The Perfect Hunt

Day 1

The gestation period has already exceeded our previous expectations.  The embryo is growing rapidly, albeit more slowly than previous, failed, strains. During ultrasound the fetus appeared to have a humanoid figure, but the teeth developing are sharper than normal. Upon further analysis we have concluded we are breeding a Queen.

Birth went smoothly, and H-32-082030A has been reunited with 'Mother'.

Week 4

H-32-082030A is showing signs of intelligence, but when taken from 'Mother' reacts with hostility. It sleeps with 'Mother' nightly, we do not know how much longer the host will survive; H-32-082030A does not seem to know its own strength.

Week 12

'Mother' passed away last night. H-32-082030A does not know. The subject strangled her to death. There was also significant blood loss to the host. We will deliver the news tonight that 'Mother' will not be joining her. Her strength and speed have increased exponentially, her intelligence is not lacking. Some personality is pressing through and we have noticed a trend. Will elaborate in the following.

Week 13

H-32-082030A spent most of the last week screaming since Mother passed. She finally ceased when we gave her H-47-100930. The second subject seems to have better temperament since we have allowed this change. We will continue to monitor the situation.

Week 52

H-32-082030A has successfully survived the first year and has taken several of the younger ones under her wing. It is not yet problematic, but she seems to be able to communicate and give commands using a series of growling and hissing noises. They follow her direction unyieldingly.

---

"Open your mouth. Follow the light with your eyes. Stand here and do not move."

Typical physical. Go through the motions and wait until it was finished. Then proceed to training and endurance. It was... Grating.

"H-32-082030A-.."

"My name is Peyton." I hissed, lips curling back to reveal a mouth full of sharpened teeth.

"Fine. Peyton. We have to get you down to the dome. We have something for you." The scientist sitting across from me gauged my reaction, but I gave him none.

"What's down there?" I shifted in my seat, flexing my fingers.

Before the man could answer, the door opened and a tall woman in a black pantsuit stood in the doorway. "Well? Where is it?"

The scientist, who had turned as the door opened, turned back to where I had been sitting only to find my chair empty. His eyes went up to the ceiling where I was hanging upside down, watching.

Project Heracles, Designation H-29-070729A, Name: Elex

-recorded notes made by

1hr after insemination:

"Patient Audra Green was successfully inseminated. 24 hour observation has already begun. Alert Dr. Morley with any changes."

5hr after insemination:

"Patient Audra Green appears to be ready to give birth. Abdomen has swollen significantly larger than previous cases. Dr. Morley is on site. Constant monitoring to continue."

Time of Birth- 1905 hours.

1hr After Birth:

"Newborn is stable and mother is recovering. Newborn displays more Yautja traits in appearance than Xeno. Appears healthy. Will continue to monitor. Inform Dr. Chopra that may begin."

Week 1:

"H-29-070729A is growing rapidly, as expected. Continues to develop an emotional bond with his mother. Mother, however, is becoming more and more emotionally distant. We suspect that her son's appearance, being so alien, is driving a wedge between them."

Week 4:

"Mother no longer speaks to Elex, beyond what is necessary. She no longer holds or comforts him. Monitoring of the mother will begin in the morning. Elex continues to excel intellectually and physically."

Week 5:

"At approximately 0722, Audra was found deceased in her room after an intentional overdose on pain medications she had been stealing from the infirmary. Elex was informed, and immediately began to sob."

Week 6:

"Two days ago, Elex stopped grieving. He regards his mother's death as unfortunate, but does not seem to let it bother him much."

Week 22:

"Elex grew larger than expected, but growth seems to have finally ceased. He continues to develop mentally and emotionally like a human."

Week 37:

"Subject has become increasingly agitated and aggressive. Made the decision to let it hunt a Xenomorph drone. After succeeding, Elex's previous behavior returned. We suspect the Kill Gland is active in his body. Further study needed."

Week 39:

"Confirmed presence of Kill Gland."

Week 52:

"Subject has survived the first year. Gene manipulation therapy approved for future use. Subject will be introduced to H-32-082030A to determine viability of procreation and teamwork."


*****

"Elex, time to wake up." The voice pierced the morning air in my room, it's mechanical tone jarring me out of a deep sleep. They said they had something for me, something new. I had no idea what that meant, since almost every time they spoke of something new, it was just some kind of test to run. Instructions furthered, telling me to go to North Road, officially known as the gymnasium.

I wasn't really free where I was, but I wasn't a slave, nor was I contained to a cell at all times. Sure I had curfews, but they weren't for my safety. For the most part I was allowed to roam about, so long as I kept my head down and did what they asked me to do. That morning, I quickly threw on my clothes, grabbed my gear, and headed out.

I clung to the wall, hovering just above the suit I let my tail fall down and brush against her collar and watched her shudder, a scowl on her lips. It excited me. "Lets go. You have an appointment in the dome."

"You didn't ask very nicely." I sang, a girn flashing across my lips that revealed all of my sharpened teeth.

The woman rolled her eyes and strode from the room, ducking as my tail swung and narrowly missed her head. Crawling down the wall I followed her out, folding my hands behind my back. I didn't need to be escorted, but I was known to tease the humans walking around and they were wary of me. I was fine with that, watching them squirm was amusing.

---

Subject H-32-082030A shows signs of instability but knows where the lines are and does not cross them. Physical, mental, emotional strength has exceeded expectations. Setting up to interact with Xenomorph and H-29-070729A.

---

Inside the dome I found, with glee, a Xenomorph, the thing in which I was a part of. It thrashed angrily, growling and spitting unable to emerge from the plexiglass prison it found itself. Once I entered the dome, however, the prison was removed and the thing lunged for me. I did not hesitate, my tail swinging around and carving a long thin gash across its face. It hissed and tried again, but as it neared I bared my teeth and hissed back. It stopped, its body twitching, and growled in response.

Shhh, I hissed. Take your tail and stab yourself until you can no longer. The Xeno growled and hissed stepping back from me as I advanced. I gave you an order. It seemed reluctant, and resisted for a moment longer before it complied. Acid dripped from its wounds until it was nothing but a pile of black flesh, the floor beginning to cave in underneath it.

Elex sat in a chair in a large, vacant room. It was all whites and grays, with lighting that seemed to radiate softly from the walls rather than from specific points, as it would from a light fixture. The only two objects inside the room were the chair made of cheap plastic, certainly not really suitable for hurting someone. The walls, floor, and ceiling were all seamless except for the doorway, giving the idea that it was all one piece rather than several pieces put together. There were no windows. Elex had places like it before; whatever it was, it was very hard to damage.

'Wait here,' they told him, but gave him nothing to do while he waited. Though Elex was a patient person, he despised needless waiting, for there was plenty of other things to do with his time than sit with nothing to do. To pass the time, Elex began going over his vocabulary, speaking out loud but just barely above a whisper. His grasp of the English language came almost immediately, as did his Yautja, but he was working on eight additional Earth languages at that time. Sometimes he mixed up his vocabulary, forming sentences out of three or four different languages, just to keep his teachers on their toes.

I grinned, clearly pleased with myself, then turned towards the door where I was, again, led away. I folded my hands behind my back watching as other scientists hurried past making sure to avoid me as they did so. I don't know why they're so afraid. They made me, didn't they? I thought about Mother then, something I hadn't done in a while and I frowned. The others they gave me were nice company at night, but Mother had been familiar and soft; I missed her.

"Peyton. Hello?" My escort was standing in front of a door, gesturing at it.

"Patience, squishy one." Rolling my eyes I stepped forward and entered the room. As the forclosed behind me I let my eyes drift lazily across the room, coming to rest upon another. His smell filled my nostrils and while he smelled a great deal like a Yautja, he was subtly different. Instinct flared inside me and I had to resist the urge to snarl and hiss. Instead I stood incredibly still, my black hues locked on him; he was bigger than me, taller, bulkier, probably from his Predator heritage. He was made to hunt.

When finally the door opened, I was greeted immediately by an unknown but vaguely familiar smell, the scent of something that awoke my blood and brought a million questions to my mind all at once. In walks a woman, sleek and slender, with features that defined her clearly not as a human, but as something else entirely. She was a little like me, physically speaking, but with some drastic differences.

I observe you silently for another moment, sizing you up, comparing you to myself. I did this, it seemed, to determine whether or not I could handle myself against you in a fight, if it ever came to that. I'd have rather not fought anyone at that moment. I'd have rather had time to study you more closely, learn your habits and your strengths and your weaknesses so the hunt could be properly executed.

But I didn't want to hunt you. Pursue you, yes, but not hunt. Something about you made me curious, so I approached, my large feet padding remarkably softly across the cold tile floor.

"Who are you," I asked, my curiosity piqued as I endeavored to learn more about you.

He didn't do anything, just stared at me as if dissecting me with his eyes. But he didn't attack me, so that was a plus. The tension left my shoulders and I tilted my head to the left as he advanced, my tail curling and uncurling, twitching idly behind me. He unnerved me a little bit, and as much as I didn't want him to hunt me, I wanted him to follow me. To watch me. An unfamiliar sensation blossomed in my chest, and I found myself grinning widely. I wanted him to play with me... I wondered if he would.

"Peyton." I followed his every move with my eyes, but did not flinch when he got close. Never show weakness to a Predator, never break eye contact, and don't let them get behind you. I've had enough experience and training to know that much. "Who are you?"