Child of the Xenomorph

6

I couldn't believe it. The Queen couldn't have betrayed the Hive. She was so kind, so merciful, it just wasn't possible.

My mind was still trying to absorb the information as I automatically ran out of the Hive, among J'Khati and Tsalken. I was weighed down by Fecta's body, but J'Khati slowed down and slung her body over her shoulders. My pace quickened, I continued to run.

The screams and cries faded behind us as the tunnel opened up to moonlight. The forest around us looking deceptively peaceful, but I knew I couldn't trust it.

"We need to find somewhere to hide immediately," I said, knowing I stated the obvious.

J'Khati nodded her massive head. "We need to go deeper into the forest," she hissed. "It seems the soldiers used the main entrances. There aren't any uphill. We will be safer there."

Tsalken just nodded silently, looking completely traumatized. Poor thing. He had probably never seen anything remotely related to violence.

We started trudging up the mountain, a deep and powerful sadness starting to set into my weary heart.

Tsalken-

Blood. Crying. Death.

The horrendous scenes kept replaying in my mind. I never knew such evil existed. And I had a feeling I had only seen the least of it.

I looked at Shaniya, just ahead of me. I remembered the whirling tornado of death she had become. I shuddered inwardly, happy she was on our side.

It started to rain, the water pouring down from the grayed heavens. I liked rain. It symbolized washing away, and the starting of new beginnings. Ugh, why was I so weird?

Water washed down my dome, and all over me. I shook myself, getting more water on Shaniya.

"Hey!" She retorted, and I winced, thinking she was mad.

Apparently she wasn't. She took her long hair and whipped it at me, splashing more water on my snout. I snorted, wondering how she could be playing in such an awful time.

J'Khati obviously didn't approve, either. "Knock it off," she snapped. Shaniya stopped, drooping her round head in disappointment.

Just as we reached the top of the Hive, right over where the Queen's chamber is, her voice penetrated my mind. I knew Shaniya and J'Khati heard her too, because they stopped where they were.

'J'Khati? Are you listening?' The Queen said, desperation in her tone.

A second passed, a few more seconds, a whole minute, before J'Khati finally said, 'what do you want?'

'You must understand,' the Queen pleaded in our minds. 'The Humans said they wanted peace. A truce with us. And J'Khati, you know how much war there has been, all the blood that has been shed. All I wanted was peace. So I agreed. I should've known better. I let them into our territory, showing them that I trusted them, and they butchered us. Some of my people are still alive, but they plan to enslave them.'

The new information hit us hard. Shaniya gasped, and I whimpered. My mom, my dad...they were all enslaved down there, if they were still alive. And I could do nothing about it.

'What do want us to do?' J'Khati sounded strained, and I knew she could barely hold back her sorrow.

'You are my Firstborn, J'Khati," the Queen said. 'You must become the next Queen. Go to the Ocean Hive, and form a treaty with them. Bring them back, and claim the Hive you have lost.'

'But Mother-' J'Khati started to retort.

'I am old, centuries old, child,' the Queen said. 'I will hold out for as long as I can, to put hope in the hearts of this Hive, but when you return...' the Queen cut off. 'They're coming! Go, now! The lives of this Hive rests in your talons.'

And with that, the Queen went silent.

"We need to get out of here, if Mother's life means anything," Shaniya urged, gently grabbing the top of J'Khati's forearm.

J'Khati nodded, not saying anything. Fecta's lifeless body still was on top of her, and I got a pang of sadness. She was so full of life, I didn't think there was any way she could die.

The three of us walked sorrowfully up the mountain, seeking shelter from the storm, and worse, from the monsters behind us. For what seemed like hours we scaled the merciless rocks, until we came across a cave.

"This will do," J'Khati said, speaking for the first time. "Now, we must bury Fecta."

Shaniya went out into the rain and gathered flowers for her, beautiful specimens glowing bioluminescent blue in the night. There was a deep patch of soft soil that we found, overlooking the valley.

"This is a beautiful spot," Shaniya whispered, water pouring down her cheeks that seemed to be coming from her eyes. Or maybe it was just rain. "She was so artistic, and loved nature. That's why she never wanted to hunt. She was a very special Xenomorph, and the most lively, gentle person I have ever known. I wish I could've known her longer."

"She was the joy to my life," J'Khati said, just as quietly. She laid J'Khati down on the patch of dirt. There was no need to bury the dead, as no animal would dare to eat our poisonous flesh.

I realized it was my turn to say something. "Er," I began awkwardly, my talons clawing at the mud. "I didn't really know Fecta that much, but she seemed really nice. I saw her give her life for Shaniya. I think that was awesome." Wow, I should get an award for the most lame speech ever.

Shaniya gave me a sad smile. She arranged Fecta to be curled up in a sleeping position, and she looked like she was taking a nap. Then, she spread the bioluminescent flowers over her body, casting a pretty glow over her. After that, she whipped her head back and let loose a ravaged cry of sorrow.

Shaniya-

I didn't sleep well that night, unsurprisingly. When I woke up the next day, J'Khati was crouched at the mouth of the cave, looking out over the valley. I looked over at Tsalken, who was lying on the side of his small, deep brown body, twitching. I smiled. He was a silly, clumsy little thing, but already I was developing a liking for him.

I walked up to J'Khati, sitting down, and put my hand on her back, stroking the tubes and muscles.

Suddenly, she turned to me. "Promise me you will never leave me," she said fiercely.

I hugged her neck. "I promise," I mumbled into her exoskeleton.

A realization struck me. "You must be my next Queen," I said.

She nodded. "Wake Tsalken," she said. "We must continue our journey."

Even though she seemed so nonchalant about it, I was still in shock about her being the Queen. She would reign and have her own Hive, and her own heir.

I gently shook Tsalken, and he awoke, yawning and extending his inner jaw.

"Time to go already?" He mumbled sleepily.

"Yep, sorry," I said absentmindedly. I turned, and now that J'Khati was in the full light, I noticed her dome had already grown a few more inches, a crest beginning to form. Her dark blue skin was lit up in the light, and she looked truly magnificent.

My jaw dropped. "You're undergoing the change already?"

She nodded. "Yes, once the former Queen allows it, the next Queen's body instantly starts to undergo the hormonal changes needed. I should be in my full Queen state by the end of the week."

I was dumbfounded. Being the only thing I felt proper to do, I dropped to my knees and bowed. Tsalken did the same.

"No, no, that's hardly necessary," J'Khati stammered, and I could've sworn she did the Xenomorph equivalent of a blush.

I giggled. "Well, of course it is, you are my Queen, after all," I teased, slapping her side gently with my tail.

"I could have you thrown in the dungeon for that," she joked.

"Not if you can't catch me," I chided, and took off running. Tsalken started running with me, and I was caught up by an unreasonable spurt of joy. Even though the most tragic thing happened, there was new hope too. A new beginning.

And with this new mindset, J'Khati, Tsalken and I ran off into the forest to the Ocean Hive, to give the Humans the treatment they deserved.