"An experiment?" Aki said, having moved over to Eran.

Paul nodded "Back when I was working on Sigma 44, we tried something similar, but it never worked. We lacked certain components…"

"Paul, could you please stop being so secretive and tell me what Blood Moon actually is?"

Supported by Akkan, Paul stretched his back. Eran had gotten up, and moved down from the Altar, and into Aki's arms, for a short hug.

"Most of this is conjecture, guesswork, perhaps educated guesses, but guesswork nonetheless."

Weyland walked over to the corpse of the creature Akkan had killed, kneeling down to examine it. "We understand, go on."

"After you cancelled research on Xenomorphs, they, I don't know who, but the Olde Wood Foundation springs to mind, moved somewhere else, probably to LX-783. There, they continued modifying Xenomorphs, with the aid of the black chemical they found on this world, god knows how. The culmination of their experiments was codenamed Blood Moon."

"What is it?"

"It's a variety of the xenomorph that is supposed to be even more deadly. An unguided missile, something that's hard to kill, but retains its ferocity. Something that's uncontrollable."

Weyland lifted up the creature's body, and examined it. Paul leant onto Akkan for support.

"So we are dealing with a xenomorph here?" Aki said "A serpent would hardly overwhelm my entire ship."

"I did not say that."

"What did you say?"

"I say that they failed with the xenomorph. They didn't create a killing machine. They created something conflicted, at war with itself. Something that was hardly a weapon."

Paul pointed at Eran. "He is Blood Moon."

Aki looked at Paul incongruously. "That can't be true. He is Eran."

"Nevertheless, Eran is the first Blood Moon that was created. That was the reason you two managed to get off the ship."

"I don't believe you" Aki said.

"You want proof, fine." Paul gritted his teeth, and drew his gun, aimed for Aki's head, and pulled the trigger.

The gun went off with an ear-splitting crack, rebounding across the room.

A split-second later, Aki was lying on the ground, dazed. Eran was standing over him protectively, hissing loudly and brandishing his spear.

Paul holstered his gun. "You see now?"

That was fast. Akkan though to Paul.

Eran hissed angrily, dropping low.

Behind Paul, Akkan let out a hiss as well, entering fighting stance.

"Calm down, you two" Paul said.
Aki growled, as he rubbed his head and sat up "Why the hell did you do that? You could've killed me!"

Paul shook his head. "This was the proof you wanted."

Getting up, he clicked something at Eran, who visibly relaxed, but was still looking at them with an alert expression.

Paul softly kicked Akkan's shin Calm down!

Leave me alone! I'm doing my angry Xeno expression!

You're succeeding, for once.

Thank you, at last! Akkan relaxed, stroking Paul's head.

Aki looked thunderous, though. Being shot at didn't make him happy. He growled "You are a fool, Paul Cromwell."

"I am not. Don't forget, I was in Eran's head. I know what he is capable of, especially in protecting you."

"You mean you knew that this would happen?"

"Yeah. Eran is much faster than all of us, Akkan included."

Weyland cleared his voice "So that's what Blood Moon is. A Xeno, like Eran, with a box in its head or something?"

I know how to deal with Xenos with metal in their head.

I know you do. But it's not the case here.

"No. I told you, that it's not a xenomorph. I know from experience that any tampering with Xenos, no matter into what direction, always has unpleasant side effects. The Valaraoin had enhanced Akkan's mental abilities, accelerated the telepathy Xenos use to communicate. With Eran, the black chemical has enhanced his reflexes, his speed. But both enhancements have tampered with the minds, perverting any effort of weaponizing them."

Akkan nodded his head.

"What is it then?"

"It's a chemical weapon. The Blood Moon is the chemical, modified, somehow, in a way I don't understand."

"So you're saying what killed my kin on the ship is some sort of sentient gas?"

Paul shook his head. "There's no sentient gas. Blood Moon controls the weapon, yes, but it itself is some sort of creature. This is where my guesses get wild, because I don't have any data. I'm guessing though it's a creature that is related to a xenomorph in a way."

Weyland got up, the remnants of the thing Akkan had killed in his hands. "Something like that?"

Paul moved over, and checked the creature. It seemed like a smaller, different version of a xenomorph. "Perhaps. Though I don't think this is Blood Moon. Perhaps this is something they did to test the black chemical? I don't know."

Aki and Eran had moved over to have a look on the creature as well.

"They weren't here when we were here before." Paul said. "I think it is time we head back up to the surface again."

They headed back towards the pillars obscuring most of the room. Paul stopped in front of the first one and mentioned the rest to stop as well. He whispered "It's important from now on, that neither of you talk, or make a noise. There's a security system here that gets tripped by sound."

"What does it do?" Aki whispered, his voice guttural.

"It moves the pillars, and makes getting out pretty hard and dangerous. You follow my lead."
The rest consented, and slowly, on soft soles, they started to move through the dark pillars.

They reached the exit, which Paul opened with his palm. Not daring to breathe until it had slid shut again, they waited for a moment, and then breathed a sigh of relief.

"We didn't trip the alarm." Aki remarked

"It's possible it's been deactivated though. The creature moved through the pillars, as did we on our way there."

"It only works on the way out" Paul said. "We already tested that."

Weyland nodded. "Back to the surface then, Paul, you lead up ahead. Single file again?"

Akkan hissed and nodded.

They moved off in single file, Paul orienting himself along phosphorus markers on the walls.

Having squeezed through the crack in the generator room, they emerged into the waning day. The air was still, and after the cramped mustiness of the caves, felt refreshing.

Only the occasional Birdsong pierced the silence.

They left the generator room, and stepped back onto the concrete courtyard. The Shipstern Bluff was where they had left it, put back together. A smiling Jeanne was sitting on top of the ship, enjoying the air.

"Jeanne!" Weyland called, and she looked up, and quickly moved down the side of the ship, and towards them.

"Hey! Was the journey through the caves successful?"

Weyland nodded, and gestured towards the ship. "Is she ready?"

"We got to swap out the hydraulic fluid on the stabilizers, but she'll fly. Engine is working fine again. What's the plan?"

He nodded. "Me, Aki and Eran are going to fly back to where we came from and then check on the Odessa. It's likely that Aki's ship has already been towed there. We'll liquidate the threat, and then we will see."

Paul looked at Aki and Eran, and then at Weyland. "We are coming with you."

"I'm sorry?"

"Akkan and me are coming with you. You are going to need us."

Aki growled, but nodded "Yes."

Eran looked slightly uncomfortable but nodded as well.

Jeanne smiled "The Shipstern Bluff will be filled to capacity then. I can't offer each of you a comfortable place to sleep."

Eran shook his head and clicked at Aki. Aki translated "We'll just sleep in the hold."

Aki and Eran had withdrawn through the small hatch that lead to the hold, and Jeanne had apologized and locked it from the cabin. She had left them with a communicator, and they had taken some of the meat they had hunted themselves as food.

"You know, Fred, I'm just not feeling too comfortable on locking them in."

"Why do you do so then?"

Jean shrugged "The ship won't let me start if the hold isn't secured properly. The hold used to be unpressurized, and I retrofitted seals, pressure gates and wired it up to the main life support to make it pressurized, should I be transporting things that require a controlled atmosphere. But the hold bulkhead hatch, the one I just closed still counts as an airtight hatch, therefor the computer insist on it being closed. It can't be opened from the inside."

"Relax, they'll be fine." Weyland said. "Besides, they have a communicator.

Jeanne was manipulating the controls, and Akkan looked out through the windows at the colony base. It had started to rain softly, and the last light was starting to fade. Weyland had asked them if they needed anything from their home which they had declined.

You don't want to go, don't you? Paul asked.

There's a part of me that wishes to stay, yes. There is a part of me that wants to get back into our home, and stay there forever.

But?

I saw what happened to your hand. I realized how fragile you are. I realize that you need the contact to other humans from time to time.

Akkan, I'm sorry. Paul hugged the xeno. I know you would have liked to stay here. But we will return.

We won't.

Why, how do you know?

Because there is another, much larger part inside me that is sick of those forests. They go on forever and they are all the same.

Akkan stroked Paul's head, as the Shipstern Bluff's engines roared into life, and the ship slowly lifted off.

What do you want to do, Akkan?

I do have a plan. It's more like a wish though.

Tell me, my sweet.

Well, once Blood Moon is dead, perhaps we can ask Weyland for a ship? I mean, we helped him like a lot.

A ship? Do you know how to fly?

No The xeno kissed Paul's forehead, as they both looked out of the windows, watching the forest skim along under them. The ship angled upwards, and with a soft whoosh, it accelerated, heading for the stars.

It can't be too hard. Akkan said.

I don't know, I've never flown.

Perhaps we can ask Jeanne for advice? Anyhow, I just don't want to be stuck on one planet for like forever.

I think I like the idea, Akkan.

Paul felt the xeno buzz with happiness. Really?

Yeah. We'd have a lot of freedom. I'd like that.

You will ask Weyland?

Once Blood Moon is vanquished, yeah, I will.

Paul grew silent. Akkan brushed his hair. What are you thinking about, love?

Blood Moon. I have no idea what it can do, and furthermore, I have no idea how to destroy it. Paul seemed concerned, so Akkan massaged his shoulders.

Relax, love.

How can I when a big clumsy alien is almost breaking my shoulders? Paul grinned.

Oi! You're just so fragile!

Shut up!

Akkan hissed, and cuddled Paul ferociously, planting a big, sloppy xenomorph kiss on his face.

Weyland had just concluded the Pre-Light Speed checklist, and everything seemed remarkably fine. Jeanne was accelerating.

"What do you want me to do once we are on board the Odessa?"

"You stay on your ship. Don't stay docked, but stand off close to a docking area."
Jeanne giggled "That won't work, they are still after me."

"It will. You are going to do so in the shadow of my company vessel. I've already sent a message to Sergeant Smyth of my personal security detail, and he'll cover you with his ship."

Jeanne nodded. "That should work."

"And stay alert. I don't know what's on that station."

"Of course!" She pressed a few buttons "And since the Autopilot is activated now, you are going to come with me to my quarters." She smiled "We can't have you sleeping on the co-pilots chair for another journey!"