AN: Special thanks to Jebest4781 and Seana!
Apologies. The Mortal Kombat Chapter is on hold at the moment.
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Aliens: Armageddon
Universe 19790525
Earth's Orbit - 20XX
Creatures from beyond the stars crept through the darkness from the flickering lights above. In the dim light of a hallway, a sinister blend of organic curves stood taller than a human, moving with a predatory grace that belies its size. Thanks to the scientists onboard, these subspecies were much more dangerous than their original counterparts.
It was covered in a sleek, abyssal black, exoskeletal carapace, seeming to absorb light, perfect for lurking in the shadows. The creature's flesh is a tapestry of sinew and muscle, visibly pulsating under the hard, chitinous exterior. Its elongated head was distinctive, like some grotesque bullet. There are no visible eyes, yet it sees everything through sound and vestigial photosensitive organs flanking the frontal plate. Dripping from its maw are traces of corrosive saliva, hinting at the acidic blood coursing through its veins. The limbs are long and spindly, ending in sharp claws capable of rending metal and flesh. Its tail is a long, whip-like weapon in its own right, with a deadly pointed tip that can impale or ensnare prey. These creatures became known to humanity as Xenomorphs.
As one walked down the corridor, something caught its attention. It crept toward a viewport, its senses tracing a bright glow light flying through the vacuum of space. It seemed to be getting bigger… No. Closer.
*BOOM* *CRASH*
As the ship's emergency system sealed off the hole in the hull, the Doom Slayer steadied his boots. To his left, what appeared to be a large alien bug was crushed against the wall. Wafts of steam rose from the acidic blood leaking from the corpse. What was left of the substance on his armor evaporated away without degrading his suit.
"I can see the appeal of using the Ion Catapult for transport," commented Vega.
Not missing a beat, he jogged through the derelict spaceship's claustrophobic, dimly lit corridors. Much like the UAC facility, his green armor was a stark contrast against the metallic grays of the ship. He turned a corner, knowing his entrance would have drawn more pests toward him. As expected, the mechanical humming around him is shattered by the hissing and screeching of more insectoids. A pair burst from the ceiling, with more running down the hall.
The Slayer instantly raised his Super Shotgun, its twin barrels unleashing a devastating blast that tears through the first Xenomorph. Alien ichor splattering against the walls. In a burst of speed, he shoulder-checks the second one. He raised his left gauntlet, blocking a swipe.
As more Xenomorphs close in, he switches to his Combat Shotgun, its rapid-fire blasts causing them to back away after seeing the first few getting their skulls eviscerated.
Taking a different approach, the Xenomorphs crawl along the walls and ceiling, attempting to encircle him.
Appreciating them getting closer to him, the Doom Slayer swaps out for his Chainsaw. Not giving them a chance to back away again, his weapon's teeth spun with a high-pitched whir as he swung it 360 degrees. The great communicator sliced through exoskeletons, decapitating two and amputating three. The sound of rending metal and flesh fills the air, drawing an even larger audience.
Not a moment later, a flame belch and superheated plasma bolts seared melted carapace to the wall. As more and more drones arrived, a noticeably louder thumping approached.
In the crowd, a Xenomorph got close enough to shoot its inner pharyngeal jaw like a piston at the Slayer's face plate.
An armored glove snatched it from mid-flight. Herculean strength pulled the Xenomorph by the tongue over the man's shoulder and into its brethren. To the Slayer, it was like swinging a sack of potatoes that screeched more and more in pain with each swing. When the man deemed it enough, his other arm extended its wrist blade and sliced off the inner jaw before holding it up high like a makeshift trophy.
To the alien attackers, it was like something ticked in their DNA. An armored figure with a shoulder weapon and an arm blade. This enemy… This… Predator… needed to be killed, or their entire brood would perish.
As the Doom Slayer marched deeper into the spaceship, he left a trail of gore in his wake. A Xenomorph attempted to bite through his helmet to no avail. Instead, the marine grabbed it by its outer jaw, forced it open, and fired a grenade down its mouth. A sufficient kick sent it toward a large group before exploding in acid rain.
It didn't take long for him to reach the lab. He could see the organic matter of the nest spread throughout the ship.
When Vega established a direct connection to a terminal, he downloaded information on these monstrosities. "These creatures are like insect parasites. These chest bursters incorporate the host's DNA into their own, providing a pseudo-evolution. Over time, as this DNA proliferates through the Queen, the entire hive will achieve the same adaptation. We must eliminate all organic material before departing to prevent further spread and research on the subject."
The marine had no qualms. The scorched earth policy was the preferred solution to these kinds of situations, metaphorically speaking.
"Judging by the growth patterns of the next material, it's likely the Queens and the nest are near the cargo hold. Looking at these files, you will likely encounter the more specialized variations of the hive."
With a shrug, the Slayer walked out of the lab, machine gun in hand.
As he progressively traveled deeper into the ship toward the hive, the number of encounters grew sporadically. The walls were painted with remnants of the fallen aliens, the air thick with the stench of their acidic blood. Less than a quarter of the distance remained when he opened the next hatch manually.
The Doom Slayer's heavy boots echoed on the cold, metallic floor. Once pristine and sterile, the walls are covered in a strange, organic resin.
Turning a corner, he comes across a morbid scene. The corridor is lined with cocooned victims, each encased in a thick, mucus-like substance that adheres to the walls. Their bodies are contorted in eternal agony, frozen in expressions of fear. It's a grotesque gallery of the Xenomorphs' grim handiwork.
The Doom Slayer approaches the cocoons. He didn't need to hear Vega's analysis to know the obvious. Some of the victims were long dead, but a few still showed faint signs of life, their chests rising and falling in shallow, labored breaths. They are beyond saving, soon to become hosts for the next generation of Xenomorphs.
His jaw sets in a hard line beneath his helmet. He raises his weapon, not in anger, but in mercy. He grants a swift end to those still clinging to life, freeing them from their inevitable fate. The chest burster inside was also prematurely killed.
With a breath, he moves on. Like on Mars, some may have been directly responsible for creating these beasts. Others may have just been paper pushers.
A Chain Gun raised itself to the sound of skittering. It was different than before. Punching through a blast door, he was greeted with the variants Vega mentioned at the entrance of the Hive. Unlike the others, these leaned more into their insect-like appearance: Hexapedal Xenomorphs. As the name would imply, these were six-limbed creatures. The Slayer noticed the difference when they moved toward him and attacked. In exchange for more limbs, their muscle mass decreased. The lighter body and longer limbs boosted their speed with decreased muscle strength.
As the Hexapedal Xenomorphs converge, the Doom Slayer opens fire with the Chain Gun. The air fills with the thunderous roar of gunfire, bullets tearing through, cutting down the first wave of attackers.
The numerous aliens adapt quickly, using their extra limbs to scale walls and attack from all angles.
Switching to the Ballista, the Doom Slayer unleashes explosive bolts into the midst of the swarm. Each impact sends shockwaves through the ranks, their exoskeletons unable to withstand the force of the blasts. Yet, for every alien that fell, more took its place.
Undeterred, the Doom Slayer charges into the heart of the swarm. He unleashes the Blood Punch, decimating the creatures in a radius around him. The ground trembles with the impact, the shockwave shattering their bodies.
"GRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAWWWRR!"
It would seem that the Slayer had reached the metaphorical stage two. As the six-legged ones started backing away, large thumps approached. The dim lights soon revealed a gigantic variant of the drones from before. Its crested skull seemed to denote itself in the hierarchy.
If one were to make a comparison, it was like an ant colony. This giant was akin to a Super Major Ants. They were approximately 12 times as large and 550 times as heavy as their drone counterparts.
As the Super Major circled him, the lights in the room suddenly blared red with a high-pitched siren. This audio distraction seemed to disorient them for a moment.
"Someone has initiated the manual self-destruct." radioed Vega. "T-Minus five seconds. I am unable to deactivate it due to its closed network."
Knowing what was coming next, the man groaned in annoyance. Once again, his vision filled itself with fire and smoke.
In the heart of the ship's command center, a lone scientist, cloaked in a standard-issue lab coat, hunched over a computer console. The room is a hive of activity with flashing red lights and scrolling data screens, displaying complex algorithms and biological data. The scientist's face, illuminated by the soft glow of the screens, is nothing but concentration and fear. His fingers moved urgently, tapping frantically on the keys. His eyes darted across the screen as he entered his credentials.
SECURITY BREACH
COMMAND RECOGNIZED… CONFIRM IDENTITY
IDENTITY CONFIRMED…
The sound of banging and scratching reverberates through the metallic walls of the ship; each hit resonating with a chilling echo. He knew what they were. After all, he helped create them. Compared to the native xenomorphs, they were genetically enhanced, courtesy of Weyland-Yutani, to be ultimate bioweapons. Their claw marks were etched deep into the metal door. Large biological growths lined the walls. Their experiments had attempted to expand their nest from the testing labs.
ENTER DESTRUCTION CODES…
RECOGNIZING CODES…
CODES CONFIRMED.
[12] ESCAPE CREW CAPSULES ONLINE.
SELF-DESTRUCT OF U.S.S. CAPELLA INITIATED.
In a desperate bid to contain the threat, the man made a critical decision. He activated the ship's self-destruct mechanism.
SELF-DESTRUCT INITIATED
00:10:00
ALL CREW REPORT TO YOUR ASSIGNED ESCAPE POD.
The console lights up with warnings and countdown sequences, signaling the impending destruction of the USS Capella. But as the seconds ticked down, the scientist braced for his final moments, knowing the fail-safe might not be enough. Unknown to him, another screen showed a remote connection with its progress bar nearing. The scientist sighed with a labored breath.
CLANG
The man swerved toward the sound above. From the shadowed rafter, a Xenomorph crept toward him. In an instant, the creature struck. It leaped with a hiss, a blur of nightmarish speed and ferocity. The scientist barely had a moment to react. The xenomorph's powerful tail whips through the air, striking with the force of a sledgehammer, knocking the scientist away.
Dazed and injured, the scientist scrambled to escape, but it was useless. With its tail, it pins the scientist to the ground. The scientist's eyes, wide with terror, reflect the monstrous visage looming over him. He felt the acidic saliva dripping from its jaws. The xenomorph's inner jaw extends. The screams are abruptly silenced.
In the background, the countdown continued, unheeded – a final, fading hope that this terror will not reach Earth. The USS Capella, now a tomb for its fallen crew, hurtled onward, carrying its deadly cargo.
At the center of the ship, the reactor core surged. All safeties were off. Energy surged to multiple points on the ship, spreading the detonation evenly across.
When the Doom Slayer's visor finally cleared, he found himself in freefall among the chunks of debris. The USS Capella bursts apart, sending a hailstorm of debris hurtling through space. Chunks of metal, fragments of technology, and remnants of the ship's hull tear through. Turning his head, he could see a chunk of the hive also falling with him.
Vega radios him again. "Estimates show that over 60% of the infestation had been eliminated in the blast. However, I see the remaining portions latched onto the debris and hive remnants. We cannot verify that any Queens have been killed.
The Slayer gestured to blast everything around him to kingdom come.
"Warning. Artillery will be Danger Close."
The Slayer glared behind his helmet, signaling to do it.
"Affirmative."
The Fortress of Doom's advanced defense systems come to life, sensors detecting the threat.
"WEAPON SYSTEMS ONLINE"
From the surface of the fortress, automated defense turrets emerge, their barrels glowing. The turrets swivel and lock onto the incoming debris, their targeting systems incredibly accurate.
"FIRING."
As the first wave of debris nears, the turrets unleash a barrage of energy blasts. Each shot cut through the vacuum of space and struck the debris, vaporizing larger pieces and leftover Xenomorphs.
The marine surveyed what remained after climbing on top of the trash ball. Indeed, everything was spread out, and other alive Xenomorphs were also in freefall.
Using his Jump Boots, he maneuvered his way across the falling debris. Just as he got within range of the remaining drones, a large mass collided with his platform. With the little air still around him, he allowed a monstrous roar to pass through. The Slayer turned his head and locked gazes again with the colossal Xenomorph.
The Slayer raised an arm, stopping the same Super Major's attempt to bite through his helmet. Instead, the marine grabbed it by its outer jaw, forced it open, and fired a grenade down its mouth. It seemed to cough out dust and smoke before focusing back on the marine.
As they fall, the Doom Slayer grapples with the giant Xenomorph. He materialized his Super Shotgun, firing shells against the Xenomorph's armored hide.
The Xenomorph attempts to crush the Doom Slayer, its jaws snapping inches from his helmet, but the Slayer dodges. In a flash, the Xenomorph whips its tail tipped with a sharp, blade-like point.
The Doom Slayer leaned out of the strike but not without the tail grazing his armor. Seizing the opportunity, the Doom Slayer grabbed the tail, using his muscle to hold the thrashing creature at bay.
A slash from his Doom Blade severs the Xenomorph's tail with a sizzling cut. Acidic blood spurts from the wound, hissing and steaming as it makes contact with the ground, but the Doom Slayer's armor withstands the corrosive substance.
Flames engulf them as they enter the upper atmosphere, the heat intense enough to melt metal. The Doom Slayer, protected by his armor, continues the onslaught, unfazed. The wounds on the alien were cauterized.
The separated appendage seemed to go stiff. Readjusting his grip, this felt just like a greatsword. Perfect… He wields the pseudo weapon and charges the charge head-on. He thrusts the tail forward, but the Xeno feebly uses its limbs to block several slashes.
In return, the Slayer spreads out his body, slowing his descent and allowing him to dodge another swipe. Positioning the tail, he narrows his body, diving closer to the falling alien and accelerating with his boosters. Thrusting the blade with enough force, it cut through the forelimbs, penetrating the thorax where he assumed its analogous heart would be. The creature shudders violently and then goes still, its life extinguished.
The Doom Slayer, released from its grasp, continues his fall, now unopposed. He descends like a meteor, a lone warrior against the backdrop of a burning sky, his armor glowing red from the heat as he hurtles toward the Earth's surface. Those visiting the Arizona desert will find a massive crater with a trail of footsteps leading into the distance.
According to Vega, most of the debris was projected over the West Coast of North America. While Vega and the Slayer could eliminate 92% of the original infestation, unfortunately, the remaining biological creations were not so easily destroyed. Vega managed to prevent any from raining directly upon populated areas. Initial mass casualties were averted. All that was left was for the Doom Slayer to clean up the boonies. Perhaps he would visit Weyland-Yutani and persuade them to drop this scientific pursuit.
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