Alien: Lockdown

Part 12- Ashes to Ashes

U.S.S Anna-Lee Status Report
Crew: ?
Ship Status: ?
Alarm Status: Black
Deploying USCM Response Team
ETA 8 Hours

Cold Storage Room A5

Dietz voice came through on Laidlaw's earpiece, but he wasn't going to say a word. An alien was right outside the door blocking their escape route. He, Jim and Gwen were all packed together in a corner, guns aimed at the door. They had been trying to gather cold food in what was essentially a portable refrigerator for the trip. Laidlaw's old combat instincts had kicked in out of nowhere, but listening to them had saved them, for now.

"Fuck!" Dorens said.

Laidlaw keyed his mic twice. Even a whisper might give them away. They still had to make it all the way back to the hangar with the food.

"Oh thank Christ. Where are you?" Dorens asked.

Laidlaw simply keyed his mic twice again. Dorens would figure it out. He hoped. Jarheads could be dumb as nails sometimes.

"Are you guys alright? Key once for yes, two for no."

Laidlaw responded accordingly.

"We'll come to you. Sit tight."

Something clanged loudly overhead. The aliens were all over the place now. The human crew were outnumbered. It wasn't the first time Laidlaw had faced odds like that. Colonial Marines are always outnumbered. Jim shifted next to him and pointed to himself and then the door. Laidlaw shook his head. It was too dangerous to make a move.

There was another sound then, something scurrying around in a vent. Then there was a gentle thud as it landed to the floor. The scurrying sounded horribly familiar. Jim and Laidlaw exchanged looks. Facehugger.

"Where is it?" Jim whispered.

A shriek and then a flash of something jumping at them. Laidlaw had his shotgun up and fired both barrels at it, blowing it away. The alien outside hissed and then the door opened. Jim was up now with a handgun that only seemed to piss the thing off. The rounds weren't penetrating enough. Gwen stepped up then too, adding her own pistol to the fray. The thing leapt up to the ceiling and began to dash for them. Laidlaw loaded his shotgun frantically just as it was right on top of them. He brought it into play in time to blow it's head off, sending acid spray everywhere. The body flew back and hit a shelf, knocking it over.

"Oh shit oh shit!" Gwen began to yell. The acid had caught her and was eating through her clothes.

She peeled off her jacket and shirt as they began to dissolve. The spray had still eaten through and she let out a horrible scream as the acid touched skin. Thinking fast, Laidlaw ran to the fire alarm and pulled it, setting off the sprinklers in the room. Gwen peeled off what was left of her tank top and revealed a grizzly looking burn.

She stumbled but was caught by Jim, who quickly sat her down. Laidlaw tore open an aid pack on his tool belt and gave Gwen a shot of morphine. She grunted and grit her teeth; trying her hardest not to scream. Laidlaw then tore open some kind of powder he'd seem the medtechs use for burns and poured it on her chest.

Jim took his jacket off and gave it to her. They left the room, with Gwen now mumbling incoherently.

"Dietz, we're in bad shape. Gwen got caught by some acid, we're gonna need to move fast," Laidlaw reported.

"Son of a bitch," Dietz said. "Harry said a few of them got into the cargo bay. Find somewhere safe near there to hunker down and treat her wounds as best you can. Wait for us, alright?"