It was all going according to plan. Ali had told Aglaia that the humans weren't protecting the hollowed out sections above the ceilings and it would be a good location to make an attack.

"Shit!" Hudson said. He was pointing his tracker at the ceiling and it was beeping out of control.

"Flashlight, move," Hicks said.

He grabbed a chair, reaching up to the ceiling. He pushed up on the ceiling and raised the panel, peeking inside. "Shit!" he screamed and fell back down. Vasquez and Hudson immediately start firing up into the ceiling. The flimsy panels collapsed as the aliens fell down en masse. Ali stepped back quickly, no longer the focus point as the soldiers fired at the aliens. She saw Burke near Gorman who was shooting at the aliens with a hand-held pistol.

Ali grabbed Burke's sleeve and pulled him backwards. "This way!"

Burke followed behind Ali as she led the way to the exit into the corridor. The corridor was empty when Ali and Burke ran through. Burke quickly turned around and started to close the door.

"Burke!" Ali heard Ripley shout from the other end of the door.

Burke managed to get the door closed and locked just as Ripley reached the door.

"Quickly, this way!" Ali said, tugging on Burke's sleeve.

He stumbled backwards slightly as Ali pulled him, staring at the door. He seemed to be second guessing himself and Ali had to pull hard to get him to follow her. Finally, he turned and ran behind her until they got to the second door. Ali opened the door and pulled Burke after her, this time locking the door herself. Burke was looking back frantically at the door as Ali ran across the room to the other door. She could sense Timothy's presence on the other side and she smiled.

"Burke, come on," Ali said and ducked through the door.

Burke continued to back up toward the door and didn't look back until he reached the door. Timothy hissed as Burke backed up behind him and Burke turned slowly. Timothy jumped forward and landed on Burke, knocking him out before he could scream.

Ali? Aglaia asked.

"What?"

The humans are trying to escape through an air duct. Are you going to rejoin them or are you coming back?

"I'm coming back. They already know who I am and it will be pointless to try and rejoin them now. I'm on my way back to the Hive, I have another host."

Alright. Timothy's with you? Aglaia asked.

"Yes."

Be safe.

Ali paced slowly in front of Burke. He was still unconscious from the hit to the head by Timothy. Suddenly, Burke's eyes flew open. He moaned slightly and raised his head. He looked around slowly, not seeming to process where he was. Ali stopped pacing and moved to stand directly in front of him. His eyes finally moved to her and he stared at her uncertainly for a moment. His eyes suddenly widened and his body moved slightly. He struggled when he saw that he was contained in a resin made cocoon but his efforts were useless. Eventually he stopped and fixed his gaze back to Ali.

"Ali?" Burke asked.

Ali smiled and looked down at the blossomed egg at Burke's feet. Burke gasped and Ali raised her eyes to see him looking down at the egg.

"It's inside of you already," Ali said softly.

"What? No!"

"It will grow and burst from your chest and you will die," Ali said, "Some reward for turning traitor to your kind, huh?"

Burke didn't seem to be able to speak; his eyes were wide in fear.

Ali.

Ali turned away from Burke's shocked face and walked to the egg chamber. Aglaia was awake and she turned to face Ali as she came in.

"What is it?"

There is someone here that I think you will like to see, Aglaia responded, She just arrived.

Already guessing who it was, Ali spun on her heels and ran back into the egg chamber. An alien was putting the finishing touches on a resin cocoon and Ali could see dirty blonde hair sticking out. She smiled and ran down the rest of the way to the alien. The alien stepped back and Ali saw Newt unconscious in a cocoon. Ali laughed happily. The moment she had been waiting for, the chance to watch the last of the colonists die at the claws of her aliens, had at last arrived.

"This is very good," Ali said aloud.

A scream behind her reminded her of Burke and she turned around and walked back to him. Burke was now struggling, a red stain already appearing on his chest. The third stage pushed against Burke's chest, trying to get out, as Burke screamed and arched his back. Finally, the third stage burst through with a screech and Burke went limp. The little third stage continued to screech as it poked his head out of Burke's chest. Ali walked over to it and pulled it free. The third stage screeched lightly now, comforted in Ali's arms.

Ali walked back to Aglaia's throne room, still cradling the third stage in her arms. The Queen had pulled her head back into her crest, a sign that she was asleep. Ali smiled at the sleeping beauty of the Queen. A squelching sound interrupted the silence and Ali turned her attention to the ovipositor that was attached to Aglaia just as an egg slowly appeared out of the opening at the end. The ovipositor rose as the egg landed on the ground and shifted to place another egg next to it. Moving carefully, Ali walked under the transparent ovipositor and climbed up Aglaia's back; once Aglaia had entered the state where there was no difference between reality and imagination, she couldn't be awoken unless a human was nearby. She nestled into the area just behind Aglaia's crest and set the third stage down next to her. The third stage hissed and rubbed its small head against Ali's chin. Ali smiled and stroked the pink head gently. A deeper hiss sounded to Ali's right and she moved her head slowly and saw Timothy climbing up Aglaia's back. The Warrior nudged Ali with his head in the same matter when they first met. Ali smiled; comforted by his presence. She closed her eyes and fell asleep.