Of Hunt and Change : 7

THE PLAN  

The Empress watches her favorite Praetorian guard, a Winged One, the only one beside her which doesn't come from this planet. The Praetorian is very special indeed – he is a very rare breed of the Xenomorph, converted from a powerful Dragon race found on another planet.  

As far as they both know, the Xenomorphs had been trying to bring his race into their fold for a long time, but with no success. The species is far stronger than any other hunters they ever faced. Even the legendary Predator and the Ancients are no match for them one-on-one. What’s more, Xenomorphs converted from the Dragons are weaker than the originals. It had never happened before. No matter what they did, they couldn’t seem to bring forth the Dragon’s mysterious powers that literally harness the nature itself. It is, as the humans would say, almost magical. Their mysterious ability seem to lie in the flaw of almost perfect killing machine… the Xenomorph’s true nemesis.   

Luckily, the species doesn’t seem interested in hunting them when they retreat from their planets and out of their space. It is very lucky for her to get a converted-Dragon Praetorian as her personal guard. Even luckier that this convert was a volunteer of sort…he was dying near a hidden hive on another planet when the local queen helped and cocooned him. He can be trusted not to try and harm her since they didn’t capture him from his cave.  

It was actually this one Praetorian who brought her egg here in the first place, and provide her face-hugger with the first host.  

‘Everything is going as planned, eh, Alpha?’ the Empress whisper to the ex-Dragon.  

‘Indeed, Empress,’ he say, ‘The humans think they are winning this war while in fact losing it. The conversion process is still perfect as ever.’ He hisses in amusement, reflect on his own conversion, ‘Some converted drones even try to seek out and bring their loved ones and family into our fold... But the risk of the Fires from the Sky is still there, Empress.’  

‘That I do notice.’ the Empress reply, ‘The longer it take, the more chance they will use drastic measure against us. What do you say we do with this situation, then?’  

She turn to the Praetorian, expecting his answer. The Praetorian hiss quietly in a mock annoyance. The Empress like to ask him questions even though she can just take the answer from his mind. Even an Empress want a friend to talk with, he thinks. Probably something she got from her human host.  

‘Well, since you want me to say it...’ he turn to the Empress, ‘From what I've learned from the drones, humans are the best weapon against themselves. They are constantly in conflict with each others. So I suggest we inflict upon that weakness, Empress. Make them argue against themselves, bring up their political warfare against each others. So that we would be left in peace until it is far too late for them to stop us.’  

The Empress tiles head at him with interests, ‘And how do we do that, Alpha?’  

Alpha mentally smirk, ‘I do have a plan, my Empress.’  

* * *  

Private Chris Turner wakes up in a stark white room, looks around groggily. The room is empty safe for medical devices beside the bed he lie on, with a big transparent glass on one side. There are a few soldiers and doctors in white cloths in the room, busy with computers. High-security sterile room? Had he been infected with something bad that they need to contain and lock him here? How could he ended up here in the first place? All he remember is joining an advanced team and setting up perimeter in the alien hive…  

Then memory flash upon him…of the awful darkness that lurk beyond the alien corridors, of the surprised attack from darkness, memory of his friends and teammate died, getting impaled and slashed…memory of him turn around and run for his life, only to be stopped…and nothing.  

Had he somehow miraculously survived that attack, and was brought back here for healing? He feel perfectly fine right now, no injury that see can see. But they probably wouldn’t want to risk any possible alien infection in the base, he think.  

Still…there are something missing…  

“Private Chris Turner?” sound erupt from a speaker interrupt his thought. He look at the window, standing there is the General whose name he can’t remember.  

‘Yes sir!’ He reach out and speak with his mind-speech. But there is no response from the General. He looks as if he doesn’t hear him at all…  

“Private Chris Turner, do you hear me?” He repeats.  

He blinks, a bit confused. And realize he had only think his response, how could he expect the General to hear him? But it had felt natural to him then a couple seconds ago, the thought of speaking with his mouth had felt weird back then…  

He compose himself and stand up to salute, and speak with his mouth instead.  

“Yes, Sir!”  

The General reacts this time.  

“Ah, good, Private. I thought you had lost your hearing for a moment there.” He looks a bit relieve, and turn serious again. “Private Turner, what do you remember?”  

He tilts head in reflect, “Um…all I remember sir, was me and my team going in, setting up perimeter. We got jumped by the aliens and an alien pounce upon me, sir. I remember nothing else after that… ” He pause, “In fact…I didn’t think I would survive, sir. Darkness was everywhere, most of my team had died when I before unconscious. If I may ask, sir…how long was I out and how do we fare in the battle, sir?”  

He looks thoughtful for a moment, and sighs. “Well, Private. You had been disappeared for more than a month and a half. A survivor of that attack reported seeing you got dragged into the darkness by one of the creature. You had been reported as dead until we found you unconscious in the forest just a few days ago.”  

Chris looks taken aback. He got captured by the alien was gone for more than a month?! What happened to him then? His mind is all but blank. There must be something happen during the time…something very important to him.  

He look back at the General, he is watching him, looking thoughtful.  

“Alright, Private. It is seem you have to stay in there for a while longer, for both our safety. I’ve already informed your family of your sudden appearance and they should be here in a few days time. But for the moment, try to remember what had happen. I’ll be back to check you later.”  

Saying that, he turn around and out of the room, left Chris to his own thought once again. He start to walks around the room, studying the walls, the glass window, and the grate on the ceiling.  

It doesn’t look very strong. He could probably goes out if he want to. And the grate on the ceiling does look promising than staying bored here with nothing to do…  

He pause.  

Why would he want to escape? This is for everyone’s safety after all, not like he is a prisoner or anything. And beside…he couldn’t even touch the ceiling! Why did he thought it look like the most promising escape??  

He shakes head, confused even more. Weird things are feeling natural to him that shouldn’t be. Perhaps he should stay here as the General say, there could be something wrong with him.