Delta's drop pod opened and he sprinted out to see the carnaged around him, the screams of men, xenos and predators alike filled the air, and he watched in amazement as his fellow platoon members dropped to the ground, and for one unfortunate xeno a titanium falling bucket landed right on it. The smell was aleady unbearable and the fumes from the airborne insertion were not helping.

The few marine survivors cheered and fought on harder at seeing the new platoon literally drop in beside them and the tide had turned somewhat. Delta gathered his equipment and fought a hasty couple of bouts with foes, weaving through the jungle dodging tails and claws and emptying rounds into the abdomen of a fierce xeno creature. He got on his comm link and shouted:

“Lt. Peterson, sorry for the late arrival we've been tied up down here, whats our plan, do we bug out or proceed to objective?”

The rest of the platoon helped the marines on the ground and strangely enough the xenos numbers were dwindling and the unblooded predators were gob-smacked at the turn of events.

Never-mind the familiar scents.

Tapping the ground with a hasted skid, Gaunt flaunted against stray foliage, brushing it aside as he passed graciously to the side of yet another Brother. His vision, it had been greatly clouded, hard to see, numbers, weren't his forte, numbers, they were growing, out of proportion, things needed to be, re-assessed.

His head turning to face Brother Taw, it looked like he had done Gaunt the justice of subjugation. The snake like serpent had hissed in glee when it sniffed the scent of The Familiar Hunter diminishing, weakened, and overpowered by what still seemed to be, overrunning, rampant, friendly pheromones. He took a humorous outlook, repentantly stimulating as he had seen the form of a Dark-Skinned Hunter violated and strew by the seemingly restless, Prince.

Gaunt lent his head over Tawganators form, he pondered in a simplistic fashion as he rested it against his Brothers for a moment, watching the chaos of the battlefield pass by, as though he were the untouchable observer, a narrative onlooker at dread insight.

The Prince had defied command, the command it wasn't exempt from, HOSTS!!, the words of Queen Mother still rang through his tiny skull, what a Human might of considered madness, to hear voices in your head, but it was just ordinary by nature.

Gaunt took in a silent breathe to renew his perception, tasting the new pheromones that were entering suit. More Humans!? He grinned coldly, as cold as he could for the lack of sufficient muscular framework, as he raised his head away from what seemed to of been his dreamlike, nuzzled, rest on Tawganators glistened dome, Gaunt let out a hiss to the nearest Drone, which stalked nervously in the foliage, several meters away.

A sway of his head and a residual silent click of his jaw as he nipped the air, the Drone swooped to Tawganator's side, clutching him up in it's claws, around his central abdomen, before lifting him up and over, onto his shoulder plate, his Brother now being harnessed by obedient worker.

Another click, emitted from Gaunt's dry, lifeless lips, the Drone turned tail and started to move back, its destination was The Hive, which held the required nutrients and rest space, to keep Tawganator alive. Gaunt watched as the Drone sped away and back to the jungle, he reeled his head over to watch more Humans pour into the fray, the situation was becoming more interesting, and likewise, Queen Mother was screaming, louder and louder. Well, she had always been a screamer, she liked to scream, it was all she ever really did.


His lips were dry, they had yet to taste, not fluid had even found to quench his thirst, the overgrown worm scuttling silently back into the cover of nearby vegetation. Sniffed, then sniffed again, it's sensory organs picked up all kinds of chatter, and his focus came down, it looked to a the motion and scent of a Human, fairly more confident than the rest of its brood. It shouted, it pressed it's head, fighting his Brothers and Sisters at the same time, seemingly calm under pressure as it blazed away a few life signs with what appeared to be it's weapon.

A leader, a tough exemplary specimen, a much promising host. Gaunt moved back to a deeper standing point, measurably watching this new found prey amplify its standing as it wove through the jungle foliage. He moved, scuttling and bounding through the vegetation, on an interception course for the Human Squawker, tearing his way towards it, he wanted to be in head first, head first always meant on top, he'd grown tired of watching from the bottom.

Delta had just finished his transmission to Peterson when something large literally hit him on his head, the weight of it bore him down and he fell to the ground, it was like an iron-cast dumb-bell. While dazed on the ground it occured to him it was somewhat ironic of noting his fellow marines airborne insertion to an unlucky xeno and now it was happening to him.

The weight was still on him and he stood up shaking himself, whatever was on him was slithering over his shoulder, he patted himself down like a mad man and shrugged his shoulders continously, he gripped it like a man went mad and tried to throw this unknown intruder off. He finally grabbed a hold of it and took a quick glance.

“Christ.” Delta shouted, it was an overgrown chestburster xeno, probably an alpha male for its life cycle. He threw it about five meters and turned round to pick up and reclaim his fallen rifle, and the extra weight of the rocket launcher was digging into his back, he let it drop against a nearby tree and wondered where the frightly menace had went.

War felt it rather than heard it, the sound of thunder crashing to the ground nearby. Dropping a human who had passed out from fear, War crawled carefully to the source of the sound. Hitting his head on a piece of metal that War knew wasn't there a while ago, he inspected the object. It was sleek on all sides, minus the side with an open door. It was hot to the touch and still steamed in the night air.

A crunching sound alerted War to the presence of a new foe. Turning himself, War was face to face with an armored human. "Meat in a can" War thought hissing at the human waiting to see if he would flee like so many had before. Instead, the solider leveled his gun and pulled the trigger. Luckily War's instincts alerted him to the action and he narrowly missed the hail of bullets that rained in the spot War's head had been in seconds earlier. This one was different....

War swiped at him only to have him roll away and level the gun again. War charged at him and knocked him to the ground. As soon as War planted his feet on the ground, he high-tailed it out of there. These guys were different, fearless. No wonder they dropped in those things....

Death struck so quickly at their brother. The _Doctor and PREDATORv2 had halted from chasing after the perverted insect to recover from the ordeal. The acidic blood had lightly grazed them in the attack, not even worth considering. Other than that the fight had left them fairly unscathed. The_Doctor saw further movement up ahead, the flurry of creatures working their way towards the hive. He turned his attention to the stain of spattered blood and remnants of flesh left on the jungle surroundings from dark's penetration. "That was new" he muttered. The pools of water glowed green like a radioactive waste product. He could make out Deathdrop still tied up with his prey.

"We shouldn't follow it" PREDATORv2 announced. Thinking about the horror that had just befallen their comrade The_Doctor started wonder if this was cowardice, surely revenge was the next course of action. Honor dictated it. No, no that's not smart, that's how a child thinks. A youngling looking for glory would run in and get slaughtered, he had that same feeling again telling him this was a much longer game. His brother was right, they would get revenge on their terms. The creature was smart, at least more so than the standard bug. The bloody battled that had previously happened showed the need for a more tactical approach. "You're right, they have the advantage. We have to slow it down" The_Doctor finally replied. The sun was risen and light shone off the reflective pools of water on the jungle floor. He saw Dark's mask lying in one of the pools, thrown off in the struggle. Revenge would come, not just to that confused and sadistic demon but to this whole damn world. Their vengence would sweep like fire, purifying the waste that tainted the soil. Then they would know the true might of the Gods of Death. The_Doctor shook his head, "Ive been in deep space too long" he thought. He moved over and grabbed Dark's mask and attached to his belt with some cord. It was a fleeting gesture but it was something.

Predatorv2 registered The_Doctor's emotions right past the frigid mask concealing his face. He was disgusted by the notion of not hunting down and killing the devilish creature that had just finished butchering Dark. Maybe it was the fact that Predatorv2 endured so much death leading hunts like this it had made him indifferent, what did disturbed him was the manner in which his student was killed. Predatorv2 underestimated the hard meats before, but he had grown so familiar with their behaviors, the way this creature killed was not to survive or to procreate its species, but for pleasure. This idea above all else kept nagging at his sub conscious, "had the hard meats evolved even further, mentally?", Predatorv2 pondered to himself.

Predatorv2 studied the The_Doctor's actions as he recovered Dark's mask, attaching it to his waist. It was strange how they could have a quiet moment like this to contemplate a fallen hunter's death while a heated battle between two titans raged off in the distance. Abruptly, Predatorv2's display lit up inside his mask. Apparently his mask had intercepted a beacon of some sort, the signal was very weak this was not uncommon especially with so much soft meat and hunter activity in the area. At the moment it didn't concern Predatorv2 until he studied the signal intently using his wrist computer. An emotion he hadn't felt since he was a child erupted from his core, panic. It was imperative they track the signal's source, "Unbelievable!" Predatorv2 thundered through the private comms with The_Doctor, who surprisingly wasn't aware of the beacon what so ever.

This aroused The_Doctor from his contemplation, he questioned Predatorv2's sudden reaction, all Predatorv2 had to do was display the frequency of the beacon in the HUD on his wrist computer in front of the The_Doctor, who immediately understood. "What is the plan?" The_Doctor questioned, Predatorv2 was fighting the panic feeling that was slowly overwhelming him, "We need to find its source!" his voice boomed. "You know how important this is!". The battle in the distance drew his attention once more, Predatorv2 knew Deathdrop was a skilled warrior however with the deaths of too many of the hunters, he couldn't leave Deathdrop alone battling the abomination.


There were still hoards or mindless alien drones battling the remaining hunters and soft meats, this would buy The_Doctor and Predatorv2 some time, but how much exactly? A simple hunt turned into a war, and Predatorv2 didn't have the time to worry about any of it, his mission had changed.

Tawganator began to awake from his troubled sleep and wasn't sure whether he was still asleep or not. He felt as if he was moving and staying still at the same time. He even thought that he must be dead and this is what it was like. No, he was not dead, he is being carried by a fellow Drone back to the Hive.

Still the sound of the jungle was hard to hear and feeling from his body was confusing. Pain seemed to be there but he could not feel it or at least he thought he couldn't but maybe he did. It was so confusing and all he could do was let himself be carried away by whatever was happening.

The Drone let out a reassuring hiss that they were getting close to the Hive. Tawganator was comforted by this and slipped back into his slumber. Warmth began to fill the air once more and the sounds of the jungle began to change. The Sun must be up, what a good time to live again.

The signal was weak, meaning it was going to be a trek to reach the source. With the ever so frequent alien scouring the landscape it wasn't going to be easy either. Unfortunately for Deathdrop the direction in which the signal strength increased was in the opposite direction. It was clearer towards the billowing clouds of unnaturally dark smoke lofting into the sky above the dense jungle.

At least they had a point of reference for tracking, still leaving Deathdrop to fend for himself against the abomination it its minions did not weigh lightly on Predatorv2's conscious. "It is time to move, follow me" he said trying to mask the uneasiness in his announcement. Where the smoke originated was a mile or so off, with striking speed Predatorv2 lept into a nearby tree. Perching for a second to allow the The_Doctor to catch up. The hunting party of two quickly made their way through the tree tops like two seasoned acrobats, it was impressive how Predatorv2 and The_Doctor moved so well with the amount of equipment they both carried and their general anatomy.

They could easily give any soft meat or even a hard meat a run for it's money in the tree top sprint category. Predatorv2 glanced back at the human transport they were leaving behind. It was steadily being cleared of the hard meat threat. Surprised, by the sudden dispersal of the droves of the hard meats that had just been flooding the soft meat resistant. "Hmmh, stronger than I thought" Predatorv2 pondered to himself, he was figuring on the soft meat threat being taken care of by the hard meats, apparently not...


30 Minutes Later....


Predatorv2 slammed into ground, staring intently on the enormous crash site layed out before him. The beacon signal screamed inside his mask, they were very close to its source. His powerful heart was pounding, so many years...so close. A thud interupted his thoughts looking back to reveal it was The_Doctor. "It is some where in that wreckage!" his voice boomed, Predatorv2 made his way towards a large section of the soft meat ship that was still intact, also locating a use able entrance. So close...

His arm bent backwards at an agonizign angle, Deathdrop could barely move. Holding his breath, he let himself sink under the water splashing against the trees. His cloak was rendered useless instantly, but the cold helped numb the pain.

Moving under the muck, he could just barely see movement above the surface. Firehunter was somewhere close, but there would be other prey for him. Deathdrop took the chance, and swam to a sunken log, taking hold of it and waiting.

30 minutes later, he rose, his arm wrapped in a makeshift bandage of weeds.

The human ship had been torn into several pieces over the 4 miles of destruction carved into the planet's surface. Pools of fuel had leaked out onto the surface and were still blazing in small pockets around the wreckage. The trees not crushed under the weight of the mighty chunk of metal had been set alight from the ship's heat and fire had torn through a good section of the trees in the south. Thick smoke billowed into the sky from the scorched earth. The soothing sounds of the near by river betrayed the horror of the crash. Some had made it out of the ship and to the river where they final left their mortal coils. Bloated corpses laying on the river bank, surely more had floated down stream. But none of this was the hunter's concern, they were here now for one thing and one thing only. Everything else was now secondary, the beacon must be located.

“I think I see an entry” PREDATORv2 grunted. They both activated their cloak just in case they ran into any human, living ones at least. They approached what looked to be one of the ship's airlocks, just above the opening were the human words UNSC TITANNIA. The airlock had been ripped open already, long scars ran along the metal skin of the ship. The hard meat had been here, probably still were. They would be looking for warm bodies to incubate their young inside. They had always been nothing more than parasites. From what they had seen of the ship it definitely did not appear to be a fighting vessel, it was most likely something for the civilian population. “What is it doing on a civilian ship” The_Doctor pondered.

They cautiously entered the wreck, the darkness that enveloped the inside of the ship was easily cast aside by the yautja's mask. No movement still. Smoke still filled some parts of the hall, fires still raging on in different sections. The heat was almost unbearable, the ship had still retained some of the searing temperature of re-entry. The signal the elder's were tracing was at least three decks above them and so far there seemed no bulkheads or access to the above decks. They continued down the ships hallway before stopping at a junction with another one of the ships endless hallways. There were two doors both with arrows pointing up and down on wall to the left of the elders. “We need a way up” PREDATORv2 announced. They were clearly elevators next to them but without power it would most probably be of no use. They started to move down the new hallway, hoping to find some damn stairs or a ladder. BAM! One of the set of doors now behind them suddenly dented outwards in the center. They turned in surprise towards the elevator. BAM! A second time, pushing the doors further apart. Switching through vision modes the outline of the creature become clear. One of the parasites was trying to smash its way through to them. Both elders quickly locked their aim at the creature. “After you” The_Doctor offered. “No, no I couldn't. You're already behind in the hunt” PREDATORv2 said in jest. While discussing who would kill the bug, it had already pushed the doors apart enough so that its head was showing. It hissed at the two hunters with anger. “Yeah, Fuck you too” The_Doctor muttered as he fired a bright blue bolt of plasma into the doorway. Blast had blown the doors back into the elevator, crushing what wasn't vaporized of the insect. A hole had been melted into the roof of the elevator by the creature. The parasite must have picked up on the hunters and come looking but got its foolish self blocked from its potential prey by the elevator doors.

Inspecting the shaft visible through the hole, PREDATORv2 noticed a service ladder leading to the above decks. “There's our way up” he pointed. Using their mighty strength the two jumped through the hole. Clearing the elevator and grabbing hold of the ladder.

Arriving on the needed level they found them selves less than a few meters from the signal. So close now. “Quick, around this corner” PREDATORv2 yelled rushing around the hallway. They both ran towards the beeping signal, waiting to finally see what they had been seeking for hundreds of years. It felt as though some form of fate had guided them there, all of it the pieces fitting into place. They turned the corner, they were almost on top of the signal now. Suddenly they ground to a halt. The turn around the corner had revealed a sight that was most unexpected. On the hallway floor laid the source of the signal. An unconscious human female, a very pregnant, unconscious human female who at that moment was being dragged by her arms by two xenomorph warriors.

War watched the new humans scurry about, shoot things that were dead already, grabbing tags off of fallen marines, returning to the bodies that were already dead and putting a few new rounds in them. It sicken him, and coming from a species that hangs bodies like decorations that's something.

War waited until two of the soldiers got close enough to his hiding spot before War pounced on them knocking them down. Their shouts echoed out and alerted the rest. They came in a sort of semi-circle towards War, who's body was priming for the next part of the plan, the escape.

When they got within weapon's range of him, War pushed off with all his strength and easily cleared the heads of the soldiers. Who, in the bewilderment of War's action, tried to take him down like some kind of flying game. Time slowed for War as he neared the arc of his leap. He could feel the rounds wiz by him, the zip and zang of their vectors echoed in his head. A sharp pain hit him from his leg as he cleared the arc and started back down. Upon landing, he could confirm it, he took a small hit in his leg, but that didn't stop him. He bounded out from that area to a more safer and concealed location. Those humans were just as bad as the hunters.

After running for what seemed to be thirty minutes, War stopped feeling that he had put enough distance between him and the humans. He checked his leg over and although it bled, it was healing just fine, anymore and War would have had to rip his leg off. A noise alerted War to the presence of something else nearby. It crashed into him before he could spot it. A large snake of some kind.

After some hissing and screeching, War pulled away to find that it was Gaunt. From the reaction of Gaunt, it seemed that he too was surprised to find another Xeno in this area. Gaunt quickly told him about the armored human that was with him and War immediately understood what they were up against. War, following Gaunt as he circled back told him of his encounter with some others and warned him not to take this one to likely. They didn't cower like the others.

Gaunt led him back to the spot where he had encountered the human he landed on before. War noticed that he wasn't alone, a marine who had survived the initial onslaught was with him giving him and update on the situation. The marine kept calling him "Deltaboy" odd name War thought as he too began stalking the two, waiting for Gaunt's signal to strike.

DarkLioness had drifted through the forest trying to find hosts for the Drones to collect but everytime she found anything worth her attention it was either killed or pounced on by someone else. In other words the Xenomorph pissed off and ready for blood. She had spotted a wounded Yautja and was getting ready to make her move when he was killed by a human. It took every ounce of control she had not spring out of the darkness and tear the human apart in rage. So now she was walking around again searching for someone, or rather something to capture. Or kill. She needed to kill something. Something big. She needed to taste the blood of her enemies as they screamed in agony before her. She needed to feel her tail slice through the tender flesh of a human. DarkLioness smelled the air and hissed. The scent of death was still in the air but it carried the smell of humans. Fresh humans who weren't here when the first fight began.

"Perfect." the Xenomorph though to herself. Fresh humans who may have not been aware of what was going on was very tempting. Also DarkLioness had to do now was find some of the other members of the Hive and set off to collect the fresh hosts! With a somewhat joyful hiss DarkLioness began her search with new determination.

Burning Rubber
- Female War

     When the rain calmed and gave the planet’s star a chance to feel my side, I’d already outrun the Praetorian changelings and confronted our mother. She yelled. Apologize?, I said. Okay. I’m sorry you’re such a fucking bitch. She yelled some more. She couldn’t move and slap me, of course; she was chained to her incredibly wrinkled sac. The way it stretched every time she desperately swiped at me – oh, fuck me.
     Just to fuck her over one last time, I tightly groped her where she couldn’t get at me and lightly penetrated that enormous flesh glob. The tip of my tail blade, sharp as steel, throbbed with joy. Jelly and other such juices came out.
     Would you believe me in saying that I think you’d enjoy this picture as much as I did? As much as I still do? Well, maybe not as much. I’m a sick fuck, remember? That’s what she called me. A mistake. She tried taking control of my brain, the poor slut.
     I remember the involuntary noises I made – that she made. All the moaning and screeching and oh my god, I need to stop thinking about it – oh, but you don’t mind, do you? I think I’ll go on then!
     She was very vulnerable in her state. I mean, so was I, molting out of my previous skin. We both were. Something inside of me tells me she wasn’t enjoying it as much as I did. Ha ha! Dirty whore. With every passing minute I could feel the dry rubbery feeling of my exoskeleton flaking off like a used condom – so wet underneath, yet so rough to come off. So tight.
     Ah, but I’m over-emphasizing. I couldn’t have done much to her. I just kicked her sack around. I liked juggling it. We all do that. Right?

30 Minutes Later
- Alien Harvest
     God, I didn’t know where to go with this. The entirety of my old home would certainly now be hot on my trail, or just very upset with me, at least. I imagine by now Firehunter is thinking he has the chance to upstage me and take my head for shoving into mommy’s ass. Or his own. He’d love my head up his ass.
     What am I saying? We don’t even have the necessary orifice!
     As if my final Fuck you! wasn’t enough, I took the liberty of rounding up some of the lower worker drones and warriors to act on my behalf. I promised that the ones who lived through this shit storm of a war would become my Praetorian guards.
     I don’t know what the bitch is planning. I don’t know where Firehunter is. I don’t know what the Elder hunters are up to. I don’t – I don’t - I don’t know anything. That’s bad. Right? I should know everything. I’ve come up short on my own standards. I don’t like coming up short.
     I could feel my crown erecting further down my back. I could feel little fingers forming at the tips of my chest. Why did this transformation have to take so long? The process could be further quickened by hibernation, but that’s what they all want me to do.
     First thing’s first: as much as I detest this bullshit, I would have to steal as many hosts from dear old mommy as I could. Where could I find those? Maybe Firehunter knows!
     Oh, but he’s busy fucking that old mandible man. Perhaps I’ll try for the ship.
     I sent a myriad of drones to stalk the interior of the ship. Several of my warriors guarded me as I furthered my transformation into what would soon be this planet’s empress. And then mommy would be my bitch. And then I could do whatever I wanted to her.
     In the shadows we rested – our tails slithered not unlike serpents in the night.

Some Time Later…
     One of my drones was murdered up on the ship. And far too easily. My link to his group had been severed upon their death – someone else was on that ship. Someone not easily killed.
     An investigation is in order.

The sound of commotion woke Tawganator from his deep rest. As his senses caught up with him he could then make out where he was. He was back in the Hive and had already been treated by the workers there for his wounds. The very secretions that a Xenomorph uses to make the Hive walls are also used in patching up wounds that they might receive. It is easy to apply and it hardens quickly and can be somewhat flexible if the right amount is used. Also it helps in holding hosts in place so they don't cause any trouble while they are alive in the Hive.

Tawganator began to examine his body, the battle with the Hunter had left him feeling different. His left arm seemed to be in almost perfect condition despite still being a bit sore. As he ran his long bony hands over his dome he could feel the two long gashes that had been left there by the Hunter. Even though the wound has been covered and is healing it still feels numb.

From a small pool came a Drone that had been waiting there for Tawganator to wake up. The Drone approached him and opened his mouth towards Tawganator's and fed him with the nutrients and minerals that he needed much in the same way a mother bird would regurgitate food to its young. After that the Drone left to continue in its other chores. With food in him now and his wounds almost completely healed Tawganator got up and followed an all too familiar smell.

The scent had led him to one of the birthing chambers and more accurately to the Hunter he had fought. The Hunter had been securely bound in place and had already been impregnated. The screams of pain from a human echoed through out the room before falling to the sound of a new chestburster making his existence to the world known. The sound was enough to set off a chain reaction of Hosts waking up followed by the little bundles of joy with in them. This sometimes happen when two or more chestbursters are near each other at a time near birth. If one wakes up then the others start to as well.

Much to Tawganators delight the sound of the birthing through out the chamber pulled the Hunter from his deep rest, though just barely. Even with just one eye open the Hunter recognised the Drone before him and tried to break himself free from his coffin like encasing. It would never work, the Hunter was far to weak now and even at full strength it would have been difficult. Unable to move more than an inch the Hunter still seemed unwilling to give up with out a fight.

Tawganator closed the gap between himself and the Hunter until he was up against the Hunter's forehead. He could feel the unborn chestburster beginning to wake up in the Hunter and the Hunter knew it too. Soon he would die as a Hunter and be reborn as a Brother in the Hive. Tawganator stepped back, this was the Hunters time and he would not be there to greet the new life for there was still much to do.

The commotion that woke Tawganator up in the first place was a sign that something was wrong and he could not ignore it any more. Apparently that Praetorian Bloo had defied the Queen and has now gone rogue and would without doubt try to form his own hive. This is something that the Hive will not tolerate. A new war was about to begin and the Hive must have more Hosts to ensure its survival.

As Tawganator made his way to one of the Hive exits a load roar that seemed to last forever boomed from the birthing chamber. Tawganator felt the new life in the Hive and then moved on.

Adrenaline flooded Predatorv2's veins, his reaction was instinctive and instant. He rushed the two hard meats head on. Pouncing over the human slamming into the nearest hard meat. The two giants preceded to battle on the grated floor banging into the bulkheads in a fury of claws and blades. Predatorv2 sustained a few shallow slices to his belly and arms before subduing his prey by pinning the struggling creature to the floor with his large talon-ed foot. He preceded to tear the banana shaped head from the creature's shoulders, the hard meat screamed in agony as it was not a quick death.

Sighing in relief Predatorv2 studied his new trophy, interrupted by the other hard meat, saliva flowed from the elongated jaws. The hard meat lunged towards Predatorv2, whom was taken completely off guard by the sudden attack. He was unable to even ready himself for the impact. Suddenly in mid air the creature exploded! Chunks slammed into Predatorv2, who jumped out of the way, narrowly avoiding the shower of acid. The hallway was overwhelmed with the smell of death and acid eating away at metal surroundings. The_Doctor's muffled laugh filled Predatorv2's mask, "How nice of you to join the fight" sneering as he announced it. The_Doctor intentionally hesitated allowing the second hard meat to catch Predatorv2 off guard.

The human ship was once again silent, Predatorv2 stood beside The_Doctor as they both studied the unconscious human female who appeared to be unharmed. Predatorv2 evaluated their discovery using his wrist computer. It was unmistakable this was what they were after, "So this is it" Predatorv2 finally said breaking the silence, his tone was lackluster. "Apparently" The_Doctor answered back who seemed to be as thrilled and disgruntled by their discovery as Predatorv2. He bent down and closely examined the human, tinkering with his vision modes so he could better view the human's internal workings.

Everything seemed to be normal, or as normal as the biology of humans was. "Its time to move on, there are sure to be more hard meats scowering this wreckage for hosts" He said trying to sound more enthusiastic, however it wasn't going to be a simple task to avoid hordes of hard meats while dragging this damn human around. Predatorv2 slid both his arms underneath the human, who's eyes suddenly shot wide open, filled with terror. Stunned Predatorv2 sat there motionless, unable to decide what the best course of action would be. He'd hunted humans for hundreds of years, however hugging a human was new territory for him..

FireHunter growled as it was assaulted from the side, a pathetic attempt at most, because its attacker just fell to the ground and screeched in annoyance as its claws only lightly dug into FireHunter's exoskeleton, it was a newly-molted praetorian that hadn't grown accustomed to its size or strength yet. FireHunter roared and grabbed its attacker's wrist, it was stronger than the praetorians, in fact it was somewhat a praetorian, just different from its brethren.

Its attacker cried out in pain as FireHunter wrenched its arm from its body in a shower of acid and beat the new praetorian down with vicious ferocity. To finish off its opponent, FireHunter grabbed the praetorian's writhing tail and speared its foe through the neck before grabbing both of its ankles and pulling it in half. FireHunter and its surroundings were drenched in acid that steamed and burned away at everything that wasn't a xenomorph, leaving a stinking fog of fumes that blanketed the area.

When Deathdrop emerged from the trees, arm wrapped in a makeshift bandage, FireHunter's wounds had almost healed, it was no longer bleeding and was left instead with twisted scars, though the disk was still embedded in its chest, and its exoskeleton had grown over it. Stepping forward over the remains of the praetorian it slowly approached Deathdrop, looming over the visible fumes.
Deathdrop's good arm was FireHunter's obvious target, removing or disabling it would render Deathdrop incapable of attacking completely, its tail raised slowly from the fog that only got thicker, FireHunter and Deathdrop just stood and stared at each other, old adversaries that surely would meet again in another lifetime.

The tail lunged forward like a snake, missing its foe by inches and quickly returning to its raised position above FireHunter's head, but something happened, something painful. The smart disk revved to life again, trying to break from FireHunter's chest, this must have been how the hosts felt in their final moments. FireHunter could feel its exoskeleton cracking around the disk before it burst free of FireHunter in a spray of yellow acid and returned to Deathdrop, who caught it masterfully, though the acid coating it burned his hand slightly. FireHunter fell to one knee, there was a gaping hole in its chest and acid was quite literally pouring out, FireHunter screamed in agony before getting up again, shakily. Its tail lunged forth again and this time struck Deathdrop's injured arm, punching through it again, but this time FireHunter pulled its tail free in a way that half-tore Deathdrop's arm off, leaving it dangling by bleeding muscle and skin. The green glow went through the fog.

FireHunter and Deathdrop were both heavily injured and bleeding heavier, FireHunter roared, weaker than usual as it began to succumb to minor blood loss.

Gaunt had followed a fairly tactical lead in his hunt, take the prey a stray, harvest, kill, in that order.

His faulty deminiour and lost paraplegic understanding however, didn't work for him.

He wasn't hunting mindless wits who would just aimlessly walk to their deaths, he was hunting the leftovers, veterans and toughies of battles and harvests, Human and Yautja, all the same, kill or be killed, yet again, they didn't need the bodies of their trophies to survive. It was that logic that made them more reckless, they could die and still continue on.

It was why they would win this war, The Hive would survive, they were silent and quick, striking before they could ever be perceived, that was the objectionable task for success, and Gaunt always succedded, to some degree, he still hadn't bothered to think if making the fluids of his victims flow and splatter everywhere was a good thing, but he did enjoy the reactions he got, every time, when he squeezed them tight, most took it too tight, but they squealed so much more.

He had crashed into Brother War while on the trail of an already failed gathering attempt, well, luck may fortune the supposedly already dead Xenomorph who was ready to dance with death again, he'd at least have a partner to take to the dance this time, solo on the floor was always a bitch, you always had the spotlight.

How several slient clicks of his jaw had relayed the purposed thoughts and synaptic voice of the snake like chestburster to his brother, it was still remarkable to his own belittled amusment, for Gaunt, it renewed a sense of realigned wisdom to his own view as his breathe had picked up stray or dead pheromones from War's own scent and distinctive mark, taking in signatures from his brother's own travellings.

Having both focused on the nearest and most promising, Gaunt's most recent encounter, they turned and passed, setting off, back in the direction he had come from, now with a brother in tow to aid, they became shadows, out of sight.

And now they stalked, and moved, closing in, carefully and quietly bending the folliage and cannopy works of the jungle around each of their forms, the Human Squarker was back in sight once again.

He looked to War as he strided over him, the name gave Gaunt shivers, "War", they were in a war, and he was, with his brother, War, if that wasn't some sort of sign of The Hives inevitable victory, he'd consider tweaking the art of war to a rhythmical slaughter when the synaptic life of The Hive failed, not that it would matter, either result would mean peace renewed, for all and none, but Gaunt didn't care to speculate how the larger of his brethren might react to the face of rampancy, it was a thought for another hour of time.

Gaunt looked to War, they had reached the dense foliage surroundings of a cut, passed, clearing, the targets of the hunt were back in sight. Letting out a low grumbled click from his irrepressibly dry lips, he signaled War, before stalking and scuttling to his right, to the east, as he watched War head to the west of their position.

Foliage mainly surrounded the Squarker and the soldier, the shrugs and grass were much closer to the back of the soldier as he frantically squabbled and slurred alien dialect to the Squarker, who seemed to hold his nerve at a much higher and trained functionality, he also hadn't made the mistake of having his back against the wall, it brought a grin to Gaunt's cold, lifeless face.

He watched and listened, poised and ready to move, setting his sights on the Squarker, the one that had been so often refered to as, "Delta", the squabbling man infront of the target, he had been so careless. It happened in a flash, the opening, just like he had requested, Gaunt saw the arms of the lumbered and secluded War reach out from the folliage behind the squabbling man, as if the jungle plants had come alive to devour the unfortunate soul in a frantic movement of lost fury.

Gaunt moved as soon as the man screamed, darting out of the brush and towards Delta, un-hindered by the ideal of detection as he scuttle and bounded through the grass in the clearing, submerged in a sea of green.

He saw the gun of Delta turn to face War, he heard the click of the barrel as he pounces upwards, and felt the peeling scrape of metal as he collided with the gun, coiling his body around it as it was knocked offset by his bodies impact, the rifle letting out a surprised burst of fire into the side of an empty cannopy brush, avoiding War all together.

Gaunt reeled his head as he lunged forwards at Delta, scraping his claws over the metalic chest guard plate, he butted his head into the Human Squarker's nose, his spine shivering with glee, hearing a small series of several rhythmic clicks and cracks emanate from where he burrowed his head, he felt his exoskeletal skin slowly brush over the face of the man,, feeling a small trickle of fluid brush his lips, blood, delicious, from the man who would just be coming through as to what had happened.

Letting out a loud shriek for his Brothers and Sisters, Gaunt coiled his tail up from the gun and around Delta's neck with a quick and timely snap, doing so just in time to get some grip on his prey as he felt the grasp of hands ringing over his body, he started to slowly constrict Delta's neck, grabbing his forehead between his claws as he felt hands squeeze and ring over his body, tighter and tighter.


He loved it when they struggled.

Though small as he was, War was impressed of Gaunt's abilities. Having the body of a serpent had its benefits....

As Gaunt preoccupied the one called 'Delta', War busied himself with the other solider. But for all the screaming he was doing, he was one hell of a kicker, this isn't gonna be easy. The solider managed to break free of War's grasp and aim a left fist at War's jaw. War's exoskeleton could take punishment far worse than a insignificant fist. But, much like Gaunt, it was surprising.

War returned his gaze back to the marine, he was gonna make this as slow and joyful as possible. War balled his own clawed hand and punched the solider, taking care to keep his strength to the bare minimum. Yet it was enough to cause the solider to fly back and into a nearby tree.

War advanced upon him, this was gonna be enjoyable....

Birthed Abortions

- Female War, Part II

     There’s something I’ve got to let you in on. I’m a little bit frightened. Oh, I know, I’m surprised, too. I’m frightened at a number of things, actually. I think it’s the stress of knowing these things that really fingers my asshole.
     Let me break it down for you.
     My (now deceased) worker drones have identified the threat. It’s a pair of those bigot hunters. They’re skilled for their race. And they’re stealing away a potential host. What they want with a single female human is beyond me. I’m guessing they’re curious as to what a three-way intercourse with a human feels like.
     I mean, that’s what I would do.
     Ambitious as their sexcapade is, they must die. I’m debating whether or not I should wait for my new body to deal with them.
     Do I sound more calm? I do, don’t I? Much more coherent? Rest, however slight, is always a welcome mind-cleanser. I learned that when I became mommy’s little Praetorian. That was centuries ago. That was when she liked me.
     Stupid fucking bitch.
     By making this fallen human ship home base, I completely disregarded the fact that Firehunter also has hundreds of worker drones scouting the ship for hosts. It’s hard to imagine that my own groups haven’t yet come into contact with any of my brother’s little bitches.
     You would think luck is on my side, no? That someone up there still likes me? This is not the case.
     One of the new Praetorians – I could sense them all – had attacked Firehunter. I know that Firehunter is a little bitch, but killing one of mommy’s new Praetorian guards was just a bit too much, don’t you think? Many of the new guards are still loyal, no doubt, but two of them – two of those fucking idiots – have begun molting into Queens.
     This, I admit, might have something to do with me and my own molting. But they’re quick little fucks. I don’t know where they are, but they’ve hidden themselves well. They’re hibernating. This speeds up the process much more than you can imagine. This is bad. This – I don’t – I can’t imagine that –

     It’s late morning now. This planet’s star is now enjoying the sky’s company. Staring from beneath the sunlight among the company of these dead tree branches is a tranquil experience. I’m not sure how much time has passed.
     Whether or not it’s the same day as before I fell asleep is something I’m not sure about. It must be, though: my body hasn’t fully formed. God, it’s like being awake during the operation for your sex change. Is my vagina secure yet? Is this what butterflies feel like? It’s very wet.
     But I don’t mind that.
     She liked it when I played with her sack. You agree with me, don’t you?
     I’m making progress. I’ve already grown in height and strength. But I’m not quite there yet. I’m… I’m not used to the power. I can’t… I’m just not comfortable. Is this what a butterfly feels like?
     Though after a brief amount of hibernating, I feel as if I can think more clearly now. Are my thoughts more coherent? More… boring? Don’t worry. I think it’s just a side-effect. I think… I’m just… I’m happy.
     Did I mention this already?
     But not for long, you can count on that.
     I’ve been around longer than any of you.
     But… what if I stay like this… forever?
     You will die.
     No, I… I can’t… I’m… I’m – I’m – I’m – I can’t – I…
     My new forearms twitched back-and-forth. I could feel them. I could feel them feeling me. I felt them feeling my sides and my chest and my sides and my arms. They were brand new. I could feel them feeling me. They were brand new. They liked feeling things. They were brand new.

A Mother’s Love

- Female War, Part III

     A few moments had passed. The trees were still dead. The sun hadn’t moved. I looked around. Nothing. I don’t understand.
     An explosion. More of mine killed.
     The old hive’s own worker drones had begun stalking mine. Something terrible is happening.
     Another sun popped of the top of the ship. A giant explosion. From what?
     My forehead stretched out of its protective casing. My jaws stretched. My scar! It was still there.
     Not quite there yet, old boy.
     None of my warriors were near. How much time had passed by? I don’t have a link to the inside of the ship. All of mine, gone. But I have hosts. I have impregnated hosts. They aren’t on the ship. Where is my hive?
     Some distance away, many trees shattered in a frenzy of dust and leaves. A rather large piece of the ship had ripped from its side and tipped into the ground, crushing everything in its wake.
     The skin of my neck stretched and pulled my crested forehead in that direction.
     Something was there.
     I could feel my arms wiggle with excitement. They were brand new. The arms, I mean. They’re new.
     Do I seem calm? Is this what a butterfly feels like?

The alpha male chestburster had moved so fast from the undergrowth it took Delta by total suprise, and with the other warrior xeno also in the mix he went to go for the larger, thus, he was now paying for it as he felt the ever tightening body of the serpent around his neck, why didnt he have his helmet on, damn, he thought to himself.

Delta's gun wasnt anywhere near reach and he tryed shaking the monster but it wouldnt budge, he found it hard to breath and the pain of regret for getting jumped was even harder to grit. He knew if he blacked out he would end up a host and action needed to be taken. He rolled around in the dirt and edged towards a shallow river all the while going for his magnetic combat knife which stuck in a plastic sheath on his molded upper leg armour.

He grabbed the knife and proceeded to bash the intruder on his neck with the hilt of his knife, careful to not slash it or he'd end up with a mouthful of acid. He rolled into the shallow river and he felt the grip of the creature become loose. He gave a forceful tug and it came free, but Delta was choking up water from his river encounter and the taste of free air was to good to worry about where it had went. He stood up gasping and quickly fitted on his signature piece helmet and readied his knife to a fighting position, his rifle was back in the undergrowth. Blood dripped down his nose inside his helmet, the taste of iron was disgusting.

He waited for the next encounter.