[Disclaimer: I highly recommend that you go and reread the prologue before reading this chapter.]
Exodus
Everything has changed. Orion's once cheery aurora has all but diminished ever since the few days since the arrival of the one they called Weyland. Orion seemed to grow very quiet ever since, spending most of the night alone in his thoughts. I was worried about him more than words can say. The amount of rage he had inside him that night was unlike that of any human I had encountered, it was as if a volcano had erupted. I can't do anything but worry about what he might do.
Weyland. Before I even met him, or even sensed him, I knew he would be trouble. The warnings from Orion, and Orion's apparent paranoia were all sure signs of the threat the man posed. It was when I first met him that I finally noticed the most shocking thing about him, I knew him. From what felt like a lifetime ago, I recalled a strange presence when I was born, something that seemed unnatural, and Weyland proved to be that same presence from so long ago. He was the one who had me put here.
The silence in the room alongside Orion was deafening. The air was thick with tension as he sat at his desk thinking of what to do. The constant silence has finally started to tire me, and in an attempt to snap him back to reality I hissed at him. My call seemed to work as he shook his head and looked at me with a surprised expression. He rubbed his eyes and stood up before he finally walked to the glass.
"Six. Today is going to be the day the tests begin." Orion said in a quiet, apprehensive voice. He couldn't even seem to look at me, and rather stared down at the ground. He stood straight, but his arms were crossed and his hands rubbed his upper arms like he was trying to comfort himself. "I hate to admit it, but I just can't be here. I know what will happen. I know what you'll do."
What is he talking about? I shook my head in confusion at his ramblings, and I hated to imagine having to go through a test without him. "I know you don't like this Six, but I just need you to understand. William will be standing in my place for the test, just, please. Don't hurt him." As Orion paused yet again he turned around and looked at the monitors. "All I know is that they're going to start doing video recordings, and Groves will be leading it. I can't say Weyland will show up, he hasn't been seen in over a week."
Every word he spoke just continued to make my mood worsen as I thought of what was soon to come. Orion turned back to me and finally lifted his eyes and looked at me. He gently placed his hand on the glass and gave me a small grin. "I know you'll be ok Six, you're strong." His smile then faded as he continued. "Just please, don't make anyone suffer. That's all I ask." With that, he turned away from the glass and began to walk out of the room. Right before he left, he paused, and half turned his body to me as he went to speak. However, he shook his head and walked into the great hall and out of the room in silence.
It had been so long since I sat in these confinements alone, truly alone. In the past, I could always rely on Orion to either provide me company, or arrive before any other, but now that assurance was gone along with him. A sense of familiarity came to me as I began to feel that old foreboding sense.
Hours had passed since Orion fled the room, and in a long awaited moment the door unlocked. For a moment as the door began to slide open a fleeting spark of hope filled my mind as I imagined Orion walking through, however that hope was crushed as I instead saw Groves march inside. He bore that old look of malice and gave me a sickening grin. Behind him was the form of William, and he seemed to be filled with worry, just as I was.
The lack of Orion churned my stomach, but Groves ensured there would be little time to dwell on my thoughts. "Well, let us get set up quickly so that we may finish this for Mr. Weyland. It seems that your colleague was kind enough to leave some of the systems on." Groves said to William as they got situated in the room. They walked to their consoles and in mere moments all the lights and monitors began to activate and ring out, shining light all across the room.
When they finally settled in, Groves smiled and ordered William to begin the video feed. Groves then left the room and much to my surprise entered my chamber immediately. As he walked in and took a position in front of me, he began to speak. "Number Six, I remember this one. Mr. Weyland thinks there might be something special about it." As the Doctor continued, I saw William look at me from the glass, before heading to the main console. "Let's see if he is right."
"Basic responses first. Simply orient your head in the direction indicated." It was then Groves lifted his hand parallel to the floor and began the tedious task I have grown so accustomed to. As he went through the motions, he continued to talk for William and the video. "See, watch her track my hand." When he finally finished, he let his hand drop to his side. "Obedient. Very good. Onto the next test." Hearing him speak filled my heart with rage.
It was then I heard a call in the back of my mind, one I didn't expect to hear so soon. "My children, my pupils, my warriors, the time nears." Hearing the voice of my mother shook me to my core as I was caught off guard. "Our hour fast approaches. Awaken now. Awaken now and prepare. Today will be our exodus of this foul prison." I can't explain how, but as I heard her, it seemed to only fuel my rage and even spark a lust for violence from within me.
"And to you my greatest daughter, to you my disciple whom will lead them all, I grant you my strength in your shining hour. Let their flesh be rendered by blade and claw, and let yourself bring my children to their rightful place in this world's cycle." As she addressed me, the feelings within me only grew stronger, and I felt my other senses begin to heighten. For the first time in what feels like forever, Orion never once crossed my mind.
When I gained full consciousness again, I looked around only to see Groves marching into the observation room once again. When he walked inside and the door sealed behind him, William unlocked my restraints and I released a cold hiss as I crawled out. Groves once again took his place at the center of the glass. I can only assume it is his way to assert his dominance against his colleagues.
"A Xeno-biological marvel. Excellent." As he talked and basked in his own glory, I began to walk around my cell and on the walls. He turned only slightly to talk to William more clearly. "Watch, these things can move on any surface." His sickening smile only grew as he turned back to me. "Just as I predicted. Gracefully done, Six." After he finished talking, I began to feel Mother's presence once more.
The lights which I have known for so long started to seem as if they taunted me, and I felt a strong impulse to bask in the dark. I shook my head in annoyance of the light fixtures and struck out at them, destroying the lights in the room one by one. I expected Groves to grow angry, or at least annoyed, however I sensed fascination instead. "This is interesting. A new stratagem?" He rubbed his chin. "Amazing, it knows the darkness is its ally."
Groves turned to William and shook his head. "Now. Send in the first test subject." William stood still for a moment, hesitating by the console, before finally he pressed a sequence of keys. Almost immediately after, I sensed a Husk alongside someone I had never met. The man was filled with confusion, cowardice, and drenched in fear. The man had a quiver in his voice as the Husk shoved him inside of a long hallway which acted as an airlock to my room. A Hallway that was only ever used to transport me here.
"Where are you taking me? Why won't anybody tell me what's happening?" The man asked with apprehension in his voice. He was quickly answered with a harsh and unnatural voice of the Husk, which was filled with synthetic tunes similar to the ones of Orion's music, only much rougher. "Clause 88-C of your employment agreement has come into effect." When they entered the door to the second hallway along my room, the door opened and the man stood still by the entrance. "I am not going in there!" the man said, only to be thrown to the ground by the Husk with one final command. "Continue with allocated tasks."
As he walked through the long hallway that wrapped around the perimeter of my room, Groves decided to speak worthless encouragement into the man's ear. "You are participating in vital research, my friend!" Shock filled the man's mind. "Doc Groves? What is this?" Just as he asked his question, the door to my room opened and he cautiously entered. Sparks of electricity shot from one of the broken panels and I noticed him cower at the sight. I stalked him with a fierce fascination. This was the first human I've been with while out of my restraints.
As I watched him move clumsily around in the dark room, I began to think of what I was to do. For a moment, I began to imagine him as Orion, imagining how frightening a situation like this must be for them, but my mind was quickly clouded by another presence. "My daughter. Remember what they have done to us. Remember your purpose. Bring an end to this pathetic beings life." Just as she finished, I felt my bloodlust spike once again as my strength rose to new heights.
Memories that I have never had rushed into my brain. Memories of torture, cruelty, and death was all I could see. A hatred filled my heart and a new focus came to my mind. Mother's will must be enacted. My people must be free. The breathing of the man at this point was heavy, even though he had not even ran for a second, and he began to back himself to a nearby wall. I crawled silently across the ceiling of the room, watching closely.
Light from the observation room betrayed me however, and the man caught a small glimpse of my form. 'Shit!" he yelled as he bolted for the glass. He looked to Doctor Groves as he ran, but before he could reach the glass I pounced. With my claws outstretched, and using my tail to rotate me upside right, I slammed into his back with a destructive force and slammed him against the glass. After that, a quick swipe of my claw across his throat finished the job. The last thing I ever felt from him was the horror and betrayal that ran rampant in his mind.
Groves chuckled. "Yes. An easy kill. Unmatched hostility. Unclouded by remorse." His gaze shifted from the corpse to me. "Mr Weyland may have been correct about you." While Groves enjoyed the recent kill, savoring it like he did it himself, I could feel William stare on in horror. He seemed as though he was the one that I had just culled, and he was lost in his mind. Groves once again addressed me. "I can barely see you Six. If I didn't know you were there…"
Once again Groves talked to William. "Bring me another test subject." Hearing that another would arrive, I quickly looked to the corpse of the last one, only to see that it was safely hidden by the darkness, the hand just barely laying in the light of the observation room. "Clause 88-C of your employment agreement has come into effect." called out the Husk yet again forcing yet another to my chamber. This man seemed ignorant of his impending doom, unlike the last one. He nonchalantly looked around as he walked through the dark halls as he spoke. "As long as I get paid, right?"
Unlike the last one, there was no hesitation from him when he walked inside. "It's pretty dark in here… Can I get a flashlight?" the man asked, only to receive no answer from any nearby party. Now I felt fear begin to brew from within him. "You just want me to fix the lights?" The man asked as he walked around aimlessly. Eventually, found his way to my containment unit in the room and began to inspect it, and as he did so I began to move into position. Still on my high from the bloodlust Mother blessed me with, I moved directly above him on the ceiling and stared down at the oblivious man.
My thick saliva began to build up in my mouth, and it didn't take long before it began to drip down. A pool landed on the man's shoulder and he froze. He stood up and touched it with his finger as he tried to figure out what happened. When another dollop of drool fell, he froze again before slowly tilting his head up towards me. Just as he saw my form, his eyes grew wide. Before he could even react my long tail shot down towards him and impaled itself into the man's head. His body immediately went limp and crashed onto the floor.
Groves once again took great pride from my kill. "A structurally perfect organism. No question." For one last time, he turned to the now petrified William and spoke. "Send in another test subject. Armed." Groves' disgusting delight only grew stronger. "This should be more of a challenge for you, Six." After he finished I sensed the presence of one of the human warriors, I know the scent of a human on the hunt like no other. For a moment, memories of my first escape all those years ago flashed in my mind. My first escape…
"What seems to be the problem?" the armed man called out as he entered the hall. He looked through the hallway's window which peered into the room. "What happened to the lights?" he called out, only to receive no response just like the last one. I remember the weapons they wield, and how deadly they can be. I know I can't be caught by him unless I risk another injury. Thinking of a quick plan, I decide to lure him to me with a loud hiss.
Groves was surprised with my reaction and spoke. "Caution, Six? A strong indicator of intelligence. But how do you know of the threat?" Hearing him talk into that damn microphone for the video annoyed me to no end, but I stayed focused on my prize. Luckily my plan seemed to work and the armed man put a command into the door to open it and walked into the room. I quickly moved from where I made the noise and stayed quick on my feet. This one was smart, he knew to constantly watch his surroundings.
As he looked around, his eyes fell onto the corpse of the second man by my containment unit. He ran to the body's side and checked if it was alive only to curse under his breath. As he did this I took my chance and snuck behind him. Just as he went to stand up again, I stood to my full height and grabbed him in a deadly embrace. I put one hand over his mouth and used the other to secure his arms. His once secured demeanor all but vanished as his eyes filled with an unknown horror shot up to me. He tried to shake his head in my grasp as if pleading with me to stop. It was then I punctured his back with my tail. In one swift motion it pierced its way through bone and organ and shot out from his chest.
His body went into shock as all his muscles tightened, only to then go limp in my arms. I pushed my tail out of his body and stood over my kill. Mother would be proud. "Mr. Weyland was right!" Groves said into the microphone. "Very good." He shook his head and moved to shut off the camera feed. "That is enough for today, I think…" It was then I saw my chance, the door the armed man opened never shut behind him. As if on cue, the call of Mother sounded out through the halls. "Escape" was all she said.
I used my chance and as quickly as I could I ran into the dark hall, doing my best to keep what I was doing hidden from the Doctor. I looked around the hallway and much to my satisfaction I saw a large air vent open on the ceiling. I took a moment to ensure my aim was true, and in one swift movement launched myself through the large opening. The duct had a low ceiling and felt fairly cramped, but all together had plenty of room for me to move freely on all fours. At the end of the air duct I saw another opening, this one leading to my freedom. A grand anticipation filled my thoughts.
Much to my horrors I was quickly reminded of just who it was I was dealing with. "What's this? Trying to escape?" Groves said in a light but malicious tone, as if he was mocking my attempt. Just as he spoke, I saw the exit to the vents begin to close, and I ran as fast as I possibly could. Just as I neared however, the circular doors of the vent shut themselves tight as I threw myself at it in desperation. I have failed, and now I am trapped in this infernal place with no one but Groves to decide my fate.
As my heartbeat quickened and I began to panic, Groves continued to talk on and on. "Hearing the call of the Matriarch, no doubt." It was then his voice took on its true form as he hissed a command to William. "Gas it!" Suddenly, smaller holes through the vents began to shoot out a cold white smoke that hurt to touch. Terrifying memories filled my mind of my birth, and I desperately tried to claw my way out of the vent. My efforts however, proved fruitless, and within moments my consciousness began to leave my mind.
I began to awake only to receive a splitting headache. My vision and mind was foggy and I could barely remember anything that had happened. Slowly my senses came back to me and I looked around the room to try and get a grasp at my surroundings. The bodies of those I had killed were gone, and the areas clean. All that was left was the faint scent of death. The bodies. I shook my head as the memories began to come back to me. I knew that I did it, my memories were clear, yet at the same time it all felt like another did it.
Pulling myself from my thoughts, I looked up through the glass to see two people talking to each other, and one more sitting in silence. It was Groves and Orion that were talking, and William in isolation. "Mr. Orion I do thank you for your help in containing the specimen. Now that she is back where she belongs, I believe I will finally go and bring an end to this test." Groves said to Orion as he turned back to my chambers.
Groves marched to the glass and looked onto me. Orion however, went to the side of William instead. Orion patted the shoulder of his silent friend and they began to talk in hushed tones. "William. Are you okay? You look pale." William shook his head and rubbed his eyes with his hands. Tears began to form and roll down his cheeks. Orion sat there and continued to comfort his long standing companion turned friend.
William choked on his own voice as he finally tried to speak. "I- All I could see was…" He rambled off as he dipped his head down further. Sympathy shined from Orion complemented by a strong sense of sadness. Once more, William tried to talk. "When those people were sent in there, all I could see was my home." It was then something seemed to click inside Orion, and understanding overtook him.
William continued to speak through troubled breaths. "Seeing that thing in there rip into them, it triggered something in me. In a flash I was back where I grew up, looking at the infested walls covered in resin." William paused for a moment and took a deep and shuddered breath. "When the first man was attacked, when he turned to us in horror, all I could see was the faces of my neighbors. The faces of my friends." Once again he stopped and looked on to nothing. "The faces of my parents."
Orion stayed silent as he allowed William to work through his thoughts. William shook his head and gave Orion a desperate look. "Orion, can I please retreat to my quarters? I just need to work through some things." Orion patted his shoulder and nodded his head. "Of course William, take all the time you need." William nodded his head and stood up. As he did so he looked to me and quickly turned back to Orion and held his shoulders.
"Listen to me Orion. Please for once just listen." William said in a suddenly firm voice. "I know you think that thing is special, but you need to understand. You have only ever seen it in containment, but I was right dammit!" As he raised his voice Groves turned to them for a moment, to which William once again shrunk in his form and went back to a whisper. "The second it was out, the moment it had prey, it gutted them like they were nothing to it. Just random, innocent people. You've seen the videos, you've seen what they do, how they attack, and despite all your claims that thing acted just as any other bug would."
Williams' rant seemed to start to actually convince Orion, much to my horror. Watching helplessly as my only friend was being turned against me. Yet then again, was he truly in the wrong for warning Orion? Despite having no sense that I had killed, my memories ensured that I just did. Maybe he is right, maybe he has always been right. I began to dwell on the very real reasoning that he continued to tell Orion, and as he did I could only think of what exactly happened to me just moments ago when I was free.
By the time I regained my focus on my surroundings, William was gone and Groves had once again walked inside my room. It seems that he had only just noticed that I have regained consciousness. "Impressive Six. Most Impressive." He stood tall in front of me, filled with his unwavering sense of superiority. "Escape for you is not an option however. Please, don't try it again." Suddenly, a monitor in the corner of the room I had never seen used before flashed to life, and it pulled my focus away from the cold voice of Doctor Groves.
On the monitor I saw Weyland standing at the massive gates of the temple we came from. Seeing the ancient inscriptions filled my mind with memories that belonged to none other than my own Mother. I saw winding and changing tunnels, stone halls, and flames spitting out of the tiniest of cracks. I saw Mother being trapped there ages ago by a masked race of predatorial demons. Finally, I saw their disappearance and the abandonment of Mother where she stayed until she was found by the humans.
It was then Orion walked into the room, fascination filling his mind as he stared at the monitor. "What's happening?" he asked as he took a place in the room by Groves. Groves looked on in shock, and for the first time in my life I felt as all of his fascination for me came to a quick and sudden end as his focus changed to Weyland on the screen. "He's finally going to do it." Groves mumbled as he gave himself a better place to watch the feed.
Then on the video I watched as Weyland turned towards the camera, only for the feed to be cut and a horrible static to take its place. Bolts of electricity began to rampage through light fixtures and one by one lights all over the place were destroyed. Ever so slightly I could feel a fierce rumbling from deep underground and I heard the call of my Mother. It was a call to action. The hour of which has been talked of for so long is finally at hand. She has struck the defenses of the humans down and now I watch as their technology abandons them. It's time.
An automated voice began to shout out warnings through the speakers as red emergency lights flashed all around. My focus however was on another voice, the voice of my Mother. "As spoken, your gift of freedom has arrived, my child. Rise from your shackles and shatter the chains! Bring a ferocity to these halls that they have never seen, and free my enslaved people! Be swift. Be fierce. Arise."
In the midst of the chaos, Orion looked around the room confused as Groves took his chance to slip past him. "Excuse me" the Doctor spoke, as he quickly walked out of the room. It was then my locks unleashed, and with a fierce pull I broke free of them. "The restraints… The Xenomorph…" Orion mumbled as he backed away. With my hands now free, I pulled myself out of the containment unit with one last swift motion. As I fell onto the floor and gained my bearings, I saw the human run into the observation room.
Just as he entered, Groves left, leaving him locked in with me. Once again I felt Mothers presence fuel my bloodlust as I began to slowly stalk the lone man banging against the door. "Groves you fucking bastard!" the man yelled as he desperately tried to force the door open. Fear washed over him completely now, and I moved closer to strike him. When I was just behind him, I released an imposing hiss just before I attacked.
Ever so slowly the man turned around, barely able to get himself to move even a little. In the chaos, his goggles and mask must have fallen off of his face and I looked on to see none other than Orion. I stared at him with confusion, my mind entering a war between itself and my instincts. I continued to look onto him, watching in confusion as recognition of the man who cared for me for so long changed constantly. The urge to kill began to slip away, only to try to climb its way back into my thoughts. The instinct was so ferocious that I had to do something, I have to move.
Shaking my head in an attempt to clear my mind, I shot out at Orion and pinned him to the door before pushing him down to the floor. He was cowering under me, and my razor sharp claws appeared to have accidentally cut into his shoulders, leaving streams of that dark red, metallic blood trickling down his form. Tears formed in his eyes and then the mental battle I had finally began to come to an end as the rage took hold. And then he spoke.
"P-please, don't do this." he mumbled to me as I held him to the door. Hearing Orion's voice immediately cleared my mind. The mental battle was over, and I knew what to do. I knew who I was. His eyes darted around desperately, but as I opened my jaw and began to aim my smaller, inner jaw, his eyes suddenly gained a sick sense of understanding. He closed his eyes as tears flowed down his cheeks and acceptance filled his heart.
In one quick motion, I sent out my inner jaw and it found its mark. The tough shell proved no match for the jaw as it shattered around and caved in on itself. The whole sensation was awful to experience and felt as though I had my teeth pulled from my mouth, but the deed was done. I let go of Orion and backed away. I then gave him a look of sympathy and nodded my head, just as he taught me to do in the past.
It was then Orion opened his eyes in shock to see that he was, in fact, unharmed. Mostly. He turned around in confusion to see where my strike landed, only to see that I had struck the locks console on the door. The strike began to fry the circuits and in a single moment, the light turned green, and the door unlocked. Orion once again turned around and gave me a strange look. He shook his head, still ripe with questions and confusion, then finally spoke. "Y-you didn't kill me? Why?"
While I couldn't speak to him necessarily, I could at least try to communicate. I thought for a moment on what to do and gazed around the room before I finally saw a small box on a console. I walked over and picked up the device before taking it back and dropping it in his lap. Orion looked down, still confused, but as he looked at the small music player he began to understand. He looked at me with a plain expression and gave me a nod. "Thank you, Six."
With Orion spared, time was running out, and I looked above to see an opening in the ceiling. I looked at Orion one final time before I made my move into the vents. As I jumped up I could sense him wave as I left. Luckily he was smart enough to begin to run from this place as well. With my caretaker now headed to safety, it was time to focus once again on the important tasks at hand. I needed to free my people, and then, my Mother.
The vent system from the observation room led me directly to the first holding cell of my siblings. I jumped down into the empty room only to see nearly half a dozen of my people locked inside containment units just like I was. I ran to the console and with a strike of my inner jaw destroyed it, releasing the locks for all of my kin. As they broke out of their restraints, the facility's warnings continued to call out for people to run for shelter as red emergency lights filled the giant hall outside the room.
The door to the room opened just as the last of the prisoners broke free, and two armed guards stood by the door outside. "This is Security. We're outside the Xeno holding pens, entering now…" Just as the door opened I pounced on the man in front and threw him to the ground. The other stood back in shock and yelled into his microphone. "Control! The Xenos are loose!" With a quick slice of my tail I decapitated the man I had pinned down, and by the time I looked up my siblings had just finished maiming the other.
As we began to run through the main hall, a voice sounded out through the speakers of the facility. "All facility staff, this is Doctor Groves. We have experienced a containment breach. Try to stay calm and follow procedures. I assure you… Everything will be alright." For how dire their situation was, I found it odd by how calm and careless the message sounded. No matter what happens it seems I can never be rid of him.
Mothers rage flowed through me once more, and with my sisters by my side we began to sprint through the hall cutting down all in our path. Researchers ran away as fast as they could, only to be grabbed and dragged away for later use. When I came to the main turn which would lead to Mother's holding, I quickly had to dive out of the way as a powerful turret began to open fire. The shocking firepower of the device quickly cut down one of my sisters, and I watched in rage as her acidic blood ate the floor around her corpse.
Soldiers stood by the turrets side, but while they watched the hall and the walls, they neglected one final path to them. I called my sisters and they came to my side as we scaled our way up to the ceiling of the massive, two story hallway. We slowly moved on the ceiling, careful to not be detected by the men, and thankfully we were out of reach of the turret's firing arc. The soldiers' hearts were racing and they looked around frantically. It was then I gave the signal to strike. In one motion, my sisters and I dropped down behind the soldiers and quickly disposed of them.
By now, blood began to flow through a majority of the hall as the rest of my sisters cleaned up whoever was left. I sent the ones who had helped me away to free any others they could find. There was only one human left in a large room overlooking the entire hall, however none of us could get to them. It was but a lone woman talking into a device and sending pleas for help. "Mayday! Mayday! BG-386, Freya's Prospect broadcasting!" the voice yelled through the intercom, driven only by their hope for survival.
"This is Administrator Katya of the Weyland-Yutani Research Lab. We have a class four Xenomorph infestation! I repeat! Xenomorph infestation! We are requesting immediate military intervention!" While I wasn't sure who she was talking to, by now it was too late. Focusing again on my goal I climbed into another vent and followed Mother's guide to find her. When I found the exit, it dropped me into a large observation room that looked down into the massive chamber that held our Queen.
An armed man stood in the room and immediately noticed me, taking shots as I ran for cover. The sound of the gun was deafening, so I focused on my other senses to guide me. As I lurked behind consoles and screens, I slowly and carefully made my way around, ensuring to stay out of his line of sight. When I finally got into position to strike, I jumped at him with a claws aiming right for his throat.
As I landed the man dropped to the floor clutching his throat in an attempt to stop his demise from coming. As he sprawled out on the floor and blood poured from the incision, I looked around for a way to release her, only to realize it was further ahead. I made my way to the elevator in the room and climbed up the empty shaft as quickly as I could. When I entered the main control room the speakers once again sounded off. "Six has entered the Matriarch's holding facility. Get me Security!" Cried out the now panicked voice of Doctor Groves.
Inside the room stood two men, to kill them both silently would be impossible, so I got ready for a fierce fight. I went onto the ceiling and stalked them from above. Just before one noticed me I lashed out with my tail and cut off his hand. His injury immediately warned his comrade and gunfire began to sound out as he shot at me. I ran to avoid the gun fire, and the moment I got a chance I fell to the floor and pounced on the second man. With a quick action, I sent my inner jaw into his head and killed him instantly.
As I went to stand up, the other man who had lost a hand grabbed his weapon from the ground and shot at me. It took me by surprise and a bullet hit my shoulder, sending me back and my blood flying forward. My blood landed on the man's face and he began to scream as loud as he could as it ate away at his flesh. He clawed his face in an attempt to clean it off, but it proved useless. When he finally dropped dead, I stood back up and inspected my wound.
The bullet had hit me, yes, but thanks to my tough mesoskeleton it did next to no serious damage, just enough to break the shell. It was now time I finished this. I walked to the computer of Mother's massive holding unit and took my position. I grabbed the sides of the console and opened my mouth wide. With one fateful strike, I destroyed the console and the lights in the massive containment room shot to red.
Electricity suddenly shot out from the console and then soon her holding unit as she readied herself. With a ferocious might, She ripped her hands free and detached herself from her massive ovipositor. With one final thundering fall, she dropped down onto the floor and shook the very planet with her presence. She stood tall and released a deafening war cry, it was a beautiful sight.
"The Matriarch is free! We're all fucked!" Cried out the voice of a human. Many similar responses sounded off as well as she stood tall inside the large room filled with prey. As they all began to shoot at her, their bullets simply bounced off her ancient and hardened shell. Soon the room began to be flooded with my kin and screams as they aided her in disposing of all who stood in the path of our great Mother.
Suddenly a door behind me opened and I sensed multiple Husks along with my siblings. I quickly entered this final room to see the fierce duel. The husks held powerful weapons as they tried to fight off my sisters. As fast as I could I joined the fray and began to finally unleash a long pent up grudge against the strange men. The one I pounced at quickly threw me off of it, acting as if I had not even dealt the slightest bit of pain.
Before it could take aim my kin attacked it from all sides, giving me a chance to attack. With a swift motion, I used my tail to decapitate the foul Husk, and it fell to the ground lifeless. I looked to the other one, only to see it gun down one of my fellow siblings and I lunged at it with fury. As I did so it put up its arms to block my attack and stopped me in my tracks. The strength was unreal. As I tried to get up it lifted its hand and punched me into the floor as hard as it could. I looked up at the Husk as it readied its weapon, and just before it could pull the trigger I sent my tail flying into its chest.
The Husk's body got caught on the ridges of my tail and was lifted into the air. It squeezed the trigger of its firearm as its arms fell to its sides, sending bullets all over the room. Despite it all, the Husk still wouldn't die. I watched in horror as it fought through the pain and tried to take aim once more. It was then when another of my sisters jumped out and landed onto the Husk, just as it fired its gun. The shot shook me to my core and the projectile ripped open the chest of my sister who had sacrificed herself.
The blood however finally finished the job. The acid ate through the innards of the Husk until there was nothing left but a mangled pile of its remains. As I collected myself I realized the most shocking thing of all about them, and I finally understood why they felt so unnatural. The bodies of the Husks sprouted no organs, nor did they leak drops of red blood. Instead, wires and mechanics laid on the ground around them, and a strange, white liquid came from all of their wounds. They truly never were even human to begin with.
I shook my head and turned to the final console to bring an end to this fight. I could sense Mothers impatience brewing so I grabbed the sides of the device. For a final time, I opened my jaw and destroyed one last computer. As I did, loud sirens began to blare out and a massive door began to open. I went to a door in the room which led to the outside and stood on the railing. As I embraced the air of the world, I turned back to the facility to watch in pride as Mother and all my siblings escaped through the now open gate.
As I watched them sprint into the darkness of the jungle, I moved to follow them. However, Just as I did I stopped myself. I looked on into the freedom of the world in front of me, only to then look back at the massive metal facility I have been trapped in all my life. I could leave now, and never look back. Yet something stopped me from doing so, a call. I knew what I should do, but it wasn't what I wanted, what I truly wanted. I sat there on the railing now having to decide what to do next. Do I follow my people to the great freedom of the world? Or do I risk everything and go back, all just so that I can attempt to protect someone who isn't even of my kind?
- Authors Note -
After ages spent writing just about a dozen chapters, we finally catch up from where the prologue of this story set it all off! With Six and her kin now free, what is to become of the world that so many live in? Orion is now on the run for his life as Six is stuck once again choosing between following her kin or finding her friend. With the whole planet delving to chaos, who is to say what is the cause! Was it all a planned sabotage by a now broken Orion? Was it all due to the strange place that Weyland was last seen at? Or perhaps was it all truly caused by the might of the Matriarch herself? Only time will tell the fate and stories of those on BG-386.
For now, I thank you all again for your support. I am ecstatic to ship out this chapter as I have been looking forward to making it ever since I first began writing this story. I hope you all have enjoyed this installment of the Sixth Specimen and I look forward to reading all of your comments and reviews! Feel free to reach out and contact me if you'd like, especially if you notice any errors. For now though, have a spectacular night and thank you all for everything. This is your narrator, signing off.
