Hurst and Smith stayed in turret 3A as it was necessary to keep watch for Aliens at all times. They had been listening to the open radio messages.
There hadn't been anymore open radio contact since Communications had asked for a sweep of the entire building and the surrounding areas. It would take about fours hours to do so, considering that they didn't know what they were looking for.
Dawn was breaking. Purple clouds where turning to white as the one Sun rose.
Hurst looked at the sky as the daylight crept in. It reminded him of the sunrise back on Earth. That had been a long time ago. Hurst had left Earth at the age of 21 for military training. When told what his peers really meant by military training he had not believed it. Reality hit when he was sent on his first mission, a recon. He saw the Aliens first hand and realised it was all too true.
The loud crack of a sniper rifle going off brought Hurst out of his day dream. He turned to Smith, who was looking idly outside.
"What do you think it is Smith?" Hurst asked, deciding to break the almost dead-like silence of the entire base. Tension was high as many soldiers worried about the events of the last few hours.
"I don't know. Never heard of anything like it" replied Smith, "One things for sure, it isn't one of those bastards" he continued while pointing a finger at the rotting carcass of a dead Alien in the clearing.
Hurst glanced at it and scanned the area for any signs of movement. A thought suddenly hit him. Smith noticed this as Hursts tired face suddenly became alert, as if someone had just spilt ice cold water on his head.
"What's wrong?" asked Smith with concern in his voice.
"What if it is an Alien?" Hurst asked simply.
"Go on" said Smith, wanting to know what his friend was thinking.
"You know how our scientists created those damn accidents waiting to happen, the 'enhanced' Xenomorphs?" Smith nodded, "Well what if they somehow 'enhanced' them to become almost invisible, like that shimmer Raul described earlier?"
"Hold up, invisible?" Smith questioned, his concern turning into a look of amusement.
"Well up until a few years ago I'd have had the same reaction regarding aliens from outer space. Actually I did when the Company first told me. Then I was taken on my first mission." replied Hurst with all seriousness in his voice.
"Son of a bitch!" shouted Smith as if someone had just hit him on the head.
This made him think. If true it would mean that this close-knit family was not so close after all. This meant the scientists would have been keeping secrets between themselves, endangering the civilians and soldiers by doing so.
When the base was built it had been decided that information vital to others would always be shared and not kept from anyone. Keeping secrets would mean endangering lives. This became the foundation of the unity of the base; everyone trusted everyone else. This trust was necessary as the base was to be kept operational as long as necessary and so the personnel would be working together for many years.
Hursts theory, if true, would mean that this trust had never really existed. If others knew the harmony of the base would be broken. The soldiers and civilians would not trust the scientists anymore. This at a time when trust was needed most with the fate of humanity resting in the hands of the soldiers, civilians and scientists of Endora Prime.
"If that's true why wouldn't they tell us? At least Amy would say something. She's always shared information some of the others thought not vital", Smith continued, trying to make sense of this new revelation and find a hole in Hursts' theory.
"Orders higher up, the Company. Amy and the others couldn't do anything against the Company. You already know about the kind of things that happen to such people. Some are labelled insane, some disappear, some prison, others who knows. They would be helpless to tell us anything." Hurst said remembering past experiences.
"So now what? Wait till these invisible things kill us?" Smith asked anger deep in his voice.
"At the moment all we can do is wait. See what the sweep comes up with", Hurst sighed, feeling helpless. "We'll tell Adams and Finley when we get the chance"
-------------------------------------------------
Clink! The Predators restraints were removed. It looked down to where the restraints had been and then back at Amy. Tom was standing next her looking at the Predator. They were apprehensive and unsure of what it would do. Additional soldiers were ready and waiting outside the only exit in the lab in case of trouble. The soldiers recommended not releasing the Predator until the current problems were dealt with. Tom reminded them that there was no time to waste. It was a big risk, but they had to know whether it was friend or foe.
The scientists could feel the ground vibrating as the Predator moved off the upright 'bed'. It turned its eyes to meet with Toms. Tom could see nothing in its eyes, no emotion, nothing to tell what the Predator would do.
The Predator, at a height of over eight feet, easily towered over Amy and Tom. Most of its equipment had been removed when it was first brought into the base. The helmet; double tipped spear; wrist blades; shoulder mounted plasma cannon; razor disk and net launcher were being held in an adjacent laboratory. The scientists had realised after much trying that the wrist computer on the Predators left arm was seemingly fused into it. They had no clue that this device contained a self destruct capable of destroying the entire base.
The Predators light armour and netting had also been removed. Battle scars from Aliens, the scientists had noted, covered its brownish red skin. It stood almost bare except for the armour around the midsection which Amy had insisted be left on, giving the obviously intelligent creature some dignity. Now she hoped this would help in negotiating with the Predator as she stood staring at it.
"Hello" Tom said, breaking the eerie silence.
The Predator continued to look at him seemingly in contemplation, mandibles clicking.
"Hello" the Predator replied, almost exactly mimicking Toms voice.
Amy and Tom stood there astounded. They were speechless for a few seconds.
Tom, shaking his head to clear it and think straight, decided to continue the conversation.
"What is your name?"
"Kra'tak" replied the Predator, understanding the humans words.
Tom looked at Amy, thinking the same thing. It learnt fast just by observation.
"Hello Kra'tak my name is Tom" Tom said as he offered Kra'tak another handshake. Kra'tak shook his hand, just as before.
"Tom" Kra'tak said and then looking at Amy "Amy"
"Nice to meet you" said Amy with an apprehensive smile. She too shook Kra'taks hand, noting his strength.
"Do you understand that we saved your life?" asked Tom. He wanted to know whether Kra'tak would understand and therefore more likely to be friendly.
"I understand. Thank you" replied Kra'tak, obviously remembering the numerous times he had seen the humans use that phrase.
Amys face lit up with a bright smile, all signs of nerves gone. She was quite sure that Kra'tak was grateful and friendly now. Tom also felt the same, especially considering that Kra'tak could have easily killed them by now but had not.
Kra'tak then opened the wrist computer as Amy and Tom looked on in interest. Tapping various areas of the device Kra'tak ran a self diagnostic. He attempted to activate the cloaking device only to startle the scientists as electricity raced around his body and stopped. The cloaking device was damaged and would need repairing. Kra'tak would need his equipment.
"Equipment" Kra'tak said, looking at Tom.
"You want your equipment?" Tom asked, still wondering what had just happened. He decided to ask Kra'tak later, preferring not to risk aggravating him by asking too many questions too soon.
"Yes"
"Your equipment is in the next lab. We'll take you there now." Tom said as he picked up his radio. He had to inform the soldiers on guard outside of the situation.
"Tom here. Kra'tak is friendly we're taking him to his equipment now"
"Kra'tak?" was Private Heathers' puzzled reply. The others looked at her puzzled too and listened to the radio.
"Kra'tak is the creatures name." Tom said, realising he forgot to mention it the first time.
"Oh, ok. Understood. Over and out" Heather said still puzzled, wondering how they had learnt his name. She wanted to meet this Kra'tak.
"Where do you think that thing's from" another soldier, Private Hale asked.
"You mean Kra'tak? Well we didn't get a chance to explore its ship when we rescued it" Heathers replied.
The soldiers continued to guard the lab with renewed interest. Their curiosity would have to wait.
"All teams report in" Adams said over the radio. It had been three hours since the sweep began. The signals had constantly appeared and disappeared during the sweep, but there had been no visible sightings of them. Raul grew tired of constantly informing his men of a signal only for it to disappear and then reappear on the other side of the building. He was sure that the two signals had split up.
"This is Paolo, no sign of anything" he reported while slowly clearing another room with his team.
"This is East Entrance we're clear" Private Halden reported.
"This is West Entrance in the clear" reported Private Paisley.
The other sweep teams reported in giving the all clear much to everyones dismay.
After reporting in Private Halden turned to Private Duante.
"Got a smoke?"
Private Duante, his rifle hanging by its sling, reached into a pocket and removed a pack of cigarettes. He took one out and handed it to Halden. They were positioned at one of the two entrances to the communications building.
Halden lit the cigarette and took a long deep puff. Suddenly the metal door they were guarding opened. Duante dropped the pack of cigs and held his weapon in a ready position, as Halden turned around with his weapon pointing towards the entrance.
All they could see was darkness beyond the door; the lights in the corridor were out.
There hadn't been anymore open radio contact since Communications had asked for a sweep of the entire building and the surrounding areas. It would take about fours hours to do so, considering that they didn't know what they were looking for.
Dawn was breaking. Purple clouds where turning to white as the one Sun rose.
Hurst looked at the sky as the daylight crept in. It reminded him of the sunrise back on Earth. That had been a long time ago. Hurst had left Earth at the age of 21 for military training. When told what his peers really meant by military training he had not believed it. Reality hit when he was sent on his first mission, a recon. He saw the Aliens first hand and realised it was all too true.
The loud crack of a sniper rifle going off brought Hurst out of his day dream. He turned to Smith, who was looking idly outside.
"What do you think it is Smith?" Hurst asked, deciding to break the almost dead-like silence of the entire base. Tension was high as many soldiers worried about the events of the last few hours.
"I don't know. Never heard of anything like it" replied Smith, "One things for sure, it isn't one of those bastards" he continued while pointing a finger at the rotting carcass of a dead Alien in the clearing.
Hurst glanced at it and scanned the area for any signs of movement. A thought suddenly hit him. Smith noticed this as Hursts tired face suddenly became alert, as if someone had just spilt ice cold water on his head.
"What's wrong?" asked Smith with concern in his voice.
"What if it is an Alien?" Hurst asked simply.
"Go on" said Smith, wanting to know what his friend was thinking.
"You know how our scientists created those damn accidents waiting to happen, the 'enhanced' Xenomorphs?" Smith nodded, "Well what if they somehow 'enhanced' them to become almost invisible, like that shimmer Raul described earlier?"
"Hold up, invisible?" Smith questioned, his concern turning into a look of amusement.
"Well up until a few years ago I'd have had the same reaction regarding aliens from outer space. Actually I did when the Company first told me. Then I was taken on my first mission." replied Hurst with all seriousness in his voice.
"Son of a bitch!" shouted Smith as if someone had just hit him on the head.
This made him think. If true it would mean that this close-knit family was not so close after all. This meant the scientists would have been keeping secrets between themselves, endangering the civilians and soldiers by doing so.
When the base was built it had been decided that information vital to others would always be shared and not kept from anyone. Keeping secrets would mean endangering lives. This became the foundation of the unity of the base; everyone trusted everyone else. This trust was necessary as the base was to be kept operational as long as necessary and so the personnel would be working together for many years.
Hursts theory, if true, would mean that this trust had never really existed. If others knew the harmony of the base would be broken. The soldiers and civilians would not trust the scientists anymore. This at a time when trust was needed most with the fate of humanity resting in the hands of the soldiers, civilians and scientists of Endora Prime.
"If that's true why wouldn't they tell us? At least Amy would say something. She's always shared information some of the others thought not vital", Smith continued, trying to make sense of this new revelation and find a hole in Hursts' theory.
"Orders higher up, the Company. Amy and the others couldn't do anything against the Company. You already know about the kind of things that happen to such people. Some are labelled insane, some disappear, some prison, others who knows. They would be helpless to tell us anything." Hurst said remembering past experiences.
"So now what? Wait till these invisible things kill us?" Smith asked anger deep in his voice.
"At the moment all we can do is wait. See what the sweep comes up with", Hurst sighed, feeling helpless. "We'll tell Adams and Finley when we get the chance"
-------------------------------------------------
Clink! The Predators restraints were removed. It looked down to where the restraints had been and then back at Amy. Tom was standing next her looking at the Predator. They were apprehensive and unsure of what it would do. Additional soldiers were ready and waiting outside the only exit in the lab in case of trouble. The soldiers recommended not releasing the Predator until the current problems were dealt with. Tom reminded them that there was no time to waste. It was a big risk, but they had to know whether it was friend or foe.
The scientists could feel the ground vibrating as the Predator moved off the upright 'bed'. It turned its eyes to meet with Toms. Tom could see nothing in its eyes, no emotion, nothing to tell what the Predator would do.
The Predator, at a height of over eight feet, easily towered over Amy and Tom. Most of its equipment had been removed when it was first brought into the base. The helmet; double tipped spear; wrist blades; shoulder mounted plasma cannon; razor disk and net launcher were being held in an adjacent laboratory. The scientists had realised after much trying that the wrist computer on the Predators left arm was seemingly fused into it. They had no clue that this device contained a self destruct capable of destroying the entire base.
The Predators light armour and netting had also been removed. Battle scars from Aliens, the scientists had noted, covered its brownish red skin. It stood almost bare except for the armour around the midsection which Amy had insisted be left on, giving the obviously intelligent creature some dignity. Now she hoped this would help in negotiating with the Predator as she stood staring at it.
"Hello" Tom said, breaking the eerie silence.
The Predator continued to look at him seemingly in contemplation, mandibles clicking.
"Hello" the Predator replied, almost exactly mimicking Toms voice.
Amy and Tom stood there astounded. They were speechless for a few seconds.
Tom, shaking his head to clear it and think straight, decided to continue the conversation.
"What is your name?"
"Kra'tak" replied the Predator, understanding the humans words.
Tom looked at Amy, thinking the same thing. It learnt fast just by observation.
"Hello Kra'tak my name is Tom" Tom said as he offered Kra'tak another handshake. Kra'tak shook his hand, just as before.
"Tom" Kra'tak said and then looking at Amy "Amy"
"Nice to meet you" said Amy with an apprehensive smile. She too shook Kra'taks hand, noting his strength.
"Do you understand that we saved your life?" asked Tom. He wanted to know whether Kra'tak would understand and therefore more likely to be friendly.
"I understand. Thank you" replied Kra'tak, obviously remembering the numerous times he had seen the humans use that phrase.
Amys face lit up with a bright smile, all signs of nerves gone. She was quite sure that Kra'tak was grateful and friendly now. Tom also felt the same, especially considering that Kra'tak could have easily killed them by now but had not.
Kra'tak then opened the wrist computer as Amy and Tom looked on in interest. Tapping various areas of the device Kra'tak ran a self diagnostic. He attempted to activate the cloaking device only to startle the scientists as electricity raced around his body and stopped. The cloaking device was damaged and would need repairing. Kra'tak would need his equipment.
"Equipment" Kra'tak said, looking at Tom.
"You want your equipment?" Tom asked, still wondering what had just happened. He decided to ask Kra'tak later, preferring not to risk aggravating him by asking too many questions too soon.
"Yes"
"Your equipment is in the next lab. We'll take you there now." Tom said as he picked up his radio. He had to inform the soldiers on guard outside of the situation.
"Tom here. Kra'tak is friendly we're taking him to his equipment now"
"Kra'tak?" was Private Heathers' puzzled reply. The others looked at her puzzled too and listened to the radio.
"Kra'tak is the creatures name." Tom said, realising he forgot to mention it the first time.
"Oh, ok. Understood. Over and out" Heather said still puzzled, wondering how they had learnt his name. She wanted to meet this Kra'tak.
"Where do you think that thing's from" another soldier, Private Hale asked.
"You mean Kra'tak? Well we didn't get a chance to explore its ship when we rescued it" Heathers replied.
The soldiers continued to guard the lab with renewed interest. Their curiosity would have to wait.
"All teams report in" Adams said over the radio. It had been three hours since the sweep began. The signals had constantly appeared and disappeared during the sweep, but there had been no visible sightings of them. Raul grew tired of constantly informing his men of a signal only for it to disappear and then reappear on the other side of the building. He was sure that the two signals had split up.
"This is Paolo, no sign of anything" he reported while slowly clearing another room with his team.
"This is East Entrance we're clear" Private Halden reported.
"This is West Entrance in the clear" reported Private Paisley.
The other sweep teams reported in giving the all clear much to everyones dismay.
After reporting in Private Halden turned to Private Duante.
"Got a smoke?"
Private Duante, his rifle hanging by its sling, reached into a pocket and removed a pack of cigarettes. He took one out and handed it to Halden. They were positioned at one of the two entrances to the communications building.
Halden lit the cigarette and took a long deep puff. Suddenly the metal door they were guarding opened. Duante dropped the pack of cigs and held his weapon in a ready position, as Halden turned around with his weapon pointing towards the entrance.
All they could see was darkness beyond the door; the lights in the corridor were out.