Aliens Vs. Predator 1 - Prey

by Steve Perry

  He extended his kicti-pa and slashed through the throat of the next drone nearest, to his right.

  The drone's death cry was garbled through its own thwei.

  A split second later, he jabbed the staff point through the jaws of another, twisted the sharp blade and dug a hole through the top of the skull. The weapon's metal was proof against the Hard Meat's thwei, but there was no time to hesitate and enjoy the kill-when you fought the ten thousand, you did so one at a time, but you also had to do so quickly

  He thrust the spear's butt back, hard, and knocked one behind him down, then turned and slashed its gut. Digest this, foolish creature!

  The kicti-pa blurred again, jammed backhand into yet another Hard Meat chest. The drone howled, fell, did not die but did not rise again. Acid pumped into the dark air, pooled, smoking.

  Dachande jumped forward, stabbed the throat of yet another, and then spun to meet the next. Death fell all around his feet as he and the Hard Meat danced.

  Noguchi heard what sounded like a bird and turned; Broken Tusk was faster-he ran past the two pilots toward the main storage shed. He was eager and if he had any fear of the dark monsters, it was not apparent.

  "Follow the tower around to the east lock!"

  She would just have to hope that the pilots listened. She hurled herself after the warrior.

  Several of the bugs streamed from behind the shed and toward Broken Tusk. He stepped in to battle without hesitation. Too many of them, ten, twelve. She aimed at one of the bugs-

  -and it was dead before she fired. She took aim again-and again, her target had fallen already.

  She took a step back, transfixed by the swift movements of the giant warrior.

  Here was no inexperienced novice; every step was measured, every strike timed and sure. Within the space of a few seconds, most of the bugs were down, dead or dying. She had enough training to recognize a Master when she saw one. This one's skill had been gained in battle, against deadly enemies.

  Broken Tusk whirled and jabbed, crouched and slashed with precision and confidence. Never a misstep, never a hesitation. He was no dojo tiger, covered in padding and fighting for points.

  Wherever he had come from, they had a martial arts more complex and dangerous than any she'd ever seen. It was like a choreographed dance-

  Except we don't have all day.

  She aimed and fired several shots, then aimed and fired again. The last two shrieked and stumbled. Broken Tusk hesitated, confused perhaps, then finished them both with slashes to the gut.

  "Sorry." Noguchi ejected the spent rounds and slapped in a loader. "But we've got to go."

  Broken Tusk stared at her for a second, then raised one claw-in understanding or camaraderie, she couldn't know. She returned the move, then started toward the east lock.

  The warrior caught up to her easily, then slowed and strode at her side as they rounded the front of the ops building toward the lock. He made thick growling noises, strange, but somehow not threatening.

  Ahead, the lock was open. Conover stood by the control panel inside, face pale.

  Noguchi heard now familiar chirping noises behind them, not far.

  "Hurry!" Conover shouted.

  Noguchi and Broken Tusk ran through the entry together. The door slammed down.

  A second later there were several thundering crashes. The metal door shook as the nightmare creatures threw themselves at it, but it wouldn't give.

  Noguchi collapsed against the frame and closed her eyes. They were safe, at least for the moment.

  Safe-and fucked. They hadn't gotten them all.

  The plan hadn't worked.

  * * *

  Chapter 26

  So what's the plan?"

  Noguchi didn't answer. She continued to take deep breaths, her eyes closed. The giant alien stood at her side, still enough to be a statue. Its face was turned to watch the woman, but the odd mask it wore covered most of any expression it may have had. Given the faces of some of the dead ones who'd lost their masks in the stampede, Scott was just as happy about that. Ugly bastards.

  He stepped away from the door and started to pace. He was feeling pretty goddamn tired of not knowing what was going on.

  "Look, lady, I realize that you're under a lot of stress, but you do have some idea of what we're going to do, don't you? The stampede didn't work out quite the way it was supposed to, obviously. Now if I were you, I'd start worrying about what-"

  "What?" Noguchi had opened her eyes to reveal an icy anger. "If you were me, you'd worry about what?"

  He shut up. Then, "Well, shit. What next?"

  "Lay off, Scott." Tom sounded bone-tired.

  Scott looked at his friend and felt his anger spark higher. Tom looked worse than he had before. Whatever he'd picked up was making him really sick. The younger pilot had fallen into a chair and rested his head on a console; his body shook.

  Scott stopped in front of Noguchi and lowered his voice. "My friend is sick, okay? We have to do something."

  Noguchi smiled softly, humorlessly. "No shit. But unless you or your friend come up with some brilliant revelation, I suggest you shut up; I'll listen to you when you've got something to say."

  She closed her eyes again.

  The spark fizzled. She was a cold bitch, but he didn't have any ideas to contribute. And he sure as fuck didn't want to lead this little party.

  "Right. Sorry, okay? I don't feel so good. It's been a bad day."

  Noguchi nodded, then walked toward an ops panel. "The colonists made it out safely, that's something. We've got power here, and supplies; we can hold out for a while here and come up with something."

  "There's a screen still on over here," Tom said.

  Scott and Noguchi both walked over to where the ailing pilot sat. The giant remained at the door, motionless.

  Across the top of the small console was a series of numbers.

  "That's my code," said Noguchi. "It's a hyperstat from the corporation substation! The ether driver got through."

  She leaned in front of Tom and punched a few keys excitedly.

  Scott blinked. Ether driver? What the hell was that? Some new equipment the company was too cheap to put on their ship? Shit.

  He read over her shoulder.

  Attn: Machiko Noguchi, Prosperity Wells/from BAE-683 Takashi Chigusa, New Osaka. re: possible XT specimens. Take steps to preserve all specimens of species described in Revna's report; nearest Marine ship will enter area at approx. 5/14. Keep BAR 683 apprised. Await further instructions.

  YFNT677074/TC

  Noguchi slammed her fist against the screen and stalked over to a chair. She plopped down and put one hand to her forehead.

  "Five weeks," she said softly. "All we have to do is survive for five weeks."

  As if on cue, there was another slam to the lock. A creature screamed, the sound muffled through the thick metal.

  "And preserve for them `all specimens,'" she said. She laughed. It wasn't a funny noise.

  Christ. Don't lose it, lady. We need you.

  It was looking hopeless. Noguchi had never felt so frustrated in her life, or so angry. There was nothing she could do

  "Well, fuck this!" Conover had started pacing again. "I say we scram out of here and join the colonists!"

  She looked up at the red-faced pilot and shook her head. "Yeah? And how long before the bugs run out of food and head into the desert looking for more?"

  Conover dropped his gaze and said nothing.

  "I don't know about you two, but I'm tired of fucking with all of this. I want to finish this, and I want to finish it now." She wasn't sure how, but there had to be a way-

  Conover snorted. "Sure, great. You gonna burn down the whole complex?"

  Strandberg coughed loudly. "That wouldn't work, too many of them would"-he coughed again" would get away. It'd have to be something fast."

  Noguchi started running off possibilities in her head. Maybe they could formulate some kind of bomb, or gas-

  C
onover jerked his gaze at Broken Tusk. "Why don't we ask the hulk over there? Maybe he's got a death ray or something."

  Strandberg shook his head. "I'm serious. I think Ms. Noguchi had the right idea with the stampede, crush them like bugs-" He broke into a fit of coughing.

  Noguchi looked at Strandberg with sympathy; he really didn't look well, and he had at least tried to be helpful-

  The pilot had regained his wind and raised one hand weakly. "Something big enough to take out the complex and the ship at once-"

  Conover interrupted angrily, "Forget it! I can't even believe you'd bring it up!"

  Noguchi stood and faced the asshole pilot. "Don't hold out on me, Conover! If you know something that might stop those things-"

  Strandberg started coughing again.

  Conover glared at her and jabbed a finger in her general direction. "Look, I have some shares in this little investment along with everyone else! There is nothing we can do, okay?"

  Strandberg tried to stand up, and fell to the floor. His coughing suddenly turned to hoarse choking sounds, and he spasmed and convulsed, clutched at his chest.

  Heart attack or epileptic seizure

  Noguchi took one step toward him and felt a hand on her shoulder. Broken Tusk. He hissed and hefted his spear.

  Conover rushed to his friend's side and then stepped back at the sight of blood on Strandberg's abdomen.

  "Tommy-?!"

  Noguchi gasped. The convulsing pilot screamed again and again. And at the same time, there was the sound of ripping, shredding, the sound of flesh parting--

  A creature the size of Noguchi's forearm burst through Strandberg's chest in a spray of red. Dripping with blood and slime, the animal looked surreal, its head dominated by rows of teeth. It coiled its long, flesh-colored body in the frame of Strandberg's bloody rib cage and screeched at them.

  And jumped

  * * *

  Chapter 27

  Dachande watched from the door as the oomans battled verbally. Although they did not give off a musk, the anger was clear. He imagined they were worried about their deaths and the proper manner of them, not an unreasonable concern in the situation. There might not be any witnesses to carry the tale to their friends and relatives, no one would know if they had died bravely or not, a concern to any warrior, of course. But in the end, they would know, just as he would know. All beings died, later, sooner, no one escaped the Black Warrior. But-if it happened in battle, did you meet the gods with blood on your blade, your laughter at Death still echoing around you? That was the thing; that way lay honor.

  He had counted five of his students crushed into the soil on their way here, their weapons destroyed or missing. There was no way to know if there were more still alive, but he guessed not. He was vaguely disappointed in their performance, but they had been served with what they earned. Especially if they had followed Tichinde. The nature of would-be warriors was to obey the strongest among them and Tichinde had been that. Unfortunately, when a Hunt needed strategy and tactics, strength did not make up for stupidity. Even a good teacher could fail and that rankled, but one worked with what one was given.

  Dachande watched the ooman debate with interest; the small warrior was in charge, and the other disagreed with whatever the small one wanted. He waited to see if there would be physical combat, but for some reason, the larger ooman did not strike. Dachande guessed the small one must be a Leader to merit such respect. He decided to support the warrior; from its actions so far, it was surely braver than the others. Certainly it stood in better balance, it flowed better.

  When the third ooman fell and went into z'skvy-de, Dachande moved. The oomans had no experience with such things and did not recognize the eruptive phase. The small warrior stepped forward, but he stopped it, quickly explained the situation, and stepped past.

  The larger ooman stood in his way. He pushed it aside and reached the ooman host just as the kainde amedha lunged forth.

  The newborn creature snaked across the floor and almost made it under a table before Dachande lifted his spear and brought it down, hard.

  He could feel the young drone's back snap beneath the weapon. Hot intestine squirted, blood hissed.

  Dachande stepped away and looked at the oomans. He waited.

  Scott couldn't seem to catch his breath. He was sprawled on the floor next to Tommy, where the giant had shoved him and Tommy was

  "Oh, Jesus, no," he whispered. His voice sounded faint, far away.

  Tommy still quivered all over. His fingers clenched and unclenched, and then nothing.

  The giant had squashed the alien parasite quickly and neatly. It was over, that fast. And Tommy lay next to him, the slick innards of his body exposed, his eyes open.

  Scott turned away and dry-heaved a few times, the retching bringing only sour spit. And then he understood.

  He sat up stiffly and put a hand on his stomach. And coughed. And started to cry:

  Noguchi grabbed someone's coat off the back of one of the chairs and draped it over the dead pilot. She shuddered and stepped back.

  Conover's shoulders shook with grief.

  Noguchi looked up at Broken Tusk, who watched mutely, and then back at Conover.

  Broken Tusk had known. Her theory had panned out. For what that was worth at this point.

  She crouched down next to the crying pilot and put a hand across his back. She kept her voice low, but didn't hesitate.

  "I'm sorry about your friend, Conover. But I need your help right now, okay? Before Strandberg---"

  She cleared her throat and started again. "He was about to tell me something-something that could wipe out the bugs; I need-"

  Conover turned his tear-streaked face up to look at her. "You don't get it, do you? What happened to Tommy-that thing that was inside of him. We were together on The Lector. That means I've got one of those things inside of-"

  The pilot's face crumpled in despair. He buried his face in his hands and started to sob loudly.

  Noguchi let him cry for a moment, then patted him gently on the back. She felt like a real bitch for what she was about to say, but there was no way around it.

  "You're not dead yet, Conover. We still need your help."

  He continued to rock back and forth. "Leave me alone. I'm doomed, I'm a dead man."

  Noguchi stood up. "Maybe if you help us, I can help you."

  Conover looked up at her and wiped his eyes with the back of one hand. "Are you a doctor? You gonna perform surgery and make me all better?"

  Noguchi shook her head. "No, I can't do that. But you can have a shot at revenge-" She took a deep breath. "And I can make it quicker, easier for you."

  The mixed look of pain and self-pity and gratitude on the pilot's face made her stomach clench. Conover was an asshole, but he didn't deserve to die for it. If she had one of those things inside of her . . .

  "Okay," he said quietly. "Fuck it. Yeah, okay"

  Scott sat at the terminal, his eyes gritty and his hands trembling. He was going to die. He was going to die. The thought was a repeating loop in his mind, a horrible and constant statement of looming black truth. He was pregnant with a monster, he was going to die-

  Scott shook his head and finished the sentence he had typed onto the screen; almost done. His stomach hurt, and with each second, it got worse. He coughed into his hand and tapped a few more keys. Real, or in his mind?

  "Everything you need is on the disk," he said. His voice sounded dead, too.

  Noguchi nodded. She sat next to him and watched carefully as he worked.

  "Thanks, Conover."

  "Scott," he said softly. It suddenly seemed very important that she knew his name. Because he was going to die.

  "Thanks, Scott."

  He felt a few more tears trickle down his face and into his beard. It had been like that for the last twenty minutes. Knowing you were about to die was bad, very bad.

  "It's going to be tough getting in," he said.

  "We'll find a way."

&n
bsp; Scott nodded and glanced at the giant. It was back by the door, spear at its side.

  "I don't doubt it," he said. He coughed, the painful spasm filling him with dread. He took a deep breath and coughed again. It was getting worse.

  He smiled weakly at Noguchi. "You know, if this works, the company's gonna be really pissed."

  She straightened slightly and then laughed. She seemed surprised by the sound. So was Scott.

  You can still make a pretty woman laugh, Scott.

  "Fuck the company," she said.

  "Yeah."

  On a sudden impulse, Scott grabbed at a piece of paper on the console and a pen. He made a quick sketch, studied the drawing for a moment, and then added a few more details.

  He folded the paper in half and handed it to Noguchi.

  "It's a going away present," he said. He coughed and pressed one hand to his stomach. He tried not to think about it-

  You're going to die-

  "It's a map of the ship," he continued. "I should have thought of it before."

  She slipped the paper into a chest pocket and nodded. Behind them, at the door, the shrieks of the alien bugs had gotten louder.

  "Sounds like every bug in the place is trying to get in," he said. "Well. All but one of them. It's already in."

  "We're ready to go." She stood.

  Scott nodded and coughed again. He was going to die.

  A kind of calm slipped over him, a sense of unreality that made him feel far away from all this. It didn't matter, not really. He should be scared, had been scared, but now, in this moment, he was somehow floating above it, watching himself as if he were someone else. It was a done deal, end of the line, and while he had never dreamed it would happen this way, here it was and what choice did he have?

  At least he had helped. Maybe it would even make some kind of difference-he wouldn't be around to see, but at least he wouldn't be in pain, and the damn repeating line would end.

  The giant alien walked over to meet them when Noguchi stood. It gestured with its spear at Scott.

  Noguchi's voice came from the creature: "I can make it quicker, easier for you."

  Noguchi held up one hand. "No. I made the promise, I'll do it."