With that Ali got up and walked to the door. She raised her foot and kicked the door hard. The door flew off its hinges and crashed into the opposite wall echoing down a deathly silent hallway. Trae knew, deep down, that his men had lost to the aliens. He coughed as he felt blood flow out of his mouth. As the world went dark around him he could hear Ali's dark laugh echoing around him.
Ali walked down the hall, away from Trae's dying form, searching for other aliens. She found a group of them making their way back to the Hive. They were carrying a couple of unconscious soldiers and two injured aliens. Ali hurried to catch up and then walked next to the leader. He turned to her and stared at her for a moment. She understood what he was expecting her to say and so she told him, "Trae is dead; they no longer have a leader."
The alien nodded and turned to a few aliens that weren't carrying anything. He hissed to them and they hissed back before turning and running back down the hall. Ali watched them go and knew instantly what they were going to collect. Sure enough, when the aliens returned, one of them was carrying Trae. Ali looked at him closely and noted that he was dead. She smiled, glad that this was the way that he was going to end; nothing more than food for the new chestbursters.
When they got back to the Hive Ali immediately went on a search for TJ. She found him on the bed where she used to sleep and she hurried over to him. He was sleeping and had a few lengths of brown cloth wrapped tightly around his mid-section. Ali reached out gently and stroked the top of his head. He stirred and looked up. Ali smiled but TJ didn't respond as he turned as he pulled his head away from Ali and turned around. Ali looked at TJ with shock as he turned his back to her and she took a step back.
Do not worry too much about that Mother, Ali turned to look at the alien Queen on her perch.
"What do you mean?" Ali asked. TJ was mad at her for some reason and all her daughter could say was not to worry? Ali couldn't do that.
He is mad at you because you went on and did not wait for back-up, the Queen said gently.
Ali turned around and crouched down in front of the bed, "TJ, I'm really sorry if I worried you. I really should have waited for more aliens to come. I just wanted to kill Trae so badly that I didn't care if my life was in danger."
TJ turned slowly to look at Ali then he turned to the Queen. She cocked her head to the side as she listened then she spoke, He says that he could never be mad at you. He wants you to promise to listen to what he says sometimes; he is not just saying things for his health, he says them because he cares about you.
Ali smiled and climbed on to the bed. TJ shifted to give her room and she nestled in next to him. As he wrapped his tail around her he let out a gentle hiss. Ali smiled as she drifted off into sleep.
Ali woke up the next morning to see the Hive in a flurry of activity. Ali sat up and stretched as TJ climbed off the bed and stretched out like a cat. But then he flinched in pain. Ali knew that it was his wound that was hurting him. He walked slowly as he tried finding a way to walk without causing himself pain.
Ali waited as the Queen spoke with a few aliens and ran her fingers along the edge of her scar. She liked the way it felt under her fingers. But she thought with disgust that it was a reminder of Trae that would be with her forever. Finally, the aliens speaking to the Queen left and Ali stepped forward.
"What's going on?" Ali asked without waiting for her daughter to speak.
We are just wiping out all those who know of us. I sent many of my children to the Company building and had everyone there killed. There is no longer any threat to our kind; no one alive knows we exist.
Ali smiled and asked, "Can I go outside or do I need to stay inside?"
As long as you do not go near the city, you may do whatever you want, The Queen said.
Ali turned back to TJ and said, "Come on! Ya want to explore some mountains with me?"
TJ hissed eagerly and slowly followed Ali up the stairs.
Ali burst out of the orphanage and ran joyfully across the empty field. TJ ran alongside her letting out joyful screeches. But as they ran, Ali noticed as TJ ran slower and slower. Finally he stopped and dropped his head as he swung his tail back and forth; he clearly was in a lot of pain. Ali looked around and saw that they were only a few miles away from the Hive, they could get back if they moved slowly. But the wind suddenly picked up and sent both Ali and TJ flying off in different directions. Ali felt herself crash into the ground as the wind seemed to get faster and stronger. She tried moving but was held down by the wind. She looked up and saw a dark object in the sky, moving down to where she and TJ where lying. Ali looked over as TJ stood up and fought the wind as he made his way over to her.
The wind died down as the giant space craft touched the ground. For a while all was still, and then a loud hissing sound split the air as a door on the side of the ship opened; revealing a large figure.
Ali's instincts were telling her to run and get out, but her body wouldn't budge. The figure in the door-way stepped forward and began making its way to Ali and TJ. TJ hissed angrily at the thing as it came closer. It stopped moving and Ali was able to see the figure clearly. It was tall, about a few feet taller than a standing alien, but smaller, much smaller, than a Queen. It was wearing what looked like some type of armor and had a mask over its face. It had weird dreadlocks hanging down around its head. It took another step and a long, dagger like spike suddenly extended from a device around his wrist. The thing let out a loud roar.