Alien: Lockdown

Part 8~ Fire

U.S.S Anna-Lee Status Report
Crew: 40, 2 missing, 1 incapacitated, 5 KIA
42 Hours Till Destination
Ship Status: Quick Repairs Complete
Alarm Status: Neutral

Med Bay

Cade Dorens sat on a stool beside his unconscious best friend. How could things have gone so wrong? Why did it go for Dietz instead of him? They were standing right beside each other.

Ultimately, Dorens knew it didn't matter. What mattered was that Dietz was laying here on this table with some horror from beyond the stars on his face. Dorens had seen what happens next.

The thing would plant an embryo of some kind inside Dietz, and then it'd come out. Violently and messily. Out of his fucking best friend.

No. There had to be a way.

Dorens turned to look at Faraday, who was studying one of the facehuggers that came from...the first victims.

"Anything?" Dorens asked.

"I'm sorry, Dorens. I'm unable to gain anything from this autopsy that we could use to help. I'm afraid we'll have to risk running scans. Maybe we can slow the process, or remove the embryo before it gestates," said Faraday.

"Work a miracle, Doc."

Faraday nodded.

Before he knew it, he was back in the barracks with his squad. They were a solemn bunch now. Dorens hated it. He wished Allen would make a dumb joke. He wished they'd act like everything was normal.

Maybe then he could forget about Dietz and focus on finding the deputies and killing the aliens.

"What's the word?" asked Stanton.

"No change. Faraday's doing everything he can," Dorens replied.

"I'm praying for him. We'll figure something out, Dietz is going to be okay," said Stanton.

"Yeah man. Dietz is a hardcore motherfucker. If anyone can survive, it'll be him," said Allen.

"Oorah," Mathers nodded in agreement.

Suddenly Sergeant Simmons entered from his own room. He was strapping his chest piece on and had his helmet in place.

"Marines, we've got new orders. I want full gear, let's double time it."

The Bridge

"This is Payne, we've got something weird down here."

Stone sat up in his chair. The others visibly tensed. Grant began to flick through camera monitors to find their position.

"What is it?" Stone spoke into his earpiece.

"Some kind of...growth? Whatever it is, it's not supposed to be here. Harry and I are pulling back, I don't wanna stick around for whatever the hell this is."

"Okay. Good work. Sit tight, we're sending the Marines."

Grant cursed. Stone glanced over to see a static filled screen.

"The cameras are down for that area. They've always been on the fritz though, that's near our engines and heat exchange," said Grant.

"Find the closest feed and get us eyes on. I'm heading for the security room. Man the bridge till I get back," said Stone.

The others nodded and gave affirmatives. Some kind of growth, Stone thought as he left the bridge, what the hell does that mean?

Stone arrived quickly at the security room. Laidlaw was stood outside with a double barrel shotgun. It's barrel was shortened, but the stock remained intact.