Alien: Out the Shadows

Ripley walked along the corridor until it curved toward Bay Four. She paused where she could see the door, beyond which lay the docking arm with her shuttle, waiting for them all. Walking made her wounds hurt, but standing still was barely a relief. It’s only pain, Sneddon had said. It doesn’t matter. She felt warm dampness dripping down her side from her shoulder. She’d opened the wound there again.

It’s only pain.

She could see back along the curving corridor, and she watched Lachance and Kasyanov securing the trolley and fuel cell to the wall with cargo straps from the Samson. She did the same, tying herself tight with her belt against a heavy fixing point.

“All ready?” Hoop asked. He disappeared in the other direction, following Sneddon toward where the corridor merged with the one from the ruined docking arm.

“What’s the plan?” Kasyanov asked.

“Squirt of acid through the door,” Hoop said. “Hardly subtle, but it should work. It’ll get a bit stormy in here, though. Hold on to your dicks.”

“We don’t all have dicks, dickhead,” Kasyanov muttered.

“Well, hold onto something, then.” He paused. “On three.”

Ripley counted quietly. One… two…

Three…

There was a pause. Then Hoop said, “Oh, maybe it won’t—” A whistle, and then a roar as air started flooding into the sealed area.

That’ll wake Ash up, Ripley thought. She couldn’t help thinking of the bastard as still human.

PROGRESS REPORT:

To: Weyland-Yutani Corporation, Science Division (Ref: code 937)

Date (unspecified)

Transmission (pending)

The survivors include Warrant Officer Ripley.

I am pleased that she is still alive. She and I feel close. From what I can see from the Marion’s cctv cameras, she seems to be wounded. But she’s walking. She impresses me. To have woken from such a long sleep, to face the truth of her extended slumber, and then to address her situation so efficiently. She could almost be an android.

I am going to kill her, along with Chief Engineer Hooper, Doctor Kasyanov, and the pilot.

Science Officer Sneddon is carrying an alien embryo. Frustratingly I can glean no details, but from the few conversations I have monitored, it seems as if her condition is obvious. As is her expressed intention to end her own life.

I cannot allow this.

Once she is on board the Narcissus and the new fuel cell is installed, I will take the steps necessary to complete my mission.

The roar died down to a low whistling, and then that too faded to nothing. Ripley’s ears rang. She looked back along the corridor and saw Hoop appearing from around the curve, suit helmet already removed.

“We’re good,” he said.

“You call that good?” Lachance asked. “I think I soiled my spacesuit.”

“Wouldn’t be the first time,” Kasyanov said.

“Sneddon?” Ripley asked.

“I’m here.” Her voice sounded weak. She doesn’t have long, Ripley thought. She pulled her own helmet off and let it dangle from its straps, hoping she wouldn’t need it again.

Hoop and the others pushed the fuel cell on its trolley, and when they reached the door that led into Bay Four’s vestibule, they paused.

“Lachance, go back and stay with Sneddon,” Hoop said. “And Kasyanov… you said you might have something?”

Kasyanov took a small syringe from her belt pouch.

“It’s the best I can do,” she said.

“What does that mean?” Ripley asked.

“It means it won’t be painless. Get me to med bay and I’ll find something better, but with the limited stuff I have on hand, this is it.”

Hoop nodded, face grim.

“Let’s get ready to fly.”

Hoop opened the doorway, and Ripley and Kasyanov pushed the trolley through.

The movement was sudden, unexpected, the hissing thing leaping at them from where it had been crouched beside the door. Kasyanov cried out and stumbled back, but Ripley quickly gathered her senses, crouching down and opening her arms.

“Jonesy!” she said. “Hey, it’s me, it’s all right you stupid cat.” Jonesy crouched before her for a moment, hissing again. Then he slinked around her legs and allowed her to pick him up.