*So here is the continuation. Let's see how this plays out*
Chapter 2 - Connection
I woke up to the sounds of my family moving through the hive. I shifted on my bed of furs my family had made me as a present. Being human I would sometimes get cold but the furs in my nest always kept me warm.
I stretched and got up from my bed. Walking down a familiar tunnel and into an open chamber I found Tia slicing meet off a recent animal kill. Tia was one of my elder sisters, she was a sort of close aunt.
"Good morning Tia" I said in greeting.
The same to you dear Maia. Are you hungry? She asked.
"Yes actually." I said and she handed me a piece of prime meat.
For our Maia she said. Oh how I love my family. I rumbled a thanks deep within my chest and took the meat.
Next, I headed off down another tunnel and came to a training room. Alcander was there teaching a youngling some fighting technique. Alcander was a tall Praetorian who was disciplined in mind as well as body. He was often serious but I always tried to make him laugh. Usually it took some human clumsiness or mistake to actually do it. Alcander was perhaps the one alien I would consider taking as a mate but he was still not what I was looking for and our connection just didn't spark the way I wanted it to.
As I slowly entered the training room Alcander raced up a nearby wall and leapt backwards at the youngling. He twisted his body in mid air and brought his tail blade forward so he landed on the warrior and forced him to the ground placing his blade at the opponent's throat.
You would be dead he said. Being a telepathic voice any exhaustion he might have did not show in his voice. It remained deep and strong as ever. I looked at the poor xenomorph being beaten by Alcander and noticed it to be Emil, an eager youth who was always looking to please. Emil's black lip flicked up, quivering in annoyance.
I will get you Alcader, one day you will lose. It wasn't a threat but a promise between sparing comrades.
By mother that will be the day. Alcander responded.
"I'm sorry Emil but I'd bet a deer's hide on Alcander every time." I chimed in. Alcander's mouth widened into an alien smile. I could feel his pleasure at the compliment within my mind. Emil on the other handed pouted to the best of his alien abilities.
Do you really have such little faith in me Maia? Emil asked while he shoved Alcander off and stood up. Ya, he was young but he still had a foot on me as I myself am only around 5' 10".
"No Emil, I believe you could take down a yautja hunter, but Alcander is no hunter." In fact Alcander was one of the top Praetorian guards. One of mothers prides.
Neither are you said Emil as he charged me. I leaped up and spring boarded off his sleek head to the ground behind him. I pulled out my make shift bow and arrow. I could fight hand to hand or with knives but my weapon of choice was a bow and arrow. Accuracy baby.
Your right said Alcander coming up beside me, she's human. I wasn't sure if I was supposed to take that as an insult or a compliment but he was smiling so I let it slide.
"And don't you forget it."I said. Alcander lowered his head and nudged me with his long skull. I draped my arm over him and used my other hand to stroke the scarred head. He purred at my touch.
Emil growled in front of us. "Alcander won the fight so he gets the reward" I said. Emil lowered his head and I laughed. "When you are old enough and take a mate for yourself then she will shower you with affection" I said still laughing.
Emil's head snapped up. Will you be my mate Maia? I stopped laughing.
"You are not old enough to take a mate" I said matter of fact.
But when I am would you accept me? He said
Maia deserved better than any old warrior let alone you Emil. She will choose only a true xenomorph. Alcander said.
Why I outta… Emil started as her once again attached Alcander. I jumped out of the way and let them resume practicing.
"Good bye you two" I called back to them as I climbed up another tunnel and away from the pair. Emil's question got me thinking again. I was lonely I'll admit that. But what lone human in a nest of xenomorphs wouldn't be? Is it so bad for me to know what I want and to hold out for it? I hope not, I'm almost 18 now. How much more waiting will I do?
As I began to look for a proper flint to sharpen my weapons with I heard my mother calling me gently. I raced into her chamber where she was cuddling the newly borns. No other queen would do that. She sat majestically. Hind legs bent and front limbs out before her like a canine. Her tail was wrapped close to her in a protective gesture of keeping the wormlike younglings between her skeletal chest and her tail. An alien playpen.
I approached her eagerly. "May I mother?" I asked.
Yes you may, she answered. I rushed over to her side and scooped up one of the chestbursters and cuddled it to my chest.
Maia, it thought in somewhat of a gurgle. It was still finding its xenomorphs voice. However, I could it was a girl.
"Hello young one, do you have a name yet?"
No, she answered, mother is waiting till I am bigger. Then she will name me. She replied. She got very excited. I chuckled to myself.
"When you get your name you'll have to be sure to tell me" I told her. She nodded her growing head in reply. Too cute, I thought. I put her back with her brothers and sisters and moved back around to sit in front of my mother's head.
"Good day mother" I said formally and bowed my head in respect.
My child you please me greatly. I lifted my head and smiled at her. She didn't have eyes but she knew. I have felt the land shake with the landing of a ship. It is much too small to be a yautja ship or even one of their pods. I suspect humans. I want you to go to them and bring them all back to be used as hosts. Do you understand?
"Yes mother. I shall do you bidding with pleasure."
Good, now make haste. Take a drone or two with you if you so desire. I stood and bowed again to her.
"I'll not fail you mother." I said and turned to run off. As I sprinted through the maze that is our hive I could feel her deep chuckling in my head, no, she said, I doubt you will.
I pushed myself faster. There would be new arrivals soon. I smiled to myself. I jumped through a tunnel and into a clearing. This one was often used for socializing or eating. I stood and swiveled my head looking for the right drones. Then I saw them lounging across the room. Normally, xenomorphs do not lounge but they had most likely done their duty for today and were about to head off to sleep.
I stepped up to them. They were huddled together not because of the temperature but because as of last year these two close friends had become mates. I was overjoyed for them.
"My friends, mother has felt a presence and has asked that we bring back all humans as hosts."
Mother will produce new younglings? The female Placidia asked excited. I nodded in reply.
I had not expected her to produce so soon after the last batch but I am glad that there will be new young bloods to train. Galen said.
"Indeed. Shall we make haste?" Both nodded and stood. I turned and raced away with both of them close behind me. We came to an exit quickly and halted to spy on our targets. Our position was raised so we looked down on the group.
Indeed mother was right. Four humans walked out of a tiny ship and began spreading in opposite directions.
What are they doing? Galen asked.
"They are taking measurements and samples most likely to test if the area is hospitable" I answered. I had seen many on my old station do the same as they were now. I watched the human male that walked towards the hives direction. He was tall and broad shouldered with dark hair that hung in front of his eyes. I tilted my head to the side.
From a human stand point he was no doubt attractive. But I didn't want a human mate. Alcander was right when he said my mate would be all xenomorph.
"I will subdue the closest male. Galen you take the female walking directly away from out direction. Placidia you take the human on the left. I will also take the one on the right." They hissed in agreement.
They sprinted away from me to circle around their targets. They would use their strength and speed to knock the humans out and get them inside. As the Queens preferred I would take two humans but with this body I would lead them in instead of attack.
I moved forward out of the shade provided by the hive home. I moved forward on all fours towards the man like an animal. He did not notice me.
I moved to the side of him, in between my two targets. Then, I grunted and hissed to attract their attention. I still remembered human but I didn't want them to think I was intelligent. I wanted them to think I was a harmless girl, lost and left to fend for herself in the wild.
They heard me and both their heads snapped up. The other human was also a male with blond hair as light as the summer sands. He was not as attractive as the other. As they looked at me I tilted my head to the side and widened my eyes in an innocent and curious expression. They did not see or hear their comrades disappear behind them.
"Hey Riley where do you think she came from?" Asked the Blond.
"I have no idea Cam" Answered the dark haired Riley. My head snapped to him. His voice, it was deep. Something in his voice called to me. I inched closer to him, unable to stay away. At this angle I could now see his eyes just as dark as his hair. They were all curiosity and scientific research but I bet he had a sense of humor too.
"Riley" I said. I didn't have to add the gruffness to my voice as I hadn't spoken English in a long time.
Riley's mouth dropped open. I struggled not to giggle. Cam took a step closer. Yes, that's it, I thought. My head swiveled to focus on him and he stared at me.
"Can you understand me?" Cam asked. I just stared.
"Are you alone?" Cam tried again. He took another step closer. So did Riley. I brought back my attention to Riley. He stopped so I inched closer to him.
"Alone?" I asked Riley. He nodded. Then I giggled as part of the act and leaped backwards and started to walk away at a fast pace on all fours.
"Hey! Wait up!" Riley called. I could hear his heavy steps race after me.
"Riley wait! You don't know where that leads! We should get the others. Riley!" But Riley was already following me into the shade. I disappeared into the darkness.
"Hello?" Riley called. I purred to him and a light stick turned on. He flashed it in my face. My purring stopped. He brought the light down to the grown. I purred again. He moved the light beam to see the entire tunnel with me in the corner.
"Amazing" he said. "Cam get over here you have to see this" he shouted back. Cams heavy footsteps drew very near. They stood looking at my hives home. I hissed. Their attention came to me.
I turned and walked deeper into the tunnel and waited at the next entry way to a tunnel running left. The hesitated but eventually followed me. I took the left tunnel and waited. Then I took a right that run for a while. Then I slipped down a descending tunnel and both of the humans tripped in after me. I leapt out of the tunnel and gracefully landed. They fell on top of one another in a heap.
In the darkness I stood on bipedal legs. I walked forward into the beam of their light sticks. Rubbing their forming bruises they looked up at me. I stared down at them. I bent over and picked up the human invention. I looked at them and switched it off.
Their world was overwhelmed with darkness. I screeched and my brothers came forward and grabbed the two humans and attached them to the wall as I had once been. I could see perfectly well.
I walked forward till I stood in front of Riley. His head swiveled as his sight adjusted. Finally he spotted his team mates attached to the far wall. So did Cam. Face huggers had already settled on them as the new seeds were sent down their throats and into their stomach. Riley started to struggle.
"You will not be able to escape." I said.
His eyes found me. "Why are you doing this?"
"So that my brethren can be born." I answered.
"You are not like them, I don't know what happened to you but you don't have to be like them. Help us and we can bring you back to human civilization" Riley said.
"I don't want to go back" I said. He looked at me like I had spoken xenomorph which I'm sure I hadn't.
"What?" He asked. Cam looked on at our conversation.
"You heard me, I don't want to go back. This is my family." To prove me point a close friend of mine named Elvina came next to me. I rubbed her drone skull affectionately. "Hello Elvina" I said in English to prove my point to the humans. She purred her pleasure. I tickled under her jaw lines and she screeeed loudly. All I did was laugh.
Riley and Cam looked at me like I was a lunatic but they did not have a chance to say anything as two eggs opened and the face huggers leapt at them and silenced them. Elvina and the rest began to walk away. When she noticed I did not follow she turned to me.
Would you like to train while we wait? She asked.
"Yes, I will meet you there in a moment." With that she walked off. I stood still as the protestant and muffled yells of the human males ceased completely.
I took one step and then another forward till I stood directly in front of Riley. The face hugger's tail curled around his throat. I smiled slightly. I lifted my hand and gently stroked the back of the face hugger that would bring us a strong xenomorph. I felt a happy tug in my mind and knew it was happy I had pet it.
I traced its spine with my finger before turning to following Elvina to a sparing chamber.
*Well still going. So what did you think? Huh huh huh huh huh? Review!*
