Part 13

Prince's POV on the Reunion

Okay, the next extra for SQ will be the farm! So keep an eye for that coming in the next few weeks!

11/12: Okay... I lied. But! This time, I'll have the first part up for the crew on the farm! It should be 3 or 4 chapters long. After the farm, we get to see them on a little vacation! I'm still taking requested one-shots right now, but that will close after I publish the bonus chapter.

Walking on the forest floor, Prince and his litter were slowly approaching the final destination. For the last couple of days, he couldn't quite pinpoint why the Queen and Henrietta were practically next to each other.

Perhaps Henrietta had picked up a new friend before being shipped off. Only, that thought pained Prince's heart.

Replaced.

What? Gently, his younger brother came to bump his head into Prince's shoulder.

Nothing, forget about it.

He could feel their concern about his sudden mood changes. As they neared closer and closer, the pendulum between happy, sad, and angry swung faster and faster.

Is that her?

Not even a yard away stood Henrietta, goosebumps rose on her skin and dirt covered her feet. A machine swung around her neck, a camera. It looked just like the picture Henrietta use to show him, one thing on her wish list.

Prince?! Is it her? Is that your friend?

It looks like her.

She looks nice. At the look his siblings gave him, Prince's brother, the one with the streak, chuckled nervously. I mean she doesn't look like the others. The ones on the ship.

Prince took a step forward, craning his head to get a better look through the branches that currently separated them. She took no notice of their presence, continuing to walk out of the woods and into a large area. A yard.

His mind pinpointed her location, feeling her sudden anxiety spike inside her mind. With it, he felt another pang at the back of his skull. Her anxiety made him anxious.

Prince? Are you okay? His sister nuzzled his neck, purring to get his attention.

One in the same. That pain was her pain. This anxiety is her anxiety.

What does that even mean? Frustrated, one of his brothers came to snap in front of his face, annoyed by the eldest's behavior.

We watch from a distance. Prince didn't correct his brother's disrespectful behavior but ignored the three all together as he headed into the branches and to a spot that granted him clear access to watch Henrietta's new home.

He watched as she warily stared into the forest before shutting the curtains with a quick flick of her wrist and keeping him isolated from her.

The next day, the older man, her guardian Prince assumed, left early. Henrietta had to yet to stir from her room. Eventually, she did, leaving on a large vehicle with more children around her age.

Where is she going?

School. That's a… bus. A bus. It will transport the kids to the school.

Oh…

They kept quiet in the trees, fully aware of the neighbors that were a distance away, but still a present threat. No one entered the yard, uncertain about the seemingly harmless animals inside the wooden structure, or the exposure the spacious area gave them.

Can we go get the food now?

Food? Yeah. Sure.

Prince didn't bother to turn to address them, keeping his eyes on the occasional passing vehicle on the road and the empty yard. It wasn't until he noticed his brothers hadn't gone too far as expected.

They were on the top of the structure, checking out the terrified animals inside.

No! You idiots! They aren't for us to eat! Jumping from his spot, Prince knocked them from the roof, tackling them into the bush and keeping them flat on the ground.

Hey-

Silence, idiots. Someone could have heard.

No one spoke, their sister remaining just across the field. The animals quieted down, every once and awhile give out strange noises of distress, but they too stayed quiet for the most part.

Don't hurt Henrietta's animals. They are not food. Go hunting if you're hungry. Stay away from the humans. Don't make a big mess, either. Prince moved away, he long each up and checking them for any injury he may have caused in his panic.

His sister came to sit in a branch close by, watching the scene with a keen interest. As soon as her brothers had disappeared, she spoke directly to Prince.

You're not okay. Your jumpy, agitated, and… and just not yourself. What's really the problem?

Prince didn't answer but chose to peek in on the strange animals that inhabited the defenseless structure. The large, muscled beast gave a 'moo', displeased by his presence, but understanding he had no intentions of hunting them.

I can feel it. Can you?

I feel nothing but you guys. Is it Henrietta? Is something wrong with her? Is she ill?

No. It's not her. Come, let me try to explain fully.

They headed back up into the cover of the trees, stretching themselves out onto branches. Apparently, the brother had been eavesdropping and returned almost immediately to listen to their big brother talk.

You, sister, are a warrior. A type of class within our kind set out to guard the drones and prepare for any defensive or offensive attack the Hive may make. We are a Hive, a group of our kind.

What are we?

The scientists and other beings, refer to us as xenomorphs. That is their given name for us.

What are we? His streaked brother bounced forward slightly, followed by his other counterpart.

Yeah. What are we?

You two are… mutated drones. They built the Hive's home. They took care of the younglings and such. Mustard drones, however, have a specialized role as hunters. You're stuck between a transition from drone to warrior. It's a natural occurrence, of course, but due to the serum they gave you, it may have caused a forced transition within you two.

They stayed quiet for a moment.

Is that why I have this streak on my head?

Probably, yes. There's nothing wrong with it, brother.

It makes you unique. His sister piped up, bopping him upside his head with the flat part of her tail.

What are you then?

I was once a warrior, like our sister here.

Was once?

Yes. He nuzzled his brother asking the questions before continuing. I am… was changing. I was changing into becoming a Queen, the leader of the Hive.

Why aren't you the leader?

He is the leader, dumbbell. She whacked him upside the head once more, but with more force.

I lead you because I have more experience and I am the eldest. I am not the leader. I am not a Queen. When I said that her pain was mine and her anxiety was mine, I was referring to Henrietta. For whatever reason, despite being as different from us as she could be, she is my Queen. Our Queen.

Before much more could be said, the sound of a roaring engine came to the front of the house. The bus had returned and with it, Henrietta.

So… we never really had to choose, did we?

No, brother. No, we did not.

Prince retook his spot on the highest, sturdy branch where he could easily watch her. He switched his senses, keeping an eye on her bouncy movements across the house.

His brothers finally went hunting, leaving their siblings to watch over their new Queen.

She loves you.

What? Straightening in his spot, Prince swiveled his head around to face her, despite being able to see a 360 around himself.

I'm starting to feel it. At first, I had to go through your link to feel anything from her, but now, I can. She's depressed and lonely and just a bit anxious. I think that's because the man isn't home yet, but her loneliness doesn't stem from anything other than the fact she misses you. I can feel it. She's thinking about you.

Prince turned his head back to the house, pushing his mind to fully connect to Henrietta's, just like he used to do on the ship. What his sister had said was very much true. Her anxiety, her depression, and her loneliness, but he couldn't feel what caused them.

How can you tell? I can't pinpoint the source of her emotions.

I'm not pinpointing the source. She keeps looking up at the sky. I don't think humans do that a lot. Besides, when she looks up, a feel a sudden peak of sadness deep within her and if what you say about her relationship with her father is true, then she must be thinking about you in those moments.

Dinner is served!

The carcass dragged along the forest floor to rest a few trees away. Their brothers didn't bother to wait, they just dug in. Per usual, Prince had his share last.

Her anxiety is peaking again and this time it hasn't gone down.

I feel it too.

We all feel it dumbo.

The siblings looked to their eldest, unable to judge his mood as he quietly watched the house.

Let's go check it out.

They followed him into the yard, the animals occasionally whining at their proximity.

Holy-

Turn that off!

Prince darted off to the side before the beam of light could properly hit him, his siblings following his lead. He had already closed his eyes, something they did naturally when not using their sight. His siblings, on the other hand, had gotten a bright flash of light to the eyes, leaving them uncoordinated for a moment.

Let me go turn that off. Then we can approach.

Prince paced behind the tree trunk as his young sister ran off to find the power box. He could feel her anxiety deep into his own bones, making him jittery. He knew she didn't like to be alone. Yet, she always was.

Maybe something's inside? Her fear is rising faster now.

Nothing is inside.

Maybe with the lights off, she got scared? Let's go see.

Both brothers ran forward before Prince could stop their stupidity. His brother with the streak came to a sudden stop at the deck, but his second brother barreled straight into the door by accident, momentum pushing him forward.

Get back! They regrouped at the tree line, his brother rubbing his head and whining from the sudden stop against the glass.

Maybe we should knock? Prince didn't respond to his sister's suggestion but advanced forward to the deck.

The door slowly slid open before a beam of light cast right on his sister's face. With a silent shriek of panic, they scattered, leaving Prince to calmly dance around the beam.

A shot fired in the direction his younger sister had been and he could feel her sudden fear and rejection. His brothers came to stand by her side, hissing gently in warning.

Enough! Stay back and behind me.

What if she shoots you?!

She won't. Go turn the lights back on. She's panicking because we turned them off. She thinks she's under attack.

Quickly, they scurried along back to the box at the side of the house.

Prince approached where he could see Henrietta sitting against the house. He gave out a loud but low purr in hopes to ease some of the anxiety that shot at her nerves. The light wobbly came to trace his form, not highlighting him fully.

Once he reached the edge of the deck, he heard a click from her gun. She hadn't been able to recognize him.

Remembering some of the movies they watched together, Prince sat on his haunches and lifted his forearms up in a pose he hoped mimicked that of surrendering.

The light would be appreciated anytime now, guys.

Got it! The switch was stuck.

Lights flooded the area, blinding them all. Prince winced, already anticipating the burning it would cause. He quickly closed his eyes, switching to an easier sense to see in the blinding light. Echolocation.

Her surprise outweighed the fear in her as she could finally see the creatures in front of her.

"Prince?"

A low, steady purr built up in his chest into a crescendo, louder than that of any freighter engine, as his dearest friend looked up at him in wonderment and awe. Then, she threw her weapon aside, lighting a flare of happiness deep inside his heart, and ran straight into his chest for a hug.

Oh, how I've missed you, Henrietta.

If there was one thing he wanted to experience, it would be the ability, in this one moment only, to shed tears of joy he had seen so many humans do.