*Man my fingers are flying! 1:14 a.m. and here we go for the third chapter wahoo!*
Chapter 3- Meeting you
Elvina whipped her tail at me and I dove to the floor to escape it. I ran close to the ground and got close but she reached for me with her talons. I bounced to the side and rolled.
"Come on, come get me!" I shouted at her. She hissed loudly and lunged for me. I jumped like I was going to meet her attach and then dropped down and away from her. Without skipping a beat I whirled and brought my knife to her throat as she tried to twist on the floor for a re-attack. I stood above her panting heavily. A small smile tugged the corner of my mouth. "Gotcha" I said.
Yeah, yeah, yeah. One more time for a tie breaker? She asked no hint of fatigue in her telepathic voice. I removed the knife and stood back so she could stand up. Elvina was a normal drone and in xenomorph years just about my age. She was my best friend.
"ya, sure. Just give me one second to breath here okay?" She laughed a bit at my "humanness". "Oh shut up" I said, giving her a shove in the shoulder. She grinned at me but back off to let me catch my breath. We had been sparing for almost two hours and with my new victory we were tied for wins. I approached her, signaling I was ready to go again. Her shiny black lips curled back to reveal the even teeth that lay beneath. If I wasn't careful she would rip me to pieces, even in training.
Elvina gave a challenging hiss and I took my fighting position. I answered her with a hiss of my own. As we went to spring forward mother was suddenly in the back of my head. I dropped to the floor on my back in submission. Elvina understood and did not attack.
Maia my child, I can feel my new children are almost ready. Go meet them. She commanded.
Yes mother, I answered. With that my Queen receded from my mind. I stood and focused on Elvina who tilted her head curiously. It had been a private conversation so she hadn't heard.
"The chestbursters are almost ready. Mother wants me to great them." I explained.
But didn't you help greet the last group? She asked. Normally (with the exception of a select few) we took turns being the welcoming party. It had been my turn last time.
"I don't know why mother wants me there but it is her will and I will follow it."
Spoken like a true xenomorph, she said. She knew of my insecurities as a human and always knew how to make me feel better. Regular xenomorphs wouldn't care about each other like this but like I said, my family isn't normal.
I grinned at Elvina and walked over to her and stroked her skull. It wasn't scarred like the skulls of the warriors but smooth and undented. She purred and her exoskeleton vibrated against my hands.
"I'm going to get clean for the greeting." I said as I pulled back.
Alright, go do your human thing. She said. Xenomorphs didn't need to bathe, probably because of their exoskeleton but I need a bath, especially after the friendly workout.
"I'll see you later then" She nodded her giant head. I ran off in the direction of my nest.
Our hive sits on a large number of underground lakes, it's how we get water and also keep the hive temperature in control. But seeing as its drinking water it would be inappropriate for me to bath in. Thus was my relief upon finding an underground pond through a tight crevasse in the hive home. Only I or younglings could fit through and younglings weren't allowed to explore. It was also cut off from the other water supplies so it was absolutely perfect.
I entered my nest and removed the thin animal hide bra and skirt that I had been wearing. Often times I wore make shift clothing because otherwise I felt naked. Xenomorphs had exoskeletons, I had animal hides.
Wearing nothing but my bear skin I walked a bit down one hallway and face the wall. You'd never know anything was here unless you knew what to look for.
I slid myself in and stood on the thin ledge next to the water. I dipped a toe in. The water was slightly warm from the sun's rays outside at the waters source. I edged myself in and enjoyed the refreshing feeling. All the sweat and grime of the day washed away. I felt my muscles relax and I sighed with contentment.
All too soon I left the water and returned to my nest to grab some fresh garments. Then I raced off to one of the hatching chambers.
…
I entered the large room filled with empty egg shells. Mother would not create new ones until a host presented itself or we needed numbers. These empties would be taken care of later.
A number of xenomorphs were already there. I walked up to an elder drone named Fatima. She was a drone who loved to take care of the children. She was the hives main nurse maid and had done so happily all her life.
"How long do you think Fatima?" I asked.
Oh not long at all now, in fact I can hear one beginning now. I envied her and her alien senses. I couldn't hear anything. Fatima moved towards one host body. It had been the female abducted by Galen. I followed her.
A few minutes later an audible crunch could be heard. The female's eyes snapped open at the pain. Her chest began to heave. Her breathing became heavy and labored. She groaned and we waited. Snaps could be heard at the chestburster wacked itself against the hosts ribs and forced its way out from the inside.
The female began to scream "oh god!" I stood still and waited. Finally, with one last effort the chestburster broke through and the humans dying scream mixed with the child's hisses and moans of new life. Fatima stepped forward and purred to the babe. Its head swiveled to her, trying to locate the source of the soothing sound. It fell out of the host body and onto the floor and slithered towards Fatima.
She bent down and gently picked it up. She turned and handed it to one of the other females waiting. That female took off straight for mother's chamber. I watched her leave. No sooner had she exited the chamber when another crunch was heard.
This time it was Placidia's human. The group shifted over and listened at the event repeated. The child broke through with a tiny roar. The first had been nothing but another drone, but this one was a warrior, maybe even a Praetorian class.
Fatima purred loader and scooped up the chestburster carful to mind it's already snapping jaws. Yes, I bet it will be a praetorian. Once again the youngster was passed on to a waiting carrier who rushed it to the Queens chambers.
Next came Cam. I stared coolly into his now open eyes. He found me and glared.
"You bitch, what did you do to me? OW! What the hell did you do?" he yelled.
"You have been given a great honor. From your flesh a miracle shall arise." I said. I smiled to him. His anger amused me so I decided to piss him off while trying to comfort him. I cocked my head sweetly to the side and said in an honest and sincere voice "Thank you".
He started to say more but the new xenomorph inside him struggled for freedom. I just couldn't resist.
"Does it hurt?" I asked.
He managed to stutter "You're sick" before my new sibling erupted from his chest. Fatima took care of the child while I still looked at Cam. Good riddance, I thought. But I had to admit, that last comment was indeed too much.
I didn't have much time to dwell on that as Riley's chest began to heave. He opened his eyes and just like Cam he looked at me. His deep dark eyes bore into me like space shuttles on turbo. I suddenly felt guilty.
"I'm sorry. I truly am sorry. But your sacrifice is for the best, believe me." I told him. He didn't yell, or cry, or struggle. No doubt the chestburster was wiggling inside him at that moment. I am truly glad I never had to know what that feels like, I simply cannot imagine. Riley just continued to look at me. He began to chant in what I imagine was some religious prayer before death. A religious scientist, oh the irony.
I met his gaze as he continued to pray but as the crunching of his ribs became louder I suddenly couldn't focus on him anymore. I was drawn to him, not just to him but to his chest. I stepped closer, no finding the will to resist this strange pull. Fatima stepped forward and firmly grasped my shoulder and shoved me to the side. She hissed at me.
It snapped me out of my haze.
I blinked trying to focus. There, better.
I let my gaze once again settle on Riley's chest and the spot of blood that had begun to appear. Cracking filled the chamber in a crescendo of noise as more and more the chestburster inside fought its way out. Riley rolled his head back both in content and pain but I hardly noticed.
The ribs were finally shattered and the young Praetorian was free, yes it would definitely grow into a praetorian. It moved its head back and forth and hissed softly. Fatima started to purr once more and the chestburster instantly honed in on her location. It snapped at her and she faltered for a second surprised.
It dropped to the floor just like the others but as Fatima moved to pick it up it again snapped at her. It hissed and moved its head from side to side searching for something. I stood still utterly curios as to what was happening.
The chestburster stopped moving its head and I realized it was facing me. It slithered across the floor and came right up to my feet and purred. Of all things it purred. A smile appeared on my face. This creature before me was the most beautiful child I had ever seen.
I bent down and picked it up gently in my arms. Fatima said nothing as I turned and headed off for mothers chamber.
I walked through the exit and hurriedly made my way through the halls. In my arms the youngling cuddled into my chest and arms rubbing its tiny ahead across my skin affectionately. It continued to purr the entire journey to mother.
Finally we reached her. She had sent the older children away with a drone and now kept the brand new additions close to her between her front limbs.
She noticed me enter and reached out with her inner front arms. I quickly ran to her and she took the babe from me.
Ounce it was in mother's arms its purr intensifies almost to a roar. It was so happy to be touched and cuddled by the Queen. Mother nuzzled the four new xenomorphs and purred deep within her boney chest. They gurgled and screeed in response.
I turned around and went back to my nest to sleep. I snuggled into the warm furs and fell asleep easily against their cushioning embrace.
*Okay CH 3 done. Well? Good? Bad? Alien? REVIEW PEOPLE!*
