The Xenomorph Saga Chapter 1: Lost and Found
#2 of Xenomorph Saga
The Xenomorph Saga
Chapter 1: Lost and Found
A Short Story By: G'lek
"Come on, move it, move it, move it!" The sergent shouted, his troops piling out of the APC and spreading out to secure the drop site as their dropship roared back to full power, lifting off to circle overhead. Mark swung his M41A Pulse Rifle around, checking the overhangs, nooks, and crannies where a Xenomorph could hide in the shadows. They'd lost contact with this research colony almost three weeks ago and the Marines had been sent in to find out why.
"Sarge!" Shouted their technician, Greg. "I'm seeing evidence of gun fire, explosives. Looks like there was a fight here. Spent casings on both sides. First guess, pirates. Slavers. Mercs."
"Alright, Corporal, keep me informed. Spread out, search by twos. There might be survivors."
Mark looked over at his buddy, Jane. Jane was about as tough as they came. He had a scar running down his face, several inches wide, where he'd taken a Xenomorph's acid blood. They say he just kept shooting until the damn thing finally died, then finished the mission. Mark liked him. He was serious, but not all doom and gloom. He had a sense of humor.
"Come on Jane, let's check the labs."
"Right behind you, man."
The two worked their way through the complex, motion trackers out and gently pinging, though not an active signal. Together, they entered the labs. The power was out in the facility and as part of the emergency systems on the doors, they were all unlocked and operable manually. Jane looked down a hall and waved his hand to get Mark's attention.
"Check it." He said, indicating a door that was marked Xenobiology Lab Delta - Automated Security Beyond this Point, Authorized Personnel Only! Mark grinned.
"Sounds like the company don't want people peeking in there."
"Automated security normally has backup generators. Someone might be in there."
"Yeah. Let's check it out."
Jane heaved the door open and a red light poured out.
"Emergency lighting, they got power of some kind in here."
"Check your corners, Jane. Xenobiology equals Xenomorph to me."
"No fucking kidding?"
They worked their way down the hall, checking rooms as they went. Most of them were offices and administration areas. Soon, however, they reached a large door that was labelled "Primary Lab". Together, they hauled the doors open and were greated by the pungent smell of rotting flesh.
"Jesus Christ!" Jane said, looking in. The room was a mess. Bodies were everywhere and the float was coated in a layer of dried blood and entrails. Mark walked over to the closest body and checked it.
"Sarge, you seeing this? Single round to the head. Execution. Looks like once he was dead, they started ripping him apart. I'd say organ harvesting."
"Damn boys. You're both going to have to go through quarantine now."
"Yeah, I kno-" Suddenly, Mark's tracker pinged a singal. "Hold it. Signal. Motion. Eighty degrees right, range twenty meters."
"Side office," Jane said. "Slow and steady."
They both raised their Pulse Rifles and aimed them at the doors to the office. Jane put a gloved hand into the crack between the two halfs of the door and Mark put a hand into the other half. The looked at each other and nodded. Then they pulled the doors apart, bursting into the room, sweeping it once before they both focused on the man sitting in a chair at the only desk in the room.
He was old, maybe into his late seventies. His back was to them but what was more concerning for the two Marines was the Xenomorph Drone coiled around the base of the chair he was in. It hadn't moved when they entered, but its tail slowly flicked back and forth. The chair turned around and revealed the mans face. He was pale and his lab coat was blood soaked from a cluster of bullet wounds. There were med-kits and emergency supplies scattered over the room, but there was no way the man could have gotten them.
"Ah, you came. Finally." He said, sounding old, tired, but pleased. "I've been holding on as long as I could, but I've reached my limit."
"Sir..." Jane said, in full serious mode. "Under your chair... There's a-"
"Xenomorph? I know. Her name is Z-03, though I call her Zoe. She's been good to me, kept me alive until now. She's a very caring soul, very kind. I'd like you to take care of her for me."
The Xenomorph looked up at the man, revealing where the ID Z-03 had been branded into the side of her head. "Father..." Came a voice, strangely echo-like and hollow. "Don't say such a thing."
"No, my dear. I'm sorry, but this is where my journey ends. You tried your best, but it as not meant to be. These men will care for you in my place. I'm sure of it."
"No..." She whispered.
"Be strong, Zoe, and know that I'm always with you." With that, he leaned back in the chair, closed his eyes, and died in peace. Jane seemed, for the first time, unsure of what had just happened. Mark was even more confused.
"Sergent..." Mark said.
"Go ahead."
"We uh... We found a survivor and he uh... He just died and uh..."
"Spit it our, Marine."
"There's a Xenomorph, sir..."
"Fuck! Blow it away!"
"That's the problem sir... The survivor said he wants us to uh... Take care of it for him, sir."
"Take... What the hell?"
"Sir, it doesn't appear aggressive and uh... It can talk, sir."
"Stay right there and keep your rifles on it. We're coming to you."
"Yes sir."
ALIGNING COMMUNICATION ARRAY...
COMPLETE. ESTABLISHING SECURE CONNECTION...
SUCCESS. BEGIN DATA BURST.
Marine Report - Mark H. Innings, Private - 093827123
Mission: LV-572 - New Fury Research Colony - Weyland-Yutani Corp.
In the course of the mission on LV-572, one survivor was found, Professor Elrain Degraad. Prof. Elrain died of seven bullet wounds to the stomach and chest, likely from blood loss and internal bleeding, a few minutes after being found. Before he died, Prof. Elrain entrusted a Xenomorph Drone, ID. Z-03, into the care of Private Innings. The Drone has displayed abnormal behaviours including logic, reasoning, and the ability to speak fluent English. The Drone appears to have no aggressive tendencies or any drive to form a Hive by molting into a Queen. For lack of an alternative and wishing to honor the dying wish of Prof. Elrain, the Xenomorph, referred to as Zoe, has been placed in the care of Private Innings. Both have been transfered to a secure holding facility pending further investigation into the events on LV-572.
END TRANSMISSION
Part 2 of The Xenomorph Saga, originally called "Search and Destroy", this was originally meant to be the origin story of a character of mine, Zoe (pronounced Zo because of her understanding of the rules of English, or as she puts it, "When two vowels go a walking, the first one does the talking"). Zoe's profile is here: http://www.f-list.net/c/z-03%20aka%20zoe/