else she was in for some awkward encounters. Lucky for her, Jason was the one to speak up.
"What is the deal with these creatures the rangers talk about?" He asked, folding the schedule into a small square and tucking it away into his coat pocket. "You know, the ones that they believe killed a good deal of the employees stationed here a few years back."
Lisa sighed in relief, glad he'd chosen something she could discuss. "We don't really know what the deal with them was; they came and went so fast Doctor Sillias never had a chance to assess their species origin or motives." This was a subject she'd been interested in when joining the program, and began to gain confidence as she continued sharing her knowledge on the subject with Doctor Starling. "Due to the few encounters, and the fact that we never encountered them again we've come to the conclusion that they aren't indigenous to the planet. Maybe alien head hunters, that seems to fit the situation best." She spun her fork between her pale fingers. "They came, they killed and they went, probably on to another hunting ground."
"So" – Jason leaned over, his eyes connecting with hers – "you believe this species came here to specifically hunt, and kill the species of this planet? That's quite the idea, what do you believe is the motive behind this killing?"
She shrugged. "In this day and age, what is the use of an opulent man shooting wild game animals? It's a sport, and perhaps they share common grounds with our species in finding the thrill of the hunt one of the most satisfactory games imaginable." She brushed her hair back. "Personally I find it one of the most detestable games we've thought up, but then again if an alien race took a look at us they'd think war was our peoples' pastime."
"Well, they must be gendered, because only a race with testosterone in its systems could find that to be worth the time and expense." He said looking down at his noodles, pushing them around with his fork, an expression of distaste forming across his thin lips. This caused Lisa to smile. "Killing has always been away of asserting dominance, if you're idea were true they'd probably be doing it either to gain higher status in their own culture, or they do it to keep possible threats, like humans, afraid of them. Power is a driving force that keeps socities and civilizations strong. A weak group or individual may be shunned by them." He looked warily at his cup again.
"You don't need to eat them if you don't want to." She threw her own out into the trash bin. "Trust me; if you don't intend on staying here as long as Sillias you won't ever have the time to grow a
fondness for this shit. You'll learn to eat light, just like me." She instantly felt stupid for saying that, because surely he'd think she was lying, do to her body type not being very lean, or muscular.
"Alright, I can dig that." He smiled, throwing his cup's contents in the bin as well, the slimy noodles splattering against its sides with a sickening sound which echoed as they slid down the sides of the bin.
Lisa smiled, looking down to her watch. "We have to get to the bunker now. The rangers will start to push us around if we don't leave before they finish their food. They love asserting dominance."
Jason licked his lips. "Do they really have anything else to assert in a lab complex?"
"No," she grinned. "I guess they really don't."
Nicole watched the two leave the room, scowling with her teeth grit. "Look at them, think they're so perfect. They just stroll on out as if the world's in the palm of their hands." She crossed her arms across her chest huffing.
"Would you just shut the fuck up, Nicole?" Hyde said leaning back in frustration. "Scientists are the top priority on a science venture. We just watch over them, so you need to calm down and accept the fact that they are the top dogs here. We protect them, but they're the ones getting the larger pay check, so get over it."
"Yeah," – Jessie sighed – "Nicole you've bitched about so much in the short time you've been here and quite frankly we don't like you much for it. " She glared at the young women. "We do our jobs and put out egos aside and we get paid for it. Occasionally we shoot some stuff, but never are we to complain about the task that we're paid to do. Maybe you should have read the handbook before coming out here so you could know what we're actually about."
Jessie stood up looking down at Nicole, who stared back from her position rocking back and forth in her chair. "By the way, it's your turn to lock up shop before nightfall. You want to complain, complain to this planet, we'll be in our bunks. Have fun now, and don't anger the trees."
With that the rangers all stood up and left, leaving her behind muttering curses under her breathe, not quite willing to leave her seat yet. There'd be no point; she'd be the last one in the bunker no matter what she did, so there was no rush.
Jason walked alongside Lisa, back down the steps of the bunker and down the hall, passing the weapons and security doors along the way. When they reached his room he turned around to face her.
"Well this is my room." He hesitantly looked at her. "What do we do now? I mean is there anything we do once we get in the bunker?"
She simply shrugged. "We don't really interact once we're inside. We sit in out bunks, read some books, do some research. Of course you can then go to the locker rooms to freshen up." She blushed staring at him. "I go to the showers later in the night to try and avoid any interaction with other team members."
He smiled back at her. "Well I'll remember that. So, I'll see you tomorrow?"
"Yes, yes, of course."
Nicole slid the large key into the slot of the mess hall's doors. It took great effort, but eventually it turned, locking the large doors tight. Walking backwards and checking her watch she smiled. Record time for locking up the compound's buildings, which meant she'd have a fair bit of time to have her private time.
"And…" –she looked down to her watch – "Five, four, three, two and one." With that the lights on all the outlying structures were off, the upper facility only illuminated by the setting sun.
With that she made her way towards the bunker, her purple painted nails lightly going up and down along the length of her exposed stomach, her jaws stretching into a yawn. It'd been a long day, a fence repair day, and that always was time consuming. She'd finished one segment of the wall and instantly had to move on to another. Fucking walls were sprouting odd things on them all the time and she just wanted it to stop. Rangers weren't supposed to be scraping fungus off concrete and steel walls for ten hours straight. She belonged out their emptying her pistols into something and watching it squirm to and through in death.
As she made it into the bunker, swiping a card as she entered she smiled. The four security doors shut behind her and she smiled. There were still some things she took pleasure in doing; still some things that made her grin like a child on Christmas morning. She checked her watch again. Ten forty-five, it was almost time to go and take part in a little retrieve.
Lisa looked at her clock mounted atop her table aside her bed, noting that the time read ten minutes to eleven. Grabbing a towel and a change of clothes she made her way down the hall in the direction of the women's locker room. At this time Jessie would've already taken one and hopefully, just hopefully Nicole would be doing…whatever it was she did around this time. All this time and she still had no idea what it was the others did with their time. Maybe she could have that change with this new member of the team.
Lisa entered the women's locker room slowly, scanning the room intently before reaching for the switch. Once she had the lights on she proceeded to strip herself of her clothing, piling them in a neat stack on one of the benches, and once she was satisfied and had a towel wrapped around her nude frame she approached the showers.
Once she was well inside she threw the towel of the railing and turned on the first faucet, letting the hot water spurt out in a wave the engulfed her body. Grabbing a bar of soup she began to wash herself, every now and then shoving her head directly under the jet of water, letting it slide down her flesh, forming natural patterns that glistened on her flesh in the locker room's lights.
Suddenly she heard another jet of water begin and looking over her face turned to distaste seeing Nicole's nude frame standing beside her.
"Nothing like a late night shower, don't you think Doc?" Nicole asked lifting a soap bar from the rack, slowly running it around her body in circular patterns, a large grin broadly displayed along her face.
Lisa scowled in anger, with a tinge of embarrassment. Nicole's body put hers to shame, and she felt so useless when she could see the ranger in her entirety, her pale athletic build proudly displayed, as opposed to Lisa's not so fit form. Nicole was a bitch, but she had a body that was thin and attractive, added on to the muscle she'd acquired from her profession. No matter how many times they crossed in the showers she couldn't help but feel embarrassed.
"What the hell are you doing here, Nicole?" She said trying to hide her shame from the ranger, who'd eat her alive if she got a foothold into her feelings.
Nicole laughed, her soup beginning the coat her chest and midsection in a thick layer of white. "Saying you're the only one who can enjoy the pleasantries of partaking in a shower? Doesn't sound very fair." Nicole laughed, arching her head back and letting the water stream down the front of her torso, washing away the soap and a large quantity of dirt and grime acquired from the day's work outside, leaving her skin with an even paler, yet still tan color.
"Well, no, I mean, no, I just mean you always seem to show up when I'm here." Lisa stuttered, picking up a bar of soup and beginning to run it along her own body, trying hard not to compare herself to Nicole's, but her mind always ended up beating her up over her choice in exercise.
Nicole shrugged, turning to face Lisa directly, her hands firmly planted on her hips as she stared at the doctor with a perverse grin. "You know, that new guy, Starling, he's kind of cute." She idly licked her lips, watching for the oriental doctor's reaction. "I wouldn't mind giving him a go, if you know what I mean."
She threw her head back, pushing it in the path of the warm water's flow before facing Lisa again, pushing some black strands of hair out of her eyes. Her eyes twinkled when she saw the anger and frustration deep beneath the doctor's eyes, knowing that she'd been right with her assumption and how to hit the doctor now would make this that much more fun.
"I bet that boy is a sweet, sweet lay." Nicole said, giving her tongue a long flick across her upper lip. "With a body like his I bet he can make me feel like a school girl again." She bit her lower lip, squeezing her eyes shut in a look of false excitement, running her hand up and down her wet abdomen.
She didn't see it, but she certainly felt it as Lisa's fist came colliding into her face, sending her sprawling into the wall of the showers. Nicole slid to the ground with a cry of surprise and pain. Gripping her nose she looked up to see Lisa panting heavily and holding up her fist.
"Oh little miss Lisa, I didn't know you had it in ya." She pulled herself up, cracking her neck as she did so. "You want to get down and messy, right now? I've been looking for a nice little brawl for some time now."
Nicole crouched down in a stance, teasing Lisa to come forward and attack. But the doctor never came. She lowered her arms and walked away, grabbing her towel as she did so.
Blushing Lisa walked towards the lockers, not believing she'd actually punched the condescending individual who'd taunted her for so long. It felt good, no it felt great. But she couldn't give into Nicole's wishes, in a straight forward fight Nicole would serve up her ass on a platter. No, one punch was enough for all those months, and hopefully all she'd ever need.
She came to her clothes, quickly putting on her new set of undergarments and pulling on her shirt and pants. Next to her nicely folded articles of clothing she noticed Nicole's piled in a messy pile of black, purple and some red hearts.
Once she was fully dressed she quickly hurried out of the locker room and down the hall, not thinking back to what had just occurred, simply wanting to return to the safety of her room where she'd be safe from Nicole's taunts, and she'd be able to sleep peacefully knowing she'd finally punched the bitch in her shit spewing mouth.
Nicole smiled, leaning against the shower wall even after Lisa had left the room entirely, not quite willing to move from the water. She spat a small amount of blood towards the drain, where it was quickly swept away by the hot water and down the pipes. Finally, she'd gotten through Lisa's thick mental barricade and had gotten her to strike.
"You really fucking like this new guy." She said smiling and letting the water pelt her frame as she grabbed the soup and once again began to wash down her dirt covered frame.
In room #27 cries of passion and love filled the air as Hyde and Jessie rolled along the expanse of the bed. With a final cry they soon were silent, panting heavily; sweat glistening across their nude frames in the soft lamp light. Hyde was atop Jessie looking down at her, sweat rolling off the tip of his nose. She opened her eyes smiling at him, her legs loosening from around his waist.
"Someone seemed energetic tonight." She panted, digging her nails into the flesh of his back. Her hair was a mess, spread out across her pillow in messy tendrils.
"Thought I always was." He said, slowly moving to her side and wrapping his arms around her chest and pulling his body close.
Jessie stared up at the ceiling mesmerized. "Nicole's seriously becoming an issue."
Hyde sighed, upset by the topic his lover had decided to bring up after their time of passion. "She's arrogant, but I wouldn't call her an issue. She just needs to learn her place in this…place."
Jessie laughed, kissing Hyde's cheek. "I guess I'll give her a few more chances, but this has to stop at some point or I'm giving her the boot."
Jason spread out across his bed, his eyes beginning to droop. There was so much to get used to, but he already was beginning to like it her to a certain degree. The place did have that great feeling of detachment, compared to the streets of central systems, but was that really that great? Weyland-Yutani had long stopped its expansion, hence why this planet hadn't undergone any actual colonization effort. If he were to learn anything, he wasn't quite sure if this would be the place, but the possible existence of sentient alien life was enough to draw him into disposing the thought of leaving.
Picking up his computer he began to look through some files. The files were old, some dating back to the 20th century, but all of them were concepts and stories regarding alien life. Going down the list he'd assembled throughout his education he tried to find one that had stuck in the back of his mind the strongest. The Hunter by Jonathan Horton, a story published in a small magazine over a century ago that detailed a series of killings and how they resembled previous acts of violence that were also unexplained. Horton believed that this thing was a culture, an old one at that, their race having traveled space for some time. Sounded similar to what Jessie had described to him in the mess hall awhile back.
Finding the title he quickly opened the link and began to skim through the compilation of stories, taking notes as he did so. This was a subject that would make this trip worth it, or at least would give him something to look into on those slow work days.