Alien: Evolution's Nightmare. My Alien Prequel. Complete

Part Two.

INT. USCSS KURTZ - MAIN AIRLOCK

COMPUTER. V.O.
Prepare for full decontamination. Please stand with arms raised and legs apart until decontamination complete.

Hunter and Broussard, fully spacesuited, comply. Vents evacuate the planetary atmosphere.
UV lights in the walls, floor and ceilings bathe them in UV for fifteen seconds, a pause and again. High pressure jets of gas blast them for fifteen seconds.

COMPUTER. V.O.
Decontamination Complete. Pressurising Airlock.

Vents evacuate the gas, and the Airlock begins to pressurise. The access light above the inner door changes from red to green.

CUT TO:
INT. USCSS KURTZ - SUIT LOCKER
Broussard and Hunter are removing their spacesuits.

HUNTER.
Are you OK?

BROUSSARD.
What the hell happened to them?

HUNTER.
Some sort of parasitical infection, there seems to be some sort of blight infecting this place.

BROUSSARD.
You don't think it could get aboard the Kurtz do you?

HUNTER.
I don't think so. Decontamination is very thorough. The Leviathan's been downed in this atmosphere for 41 years, the airlock and hypersleep seals have probably deteriorated due to corrosive elements in the air. We're not staying here any longer than we have to. Don't mention what we found yet, I don't need anyone getting spooked. Are you going to be alright with keeping it to yourself for now?

BROUSSARD.
I can deal with it Captain. I was Second Officer aboard a Hospital quarantine ship when the Rigellian plague hit Port Heinlein. That wasn't pretty.

HUNTER.
Alright, let's get the survey team back on board and we can get the hell off this godforsaken moon.
They head for the Bridge.

CUT TO:
INT LV 427 - PYRAMID - TUNNEL
Voight's team are heading back to the entrance chamber. They notice that there are many tunnels leading off the main tunnel, that they weren't aware of on their inwards journey.

VOIGHT. V.O.
We didn't see any of these when we came through.

MARTINEZ. V.O.
It's an optical illusion, you see the way the entrances are offset with the main tunnel, and in low light the skeletal architecture blends in. If the tunnel was brightly lit the illusion wouldn't hold up.

They reach the point where the tunnel takes a sharp turn.

VOIGHT. V.O.
This has to be where we turn, give me an infra red scan.

Martinez scans the turn leading to the entrance chamber.

MARTINEZ. V.O.
This is the way we came, I've picked up the trace from our suits heat exchangers.
They head on towards the entrance.

CUT TO:
INT. USCSS KURTZ - BRIDGE
Hunter, Broussard and Kelly are on watch. Suddenly the helmet cam screens come to life.

KELLY.
Captain, I've got cam feed back. Ralston and Takamura are still down.

BROUSSARD.
Ditto on suit telemetry feeds.

VOIGHT V.O.
...ght to ...tz. re........ o ..... E.. .....nute.. Voi... .. Kur.. ...... Re.....

BROUSSARD.
There's a storm front heading this way, could be interfering with communications.

CLOSE UP ON:
The large viewscreen.
Five spacesuited figures are approaching the ship.

CUT TO:
INT. USCSS - KURTZ - MAIN AIRLOCK

COMPUTER. V.O.
Decontamination Complete, Pressurising Airlock.

A light above the inner door changes from red to green. The team exit the airlock. They start to remove their helmets. Captain Hunter is waiting for them in the suit locker.

HUNTER.
Thank Christ you're back I was just about to come looking for you. What happened to Ralston and Takamura?

VOSSLER.
What do you mean? Aren't they here?

VOIGHT.
They should have been back over an hour and a half ago, I sent them back to report when we lost GPS and comms.

MARTINEZ.
They must have gone straight ahead when they should have turned.

VOIGHT.
Shit. I thought it was a straight trip back to the entrance, they should have been out of there in twenty minutes.

MARTINEZ.
It wasn't your fault Corporal, none of us knew. If they had been paying attention they might not have gotten lost.

VOIGHT.
They were spooked, that's why I picked them to report back to base. I should have sent Vossler with 'em.

VOSSLER.
There's no point whining about it, I'm going back in. Marines don't leave people behind.

He starts to put his helmet back on.

HUNTER.
Hold up a minute Mr. Vossler. They still have plenty of O2 in reserve, I'm taking in a search team but we're not going to rush in blindly. Swap out your suit for a fresh one, Voight, Taylor and Martinez you too. Report back here for EVA in 30 minutes, dismissed.

Hunter goes to a comm panel and presses the intercom button.

HUNTER.
Mr. Krahe and Ms Broussard report to the Med-Bay in fifteen minutes. Mr. Elias you're with me.

CUT TO:
INT. USCSS KURTZ - MED BAY

HUNTER.
What exactly are we dealing with here Mr Elias?

ELIAS.
We discovered what was an apparently extinct alien civilisation. The remains of two species who were in conflict. Thousands of corpses in a suspended animation facility long since drained of power. The power source we detected was supplying the stasis chamber of the last surviving member of the dominant species, who Captain, is still alive and possibly reviving.

HUNTER.
You encountered no hostile organisms?

ELIAS.
We discovered no evidence of other living organisms hostile or otherwise, but that does not preclude the possibility of their existence. Captain I must report that the life form in stasis communicated with me.

HUNTER.
What the hell? It talked to you? you could understand it?

ELIAS.
I had contact with what I believe to be a communications device they use to communicate with their comrades whilst in stasis. Their minds are unbelievably powerful, even in deep hibernation they can still communicate. There was no verbal language as we would understand it, it was pure mental contact that transmitted data directly into my neural net. The amount of data transmitted was overwhelming, it overloaded my positronic matrix which shut down temporarily. I have some vague images and impressions, but it will take some considerable time for my neural net to process and catalogue the data. I will require a full systems diagnostic to ensure I am at peak operating capacity.

HUNTER.
Keep this to yourself for now Mr. Elias.

ELIAS.
Captain, company regulations state that any information of this nature must be reported to company authorities immediately. Mr. Krahe will expect a full report.

HUNTER.
I will deal with Krahe for now, he will be duly informed of all discoveries. But I don't want you to talk to anyone until I get a full report. I don't trust Krahe to put the welfare of the crew and ship ahead of the company's agenda. Understood Mr. Elias?

ELIAS.
Aye Sir.

Broussard and Krahe enter.

HUNTER.
Alright listen up, the situation is this: we have two people missing inside the pyramid. They have roughly three hours oxygen reserve. I will take in a search team and retrieve them. If we do not return in five hours, I'm ordering you to take off and return to Earth.

BROUSSARD.
Hell no Captain, we'll come in and get you.

HUNTER.
No, you will follow my orders. Your priority is to return to Earth and report what we dscovered.

KRAHE.
Exactly Captain, your orders will be followed. You. android. I want a full report on everything you discovered in the alien structure.

HUNTER.
That will have to wait for now. Mr. Elias suffered a neural overload during the EVA. I'm ordering him to run a full systems diagnostic, if there is any damage we need to know ASAP. He will be offline for four or so hours, when we are sure he is at peak operating capacity you will receive a full report.

KRAHE.
As you wish Captain.

HUNTER.
Broussard help Elias prep for the diagnostic, then return to your station.

He goes to a comm panel.

HUNTER.
McAndrews I want the Rover prepped for immediate EVA.

McANDREWS. V.O.
Will do Boss.

CUT TO:
INT. USCSS KURTZ - SUIT LOCKER
Hunter enters already suited up apart from his helmet. Voight is distributing weapons. He hands Vossler a Pulse Rifle and ammo. He addresses Martinez and Taylor

VOIGHT.
Do either of you have any weapons training?

MARTINEZ.
I do. Two years National Service. Army.

Voight hands him a Flamethrower. Captain Hunter takes a Pulse rifle for himself. They load up items of Search and Rescue gear, Marking Paint, Flares, Ropes and Climbing gear.

HUNTER.
We're taking the Rover, grab your helmets and head for the hangar bay.

They file out.

CUT TO:
INT. LV 427 - ROVER - DAY
Hunter in the driver's seat with Voight riding shotgun, the pyramid can be seen through the windscreen of the Rover, growing larger as they approach. Hunter pulls the vehicle up close to the entrance.

CUT TO:
INT. LV 427 - PYRAMID - TUNNEL

VOIGHT. V.O.
You were in the service, weren't you Captain?

HUNTER. V.O.
Five years. Dropship pilot. Shot down over Tansis 4 during the farmer's rebellion, that's when I decided a career as a commercial pilot was looking good.

They come to the sharp turn in the tunnel. They explore the entrance that was hidden from sight on the first EVA.

HUNTER. V.O.
Any heat trace on the IR scanner Mr. Taylor?

TAYLOR. V.O.
Nothing, their trail's gone cold.

VOSSLER.V.O.
This must be the way they came, we'll find 'em.

HUNTER. V.O.
Start marking our route, alternate paint and flares every thirty metres.

Vossler takes a can of fluorescent marking spray from his belt and sprays an arrow on the ground pointing toward the exit tunnel, then sprays EXIT. they continue on.

CUT TO:
INT. LV 427 - PYRAMID - EGG MUTATION CHAMBER
They inspect the ovoid Egg Pods. Hunter shines his torch on the human nutrient cocoon Ralston discovered.

HUNTER. V.O.
What in God's name is this? There's a man in that unholy mess, Martinez what do you make of this?

Martinez runs scans on the cocoon.

VOSSLER. V.O.
It's not Takamura is it? How could he get so messed up so quick?

MARTINEZ. V.O.
No. It Is....was human, but it's been here thousands of years.

TAYLOR. V.O.
Why hasn't it decomposed?

MARTINEZ. V.O.
Something to do with whatever this material it's been coccooned with, I guess.

VOIGHT. V.O.
How in hell did people get here thousands of years ago?

VOSSLER. V.O.
Abducted by UFO's Corp.

Hunter is circling the chamber inspecting the other pods. He discovers three more "human" cocoons, the occupants are all dessicated mummies, not intact like the first one.

HUNTER. V.O.
These ones look like they've been sucked dry.

Martinez traces the "feeding tubes" from the cocoons to their source. They run into organic machines above the ovoid pods and then are inserted into the pods. He scans the pods.

MARTINEZ. V.O.
It's organic, the cocoons must be a food source for whatever is growing in these pods. The first one must still be intact because it's feeding tubes detached somehow.

TAYLOR. V.O.
Christ, then what the hell is growing in these other pods? this one is empty.

HUNTER. V.O.
I propose we leave the scientific investigation to the company. Let's just find our people and get back to the ship, we're lifting off as soon as we return.

VOIGHT. V.O.
There's nine exits from this chamber so that means anyone of eight tunnels they could have gone down. We can split up and search tunnel by tunnel.

HUNTER. V.O.
No, It might save time but it increases the risk of someone else getting lost. I want a volunteer to stay here in case they come back. We'll search in pairs tunnel by tunnel.

VOIGHT. V.O.
I'll stay here Captain.

HUNTER. V.O.
Alright, Martinez you're with me. We'll start at the entrance and work our way around. Taylor you and Vossler take the right and we'll take the left. Mark your route and check your corners.

Voight unslings his motion tracker.

CUT TO:
INT. LV 427 - PYRAMID - TUNNEL RIGHT

TAYLOR. V.O.
You weren't wrong when you called this place Hell. I just wanta find 'em and get out of here.

VOSSLER. V.O.
It aint so bad, you've obviously never been to New York.

TAYLOR. V.O.
Are you ever serious Vossler?

Suddenly their motion trackers begin to beep loudly. Vossler unslings his and checks the readout.

VOSSLER. V.O.
We got movement. Sixty metres, coming this way.

TAYLOR. V.O.
Is it them?

VOSSLER. V.O.
Can't tell, it's not a clean signal, too much interference.

He racks the action of his pulse rifle.

VOSSLER. V.O.
Let's go find out.

CUT TO:
INT. LV 427 - PYRAMID - TUNNEL LEFT

MARTINEZ. V.O.
Nothing on the motion tracker, no heat trace.

HUNTER. V.O.
Hold up a minute Martinez, what do you make of all this? What do you think is growing in those pods?

MARTINEZ. V.O.
Some type of lifeform, though I couldn't even hazard a guess as to what it could be.

HUNTER. V.O.
I didn't want to bring this up in front of the others. After you left the ship, we picked up a distress signal from a downed Earth vessel. Broussard and I went to investigate the possibility that there were survivors in Hypersleep, the ship having landed here 40 years ago. What we found.............Jesus...........the survivors had been infected by some sort of parasitical contagion, there was nothing remotely human left alive................just an organism in their hypersleep capsules. Is it possible Ralston and Takamura ran into something similar? Or ended up in one of those cocoons?

MARTINEZ. V.O.
I don't know Captain. I don't have enough information about this place, so I can only speculate on what we've seen so far, If we don't find them within the time limit I seriously recommend we take off as soon as possible. We have one ET alive in stasis, just because we've found nothing else alive, doesn't mean it's not here.

HUNTER. V.O.
That's what worries me. Let's keep moving there's another chamber up ahead.

They move on.

CUT TO:
INT. LV 427 - PYRAMID - CLONE BABY FARM
Hunter and Martinez enter the chamber. Behind transparent membranes, immersed in a sickly greyish yellow fluid are human babies. Hundreds of them in recesses around the chamber. They look almost identical, they appear to be dead with eyes closed.

HUNTER. V.O.
Christ, this just gets worse and worse.

MARTINEZ. V.O.
They're alive Captain, in deep stasis but alive. What the hell is this place?

HUNTER. V.O.
Keep moving.

CUT TO:
INT. LV 427 - PYRAMID - TUNNEL RIGHT

VOSSLER. V.O.
The signal's coming from up ahead, stay behind me.
He aims his weapon. A spacesuited figure stumbles toward them.

TAYLOR. V.O.
It's Takamura thank God.

Vossler lowers his Pulse rifle.

VOSSLER. V.O.
I'm sure glad to see you buddy, where's Ralston?

Takamura is clearly disoriented and confused.

TAKAMURA. V.O.
I..........I........don't know.

TAYLOR. V.O.
Take it slow Hiroshi, what happened to you?

TAKAMURA. V.O.
I......must have......passed out.

VOSSLER. V.O
Look, there's a Tempseal patch on his suit, he must have torn it when he blacked out.

TAYLOR. V.O.
He can't have been out for long or he would have lost all his O2. Where's Ralston, Hiroshi? Did she patch your suit?

TAKAMURA. V.O.
I don't......remember, we were together.......then............I don't know.

VOSSLER. V.O.
He probably hit his head when he fell, he might have a concussion. Let's go on, she can't be far away.

CUT TO:
INT. LV 427 - PYRAMID - QUEEN CHAMBER
Hunter and Martinez enter a large chamber, the entrance is covered by a curtain of the blue mist.
Immersed in the sickly yellow/grey stasis fluid, behind a transparent membrane, is a large creature. Sixteen feet tall, insectoid, black exoskeleton, a large crest on top of it's elongated, eyeless head.

MARTINEZ. V.O.
I believe this is related to one of the species whose remains we found outside the hibernation vault. Even though this is twice the size of those creatures, it shares common characteristics such as the elongated head, no eyes, exoskeleton.

HUNTER. V.O.
It looks like a giant bug.

MARTINEZ. V.O.
It could well be an insectoid lifeform, I would need to study it closely before I could be sure.

HUNTER. V.O.
We'll leave that for the company expedition, our priority is recovering our missing crew.

MARTINEZ. V.O.
I've gathered enough data to keep me busy for years Captain.

They begin to search the large chamber.

CLOSE UP ON:
In a dark recess, more Egg mutation pods are hooked up to their nutrient cocoons. The Pods begin to palpitate gently.

CUT TO:
INT. LV 427 - PYRAMID - EGG MUTATION CHAMBER
Voight is walking the perimeter. His motion tracker begins to beep rapidly, he scans the tunnel orifices. As he scans the tunnel Vossler and Taylor entered it goes ballistic. He racks the action of his Pulse Rifle and stands ready.

CLOSE UP ON:
TUNNEL ORIFICE
Vossler and Taylor emerge carrying Ralston's limp body, Takamura follows them. Voight lowers his weapon.

VOSSLER. V.O.
We found 'em Corp.

VOIGHT. V.O.
Is she dead? What happened to her?

TAYLOR. V.O.
She's unconscious but alive.

They lower her gently to the ground. Voight kneels beside her and sees her helmet is compromised and the parasite attached to her face.

VOIGHT. V.O.
What the fuck is that? How is she breathing?

TAYLOR. V.O.
I'm not sure. To hazard a guess I'd say that thing is extracting oxygen from the atmosphere and feeding it to her.

VOIGHT. V.O.
What happened Takamura?

TAKAMURA. V.O.
I don't remember.....I think I passed out.

TAYLOR. V.O.
He might have a concussion, he was pretty out of it when we found him.

VOSSLER. V.O.
We've gotta get her back to the Med Bay ASAP. The Captain aint back yet?

VOIGHT. V.O.
Not yet. OK, Takamura how're you feeling now?

TAKAMURA. V.O.
Alright I guess, a hell of a hangover.

VOIGHT. V.O.
Vossler, you and Takamura get Ralston back to the Rover and head for the ship. Taylor you're with me, we're going after the Captain.

VOSSLER. V.O.
See you back at the ship.

They pick up Ralston and head for the tunnel. Voight and Taylor move out after the Captain and Martinez.

CUT TO:
INT. LV 427 - PYRAMID - QUEEN CHAMBER
Hunter and Martinez are searching the large chamber, Hunter shines his torch into a dark recess.

HUNTER. V.O.
OK, there's no other exits from this chamber, we've hit a dead end. We'll head back to Voight's position.

CUT TO:
INT. LV 427 - PYRAMID - QUEEN CHAMBER

CLOSE UP ON:
EGG MUTATION PODS
The pods are pulsating as the Mutant Facehuggers are struggling to hatch from their eggs. One by one they are breaking free.
Hunter and Martinez are heading for the exit when Martinez' motion tracker begins to beep. He scans the large chamber.

MARTINEZ. V.O.
Got multiple signals, can't lock in too much interference.

Hunter racks the action of his Pulse Rifle.

HUNTER. V.O.
Get back to the entrance, we're too exposed.

CUT TO:
One of the mutant Facehuggers is crawling along the ceiling of the chamber toward the two men. As they reach the exit Martinez sees the movement and looks up. The creature drops onto his helmet visor which starts to smoke and bubble. He screams and tries to dislodge the creature,

MARTINEZ. V.O.
Get it off.

Hunter goes to his aid, but more of the mutant facehuggers are attacking, he opens fire on them. Martinez' screams are choked off.

CLOSE UP ON:
Three of the creatures are cut to pieces by Pulse Rifle fire.

Hunter drags Martinez through the exit. More Facehuggers are advancing. Hunter lays Martinez down and cocks his grenade launcher, he launches two grenades in rapid sucession into the chamber and dives to the ground as they explode. The facehuggers have been blown to pieces. He kneels by Martinez and sees the parasite has penetrated his visor and is attached to his face.

CUT TO:
INT. LV 427 - PYRAMID - TUNNEL LEFT
Voight and Taylor are shaken by the concussion from the explosions.

VOIGHT. V.O.
Shit they were grenades, move it.

CUT TO:
INT. LV 427 - PYRAMID - EGG MUTATION CHAMBER
The Egg mutation pods are rocked by the concussion from the explosions, the curtain of blue mist that covers the niches shimmers out and is gone. The pods begin to palpitate gently.

CUT TO:
INT. USCSS KURTZ - ENGINEERING
McAndrews is performing routine maintenance when the intercom buzzes.

BROUSSARD. V.O.
Randall we've got a situation. The search team are bringing Ralston back, she's been attacked by some kind of parasite. I need you to unship the quarantine med pods and load them into the aft cargo lock.

McANDREWS.
Ye'll only fit four of 'em in at once and still have room in the lock for six people.

BROUSSARD. V.O.
Four will do, I'm hoping we'll only need the one, it's just a precaution, the Captain,Voight,Taylor and Martinez are still in there.

McANDREWS
OK boss I'm on it.

BROUSSARD. V.O. (Shipwide Intercom)
Mr. Krahe report to the bridge. The search team are returning to the ship.

CUT TO:
EXT. LV 427 - DAY
The Rover is returning to the Kurtz.

CUT TO:
INT. USCSS KURTZ - HANGAR BAY
McAndrews straps himself into a bipedal Caterpillar Power Loader exo frame. Locking his boots into the locomotion feedback pedals, he activates the forklift handgrips and begins to unload the Med Pods and load them into the cargo lock.

CUT TO:
INT. USCSS KURTZ - BRIDGE
Krahe enters the bridge and goes to the comms. console.

KRAHE.
Krahe to search team. Situation report, what is your status?

VOSSLER. V.O.
Ralston was attacked by some sort of parasite, it's attached to her face. We gotta get her into the Autodoc.

KRAHE.
Copy that. Standby..... Why wasn't I informed immediately that a team member was exposed to a biohazard? They can't bring her aboard ship, we would all be exposed.

BROUSSARD.
I've got McAndrews unloading the Quarantine med pods into the aft cargo lock. Once she's quarantined we can decontaminate the lock and bring her in.

KRAHE.
Where's the Captain?

BROUSSARD.
Captain Hunter, Martinez, Voight and Taylor are still inside the structure.

KRAHE.
Computer seal all airlocks, authorisation code follows.

He enters a code.

COMPUTER. V.O.
All airlocks sealed.

BROUSSARD.
What are you doing? We can't leave them out there. Once she's quarantined there won't be any danger to the ship.

KRAHE.
You don't know that. It's an alien parasite we don't know what it's capable of.

BROUSSARD.
I'm First Officer, when the Captain's not aboard I'm in charge. It's my call.

KRAHE.
Company regulations give me the authority, that's why I have the override codes. We'll wait until the Captain returns.

KELLY.
It would be a different story if it was you out there you sonofabitch.

CUT TO:
INT. LV 427 - PYRAMID - TUNNEL LEFT
Voight and Taylor find Hunter dragging Martinez' unconscious body along the tunnel.

HUNTER. V.O.
Taylor grab his feet, we've gotta get out of here. Voight cover our rear, let's move.

They move out, Voight covering.

CUT TO:
EXT. LV 427 - USCSS KURTZ - AFT CARGO LOCK.
The Rover is pulled up next to the Kurtz. Vossler presses the control to open the airlock. A red light shows on the panel, he tries again with the same result.

VOSSLER. V.O.
What the fuck? the airlock won't open. Broussard we can't access the airlock.

BROUSSARD. V.O.
I'm sorry Kurt, Krahe has sealed all airlocks, and we don't have the override codes.

VOSSLER. V.O.
Krahe you bastard, we've got a woman here who needs urgent medical attention. Open the goddamn airlock.

KRAHE. V.O.
Negative Private. We'll wait for the Captain to return.

VOSSLER. V.O.
She could be dead by then. Let us in or you are gonna seriously regret it when I get my hands on you.

KRAHE. V.O.
Don't threaten me Private, I'll put you on a charge and you'll forfeit all shares and mission bonuses.

VOSSLER. V.O.
Screw you. Takamura switch radio frequency to suit channel only.

They switch frequencies.

TAKAMURA. V.O.
What are we gonna do?

VOSSLER. V.O.
We're getting in. Don't worry I've got a few tricks up my sleeve.

Vossler takes a small pack from a pouch on his combat spacesuit. He removes a screw gun and unscrews the airlock control panel. He takes wires from the device and alligator clips them onto terminals inside the control panel.

TAKAMURA. V.O.
What are you doing?

VOSSLER. V.O.
Running a bypass. I wouldn't be much of a marine if I couldn't access a sealed airlock.

He manipulates the device for a few minutes until suddenly the access light changes from red to green and the airlock outer hatch begins to open.

VOSSLER. V.O.
And that is how we do that. Alright let's get her inside.

They pick up Ralston's limp body from the passenger module of the Rover. Takamura stumbles slightly as they enter the airlock.

VOSSLER. V.O.
You OK Hiroshi?

TAKAMURA. V.O.
No I feel terrible, got a blinding headache.

VOSSLER. V.O.
Let's get her into a pod and we'll get ya to the Med Bay.

CUT TO:
INT. USCSS KURTZ - BRIDGE

COMPUTER. V.O.
Aft cargo airlock seal breached.

KRAHE.
How the hell did they open a sealed airlock?

Krahe leaves the bridge.

CUT TO:
INT. USCSS KURTZ - AFT CARGO AIRLOCK

COMPUTER V.O.
Decontamination Complete. Pressurising Airlock.

After a few minutes the inner airlock door opens. Vossler and Takamura now minus their helmets and gloves, push out the mobile quarantine pod containing Ralston. Krahe is waiting there with a pistol in his hand.

KRAHE.
That's far enough. Put her back in the airlock.

VOSSLER.
Or what? You gonna shoot us? Does the Captain know you've got an unauthorised firearm aboard ship?

Vossler moves closer to Krahe who levels the weapon at him.

KRAHE.
I mean it, come any closer and I'll shoot you down.

VOSSLER.
Pretty strict penalties for firing projectile weapons aboard ship.

At that moment Takamura groans and falls to the deck unconscious. Krahe's attention is momentarily diverted and Vossler strikes, grabbing Krahe's gun arm, he forces it up until the gun is pointing toward the ceiling. He slams his knee into Krahe's groin, who drops the gun and slumps to his knees. Vossler kicks the gun away down the corridor.

VOSSLER.
Point a gun at me you sonofabitch.

He grabs Krahe by the shirt with his left hand and lands three quick jabs into his face, he drops him to the floor bleeding.

VOSSLER.
That's for Ralston.

Vossler goes to a comm. panel.

VOSSLER.
Broussard, Takamura's passed out and Krahe's face had a disagreement with my fist. Could you send someone down to help me get 'em to the Med Bay?

BROUSSARD. V.O.
Will do, Mike's on his way down and McAndrews is securing the power loader, he can help.

Vossler starts to take off the rest of his suit. He picks up Krahe's discarded gun and puts it in a pocket of his coveralls.

CUT TO:
INT. LV 427 - PYRAMID - EGG MUTATION CHAMBER
The Captain and Taylor are carrying Martinez back toward the exit tunnel.

CLOSE UP ON:
The Scorpion Facehugger Egg pods are now pulsating rapidly. The feeding tubes detach violently and the mutant creatures tear their way free, hundreds of them begin to stalk the search team

VOIGHT. V.O.
Go, get him out of here I'll cover the retreat.

Hunter takes Martinez' Flamethrower which he has had slung on his shoulder and hands it to Voight. Voight slings the flamethrower and fires his Pulse Rifle, two of the creatures are shot to bits, but they are everywhere, some on the walls some crawling on the ceiling, others coming across the chamber floor. Voight tracks another one and fires. Backing toward the exit as he tracks targets and fires, taking down the creatures two or three at a time. Three creatures drop from the ceiling behind him blocking his retreat. He turns and shoots these, but more are advancing from all directions, he hoses the main pack with full auto supressive fire which cuts a swathe in those closest to him. He fires three round bursts at targets further away and backs closer to the exit, his ammo counter reaches zero and his rifle clicks on empty chambers.

VOIGHT. V.O.
Shit,shit,shit.

He drops the Pulse Rifle and unslings the Flamethrower, hosing flame from side to side in controlled bursts. Some of the creatures are incinerated, others retreat warily from the flames. Voight is only thirty metres from the exit.

CUT TO:
INT. LV 427 - PYRAMID - TUNNEL

Hunter and Taylor are carrying Martinez back toward the exit tunnel.

HUNTER. V.O.
Taylor, keep going with him, I'm going to make sure Voight's got cover.

Hunter heads back towards the Egg mutation chamber as Taylor drags Martinez backwards.

CUT TO:
INT. LV 427 - PYRAMID - EGG MUTATION CHAMBER
Voight is twenty metres from the exit, retreating slowly, releasing controlled bursts of flame. Hunter takes up a position at the exit and begins tracking and shooting stray targets.

HUNTER. V.O.
I've got your back, let's get moving.

At that moment one of the mutant Facehuggers drops from the ceiling behind Voight, he trips over it and goes down hard onto his back, the Flamethrower lands a few metres away. The creatures are on Voight in seconds, Hunter picks off those he can, but it is too late. Voight is buried under a mass of arachnoid horror, his body convulses as the creatures sting him again and again.

CLOSE UP ON:
Hunter, realising there is nothing he can do retreats after Taylor and Martinez. When he has gone a short distance he turns and fires a grenade back towards the Egg mutation chamber. He takes cover as the grenade explodes, and the concussion rocks the tunnel. Not waiting to see if any of the creatures are following he goes to catch up with Taylor.

CUT TO:
INT. USCSS KURTZ - CORRIDOR
Kelly and McAndrews are returning to their stations.

KELLY.
As soon as the Captain's back we can get the hell off this rock.

McANDREWS.
What do you think that thing is?

KELLY.
I don't know, but mabe Krahe was right. Company regs. say twenty four hours quarantine before shipboard access is allowed.

McANDREWS.
Don't let Vossler hear you say that, you might get a taste of what Krahe got.

KELLY.
Don't get me wrong, I know her only chance was to get her into the Autodoc. But what if that thing gets loose and attacks someone else?

McANDREWS.
They should freeze her. Stop whatever that thing is doing to her until we get back to Earth.

KELLY.
Maybe hypersleep doesn't affect it.

CUT TO:
INT. USCSS KURTZ - MED BAY

Vossler is plugging feeds from the Autodoc into Ralston's pod. Elias is still offline, lying prone on one of the Med Bay's two beds. Takamura is lying on the other, oxygen mask on his face, whilst Broussard inspects a bad bruise on his temple. Krahe is sitting in a chair holding an ice pack over his eyes and nose. As the Autodoc performs scans on the parasite, Broussard and Vossler study the readout.

BROUSSARD.
The X-Ray scan of the parasite is very indistinct, it must be impenetrable to X-Ray. Let's run a full spectrum analysis.

She taps away at a keyboard on the Autodoc control panel. The intercom activates.

KELLY. V.O.
Broussard i've got suit telemetry back for the Captain, Taylor and Martinez. Nothing on Voight's feed, Martinez' vital signs are very low. The storm is interfering with radio.

Broussard goes over to a comm. panel.

BROUSSARD.
OK, I'll get back to the bridge in 5. Alright people it sounds like Martinez may be injured, we need to clear some space in here. I'll give Krahe some pain meds and help him back to his cabin. Vossler you take Hiroshi back to his cabin, I'll check on him when the Captain's back on board, let's get him on a stretcher. What a time for our Medical Officer to be offline.

CUT TO:
EXT. LV 427 - LANDING SITE - DUSK
Hunter and Taylor carrying Martinez, are nearly back to the Kurtz. The closer they get, radio reception improves somewhat.

BROUSSARD. V.O.
Ku..z to Hunt.. We've .ot the af. ..argo lock set .. .s a quaranti.. ..ansfer, pod. are. ..ady for.asual..es, repea. Aft car.. lock quarantine ...nsfer.

HUNTER. V.O.
Copy, Aft cargo lock.

CUT TO:
INT. USCSS KURTZ - MED BAY
Vossler returns to check on Ralston. The Autodoc is running scans.

CLOSE UP ON:
Elias offline.

VOSSLER.
We could sure use your help about now buddy.

He presses controls on the Autodoc console, and addresses the computer.

VOSSLER.
What's the status of the diagnostic program?

COMPUTER. V.O.
No errors detected. Diagnostic cycle complete in T minus 150 minutes.

He sits down at the console, realising Krahe's gun is still in his pocket he takes it out and places it on the console. He manipulates controls and brings up Ralston's X - Ray hologram display.

VOSSLER.
Holy shit.

CLOSE UP ON:
3D Spectrum scan hologram of Ralston's head and the parasite. The creature clearly has some sort of tube down her throat. Vossler sits staring at the hologram.

CUT TO:
EXT. LV 427 - LANDING SITE - NIGHTFALL
The storm is getting stronger, the wind screams and howls around the ship.

FADE OUT.

INT. LV 427 - PYRAMID - EGG MUTATION CHAMBER

CLOSE UP ON:
Voight's body bloated by the enormous amounts of alien venom. In some places his bulging, blackened body has ruptured through his armoured combat spacesuit. The prone body is twitching and pulsating. Hideous groaning, too deep to be made by human vocal chords, emits from the ruined face. Bulges and protuberances stretch out the skin, the bones of the skull seeming to become soft and gelatinous, as the head expands in size. Long taloned fingers scratch and tear at the restrictive helmet. An inhuman strength tears and shatters the ceramisteel armoured helmet like brittle shards of light plastic. The distorted ruin of a human being is wracked by uncontrolled seizures.

CUT TO:
INT. USCSS KURTZ - MED BAY
Taylor is hooking Martinez' pod into the Autodoc, The Captain is briefing Broussard and Vossler on what took place.

HUNTER.
Once we had gotten Martinez out of there I went back for Voight. He would have made it if he hadn't tripped, once he went down they were all over him there was nothing else I could do.

VOSSLER.
So you're sure he's dead?

HUNTER.
He went down under hundreds of those things, they were stinging him over and over. If it wasn't for Voight none of us would have made it.

VOSSLER.
Fuck.

He slams his fist into an alloy med supply cabinet.

VOSSLER.
Even if he's dead I gotta go back in and get him, he wouldn't leave me in there.

HUNTER.
Stand down Private. I've already got five people out of commision, one of them dead. I'm not losing anyone else, we're getting out of here. Broussard what's the status on Krahe and Takamura?

BROUSSARD.
Krahe's got a broken nose and extensive bruising but he'll live. Takamura's got a concussion and he had a slight exposure to local atmosphere, but he should be OK.

HUNTER.
What about Elias? How long is he going to be offline?

BROUSSARD.
The good news is no errors detected so far, but he's out of it for a couple of hours at least.

HUNTER.
Alright, we're not waiting around. Get McAndrews to start warming up the drive engines and secure the ship for lift off. Have Mr. Kelly start plotting our course back to Earth. I will join you on the bridge as soon as I have a little chat with Krahe, Mr. Vossler you're with me.

CUT TO:
INT. USCSS KURTZ - ENGINEERING
McAndrews is manipulating controls and checking readouts when Broussard comes through on the intercom.

BROUSSARD. V.O.
McAndrews we're going home, start warming up the drive engines.

McANDREWS.
Will do boss, but we've got a small problem. I've got a red light on number two landing engine, just checking it out now.........appears to be a vent jammed open, probably a leak in one of the hydraulic feeds.

BROUSSARD. V.O.
How long until we can lift?

McANDREWS.
Shouldn't take more than an hour and a half or so to trace it and fix it, so two, maybe three hours max.

BROUSSARD. V.O.
Is there anything I can do to help?

McANDREWS.
Aye, that might not be a bad idea, you keep an eye on the diagnostic program, and that'll free me up a bit. We'll save some time tracing the leak.

BROUSSARD. V.O.
OK, i'll be down in 5.

McAndrews opens an inspection panel and goes to work.

CUT TO:
INT. USCSS KURTZ - KRAHE'S QUARTERS
Krahe is arguing with the Captain.

KRAHE.
Captain, that man assaulted me, I want him placed under arrest. I'm filing formal charges, he will face Court Martial when we return to Earth.

HUNTER.
I understand you sealed all airlocks and denied them access?

KRAHE.
Under company regulations I have that authority. The rules state: 24 hours quarantine before shipboard access is allowed. He may have jeopardised the safety of everyone else by bringing that thing aboard.

VOSSLER.
She could have been dead in 24 hours, her only chance was to get her into the Autodoc.

KRAHE.
So you endanger the ship and all our lives to save one woman.

VOSSLER.
I'd trade your life for hers anyday, scumbag.

HUNTER.
It's a moot point now anyway, they're aboard. The risk to the ship is minimal, the quarantine pods will contain any infection.

KRAHE.
I hope you're right Captain.

HUNTER.
Mr. Vossler you're confined to quarters until further notice. Dismissed.

Vossler exits the cabin.

HUNTER.
Just for the record Krahe, I would have made the same call as Vossler.

KRAHE.
As you say, it's academic now. Captain I still have not received a report on what was discovered in the alien structure.

HUNTER.
We're prepping for lift off, a detailed report will have to wait.

KRAHE.
This is highly irregular. as company rep the decision to stay or go is mine. Based on what discoveries are made, I decide if the situation warrants further investigation.

HUNTER.
As Captain of this vessel I'm making the call to leave. We have one person dead and three injured, I will not put this ship or crew at risk a moment longer than necessary.

KRAHE.
My authority is vested in me by the company, whose interests have largely been ignored. I will be lodging a formal complaint when we return.

HUNTER.
That is your prerogative. just stay the hell out of the crews way until we have lifted.
Hunter turns his back on Krahe and leaves the cabin.

CUT TO:
INT. LV 427 - PYRAMID - HIBERNATION CHAMBER

CLOSE UP ON:
The Sarcophagus stasis pod of the lone surviving Elephantine, exoskeletal being. The bizzare organic machinery starts to emit unearthly, biomechanical sounds. Tubes detach, the grinding of insane mechanisms ruptures the silence. The Sarcophagus begins to open. The creature is awakening.

CUT TO:
INT. USCSS KURTZ - HANGAR BAY - SUIT LOCKER
Vossler has ignored the Captain's order confining him to quarters. Suited up, he uses the device he opened the airlock with, he opens the Weapons locker and takes a Pulse Rifle and ammo. He enters the small access airlock, as the hangar bay is open to the planetary atmosphere. Taylor has gone out to retrieve the Rover. Entering the hangar bay, he opens another storage compartment with his device. He begins to load cylindrical canisters into the cargo compartment of a four wheeled ATV.

CUT TO:
INT. USCSS KURTZ - MED BAY

CLOSE UP ON:
Martinez' holographic display. A 3D spectrum scan of his chest. The legend reads:
Foreign Bodies Detected. Analysing.

FADE OUT.

Part Three

INT. USCSS KURTZ - BRIDGE
Hunter, Kelly and Taylor are on the bridge. Broussard and McAndrews enter.

BROUSSARD.
We're good to go Captain, number two landing engine is functional.

HUNTER.
Good work. McAndrews, do you think you can pull any files off this?

He hands McAndrews the data stick he retrieved from the dead astronaut.

McANDREWS.
Where the hell did you find this antique?

HUNTER.
Alright, I'd better bring everyone up to speed. After the survey team went EVA we picked up a distress signal from a downed Earth vessel stranded here 41 years ago. Broussard and I went EVA to investigate the possibility of survivors in hypersleep. What we found...........Jesus. Some form of organism had penetrated their capsules, the two survivors had been............absorbed. There was nothing human left alive.

TAYLOR.
Was there anything in the ship's log about what happened to them?

HUNTER.
I was unable to download the logs, the power failed. On the return to the Kurtz we found the corpse of one of the Leviathan's crew, I was hoping we might get some answers from his data stick.

McAndrews examines the hand scanner/data recorder, he takes a tool from a pouch on his coveralls and begins tinkering with the device. He goes over to a console and taking a lead he inserts it into the now open device and taps away on a keyboard.

TAYLOR.
What was the organism Captain? The same thing that attacked Ralston and Martinez?

HUNTER.
I don't think so, there seemed to be some sort of blight infecting that region of the city. I think it penetrated the Leviathan after the airlock seals had deteriorated due to long exposure to local atmosphere.

KELLY.
The computer has detected chemicals in the atmosphere it can't identify, some form of industrial pollution.

BROUSSARD.
We're not going to be here long enough for it to be a threat, besides, this region of the city appears to be free of the blight.

McAndrews has gotten an image up on his monitor, it is very grainy and dark.

McANDREWS.
Alright I've got something, this thing is badly corroded but the hard drive is fairly well shielded. This technology was obsolete 30 years ago.

He puts the image up on the main viewscreen.

HUNTER.
Can you clean it up any?

McANDREWS.
Give me a few minutes Captain.

He begins to run enhancement programs. They run for 5 minutes and the playback is ready.

McANDREWS.
OK here we go, 20 minutes of video and audio files.

CUT TO:

CLOSE UP ON:
The main viewscreen.

Helmet Cam POV.
An airlock outer door opens, a view of the Biomech city is revealed.

STANDARD. V.O.
Oh My God.

FAUST. V.O.
I don't think God had anything to do with this place. Captain we are heading out to investigate the signal source.

VOLKER. V.O.
Copy that, radio check every 15 minutes.

The team move out, taking in the bizarre sights of the alien city. For 10 minutes the crew walk through the city, commenting on aspects of the alien architecture. Suddenly the astronaut 15 metres ahead of Faust vanishes, one second he is there the next he is gone.

FAUST. V.O.
What the hell? Standard do you copy?...........Standard respond please...............

Faust reaches the place where Standard disappeared, he sees what looks like an organic manhole cover, well camouflaged amid the biomech landscape.

FAUST. V.O.
I think there is some sort of tunnel under this thing, help me lever it open.

One of the crew takes a pry bar from his utility belt and inserts it under the trapdoor, the Leviathan crew struggle to raise the cover. As they succeed hideous screams flood their transcievers.

STANDARD. V.O.
HELP MEEEEE.......OH GOD.......GET THIS FUCKING THING OFF...........AAAARRRRGGGHH................................................

FAUST POV
The Pit Interior.
A hideous insectoid alien lifeform, a biomech centipede bigger than a man is devouring Standard alive. The astronauts drop the trap cover in shock.

DAMON. V.O.
FUCK ME.

SCOTT. V.O.
WE GOTTA GET OUT OF HERE.

Damon runs blindly in panic, everyone is yelling. As Faust watches Damon is snatched from below, the insectoid has him but his oxygen tanks snag on the rim of the creature's tunnel. Damon is screaming incoherently.
Grissom close to him, grabs Damon and is trying to pull him back, the strength of the creature is overwhelming.

GRISSOM. V.O.
Faust help me, I can't hold him.

Faust tries to help pull Damon back out of the tunnel but the creature is too strong, Damon disappears into the creature's lair. When the trapdoor springs closed his screams are abruptly cut off.

FAUST. V.O.
There's nothing we can do, get back to the ship.

The crew run off and one by one they are picked off by the alien centipedes. The image is bouncing wildly as Faust, now panicking, runs for his life.

FAUST. V.O. (Breathing hard)
Oh fuck...........oh fuck..................

He runs back toward the Leviathan, it seems as if he was lucky and has escaped the ambush predators. Suddenly he trips over an unseen obstacle and goes down hard. His visor smashes on an obstruction. The picture is now black and as the Kurtz' crew listen Faust chokes to death on the toxic atmosphere. The playback finishes.

CUT TO:
The stunned Kurtz crewmembers are whitefaced with shock. No one speaks.

HUNTER. (With grim determination)
Snap out of it people, we are leaving. Everyone secure for take off, we lift in 45 minutes.

Hunter goes to the Pilot's console and starts running the automated pre - launch system checks. Broussard approaches him.

HUNTER.
You OK?

BROUSSARD.
My skin is crawling and I've got the cold sweats, I keep thinking how close we came to being bug food. Why do you think we weren't attacked?

HUNTER.
Blind luck? We came from a different route than the Leviathan's crew took, maybe the creatures were only in that one area. We're OK that's all that counts, try not to think about it. I need you to check on Takamura and Krahe, make sure they are secured for lift off.

BROUSSARD.
Aye Sir.

HUNTER.
We'll be underway within the hour, we'll never have to see this hellhole ever again.

BROUSSARD.
I'll be alright Captain.

HUNTER.
That's my girl. Where would I be without you? Let's go home.

FADE OUT.

INT. USCSS KURTZ – BRIDGE

Hunter, Kelly and Broussard are strapped in, the ship is shaking as the landing engines build up to full power.

COMPUTER V.O.

Ignition in T minus 5, 4, 3, 2, 1

CUT TO:

EXT. LV 427 – LANDING SITE – NIGHT

The ship is rising slowly as the exhaust from the powerful landing engines belches flame across the biomech landscape.

CUT TO:

INT. USCSS KURTZ – BRIDGE

HUNTER.

I’m reading a 15 percent drop in pressure in L.E. manifold 2.

McANDREWS V.O.

Compensating, increasing feed rate on manifold 2 by 15 percent.

HUNTER.

All systems nominal to profile, Inertial dampers online.

BROUSSARD.

Trans orbital insertion in T minus 2 minutes.

The steady roar of the landing engines is interrupted by an intermittent cut out.
An alarm sounds on the bridge.

COMPUTER V.O.

WARNING POWER LEVEL DROPPING IN L.E. MANIFOLD 2.

HUNTER.

I thought you fixed that engine McAndrews.

McANDREWS. V.O.

Aye Captain that we did, but we didn’t have the time to disconnect and bleed all the feed lines, that would have taken us a month. I’m increasing manifold pressure by 50 percent, that should clear the lines.

The engine is still misfiring as McAndrews increases pressure slowly, then the obstruction is clear and the engine’s roar is once again uninterrupted.

HUNTER.

OK that did the trick. Engage artificial gravity.

BROUSSARD.

A.G. engaged, drive engines at full power, standing by.

CUT TO:

EXT. SPACE – LV 427 ORBIT

The Kurtz has achieved orbit.

CUT TO:

INT. USCSS KURTZ – BRIDGE

HUNTER.

Initiate Earth return trajectory Mr. Kelly.

Kelly inputs the command into the Nav-Com.

KELLY.

Course correction, burn starboard aft thruster, 60 seconds……….OK we’re in the pipe, engage drive engines, full power.

BROUSSARD.

Captain I’ve got a radar contact to starboard, moving damn fast.

HUNTER.

Where the hell did that come from?

BROUSSARD.

LV 427, It’s mirroring our trajectory.

CUT TO:

MAIN VIEWSCREEN.

The radar contact catches the Kurtz in seconds and in an instant the contact has passed the ship and disappeared.

HUNTER.

Can you slow that down and replay it?

BROUSSARD.

Aye sir.

She manipulates controls on her console.

CLOSE UP ON:

MAIN VIEWSCREEN.

In slow motion, the object accelerates out of orbit and approaches the Kurtz. It is the U shaped structure Broussard commented on during the EVA, it catches up with the Earth vessel and seems to hang in space momentarily, it then accelerates and disappears.

HUNTER.

Well that answers your question Broussard, it was a vessel.

KELLY.

I wonder what propulsion technology they use? It made us look like we were standing still.

BROUSSARD.

Captain I'm picking up the alien transmission from a new source.....another moon, designation LV 426. Same acoustical beacon repeating at 12 second intervals. We missed it incoming as the planet was between us and LV 426.

HUNTER.

They probably had a base there too, we're done investigating alien signals. Broussard, check on Elias, the diagnostic program should be complete soon. I had better try and smooth things over with Krahe, if he puts the crew on report we could all forfeit our shares and bonuses.

Broussard exits the bridge.

CUT TO:
INT. USCSS KURTZ - TAKAMURA'S QUARTERS

CLOSE UP ON:
Takamura's face as he lays unconscious. His skin seems to be becoming translucent, strange organic growths are forming underneath. His hair is falling out in clumps, blisters filled with noxious fluids form and burst. The alien venom is coursing through veins turned black. He groans, a deep, inhuman sound.

CUT TO:
INT. USCSS KURTZ - BRIDGE

KELLY.

Captain, I’m receiving a radio transmission from the planet, It’s being relayed through the probe. Patching it through.

VOSSLER. V.O.

Vossler to Kurtz, are you reading me?

HUNTER.

Kurtz to Vossler. What the hell are you doing? I ordered you confined to quarters. How did you leave the ship without tripping any alarms?

VOSSLER. V.O.

I’m a trained tech/comm Captain, we specialise in stealth infiltration and escape.

HUNTER.

Jesus Christ marine, we are on course back to Earth, we can’t just turn around and come back for you.

VOSSLER. V.O.

I know that Captain. I knew it was a suicide mission when I made my decision, I waited until the ship had lifted before I contacted you. I have chain linked ten seismic survey nukes and I am going to transport them into the pyramid and detonate. The company sends anyone else out to this shithole, all they’re gonna find is radioactive rubble.

HUNTER.
For god’s sake why private? We’re going home.

VOSSLER. V.O.

I aint going back to Earth to face court martial. If Krahe has me charged with mutiny I’m facing the death sentence anyway. I’m doing it for Voight, he saved my life on our last mission, I owe it to him and for Ralston and Martinez, Ralston was…………………..

KELLY.

I’ve lost him Captain, we’re out of range.

HUNTER.

What was the damn fool thinking, I could have persuaded Krahe to drop the charges.

CUT TO:

EXT. LV 427 – PYRAMID ENTRANCE – NIGHT

Vossler drives the ATV loaded with nukes into the pyramid.

CUT TO:

INT. USCSS KURTZ - MED BAY

Broussard is studying the readouts from the Autodoc diagnostic scans. She switches to the internal view from Martinez’ pod, the parasite is no longer attached to his face, though he is still unconscious. She can see a partial view of the creature, it is on its back and its legs are drawn up and in towards the abdomen, it reminds Broussard of a dead spider. She switches to internal view from Ralston’s pod, the parasite is still attached to her face.

                              COMPUTER V.O.

Synthetic Diagnostic Program complete. No errors detected. All functions within normal parameters.

CUT TO:

CLOSE UP ON:

Elias. His eyes open and he sits up. Broussard begins disconnecting the feeds hooking him into the computer's diagnostic program.

                              BROUSSARD.

Welcome back, you don't know how glad I am to see you're alright.

                              ELIAS.

According to my internal chronometer I have been offline for five hours, thirty three minutes. I will need to be briefed on what has transpired whilst I was offline.

                              BROUSSARD.

Shit, what hasn't transpired my friend. First up I need you to check out Ralston and Martinez, they were attacked by parasites in the alien pyramid.

Elias stands up.

                             ELIAS.

The drive engines are functioning. We have left the planet?

                             BROUSSARD.

Yeah, we've been in space for an hour, we're on the way home.

Elias goes over to the Autodoc console. Krahe's pistol is sitting where Vossler left it, he picks it up.

                             BROUSSARD.

Vossler took it from Krahe when he tried to stop them bringing Ralston aboard.

                             ELIAS.

I will return it to the weapons locker.

He pockets the gun. He replays all the recorded Autodoc data, it takes him 15 seconds to assimilate four hours of recorded information.

                             BROUSSARD.

The parasite that attacked Martinez looks dead, the one that attacked Ralston is still attached.

Elias checks the ceramisteel armored pod containing Martinez. It is entirely enclosed, the pods are designed to withstand the impact of a spaceship crash without releasing infectious organisms, the only view of the patient is from internal cameras.

                              ELIAS.

Is the Captain on the bridge? I must speak with him immediately.

                              BROUSSARD.

Yeah, Captain Hunter and Mike are on the bridge.

CUT TO:

INT. USCSS KURTZ - BRIDGE

Broussard and Elias enter.

                              ELIAS.

Captain I need to talk to you and Ms. Broussard in private, most urgently.

                              HUNTER.

Take a break Mr. Kelly, go grab a coffee.

                              KELLY.

Aye sir.

Kelly leaves the bridge.

                              ELIAS.

I am declaring a state of emergency.

                              HUNTER.

Were you damaged in the pyramid?

                             ELIAS.

Negative Captain, all my functions are within normal parameters. Before going offline I downloaded the data from the alien device into my external hard drive and a portion of the information has been processed and catalogued. Sir, Martinez is infected with an alien life form, it is extremely hostile and lethal within hours of birth which is fatal to the host. Ralston is also infected. Captain in the interests of the welfare of the uninfected crewmembers, I must recommend that you eject their pods into space immediately.

                              HUNTER.

What the hell?

Broussard stares at the synthetic incredulously.

                              HUNTER.

Can't you remove the organism surgically?

                              ELIAS.

Not without endangering the patient and the ship. The life form has concentrated molecular acid for blood. These are the organisms responsible for the destruction of the alien outpost.

                              BROUSSARD.

There must be something we can do.

                              HUNTER.

There is. We hook their pods into the hypersleep system, freeze them and the organisms. They can remove them in a medical facility when we get back to Earth.

                              ELIAS.

I am not confident that the life form would be affected by hypersleep, the risk that the embryos would emerge whilst the crew is in stasis is too great. You would all be extremely vulnerable and would not survive. Furthermore it would not be advisable to return the organisms to Earth, once the infection was released it could not be contained.

                              HUNTER

Surely in a secure facility there wouldn't be a problem.

                             ELIAS.

The creatures managed to eradicate the outpost of a highly evolved alien species, equipped with advanced technology millions of years ahead of the human race. They were unable to contain the threat. Captain I could not recommend such an extreme course of action if it were not absolutely imperative, my behavioural inhibitors allow me to cause no harm to human beings and even though it is difficult to recommend such an action, my program allows for certain factors to be taken into consideration. Objectively the killing of two people who are fatally infected outweighs risking the lives of nine who are not. I of course would be unable to perform the ejection.

                                HUNTER.

I can't murder in cold blood two of my crew, fatally infected or not. There must be something we're not thinking of.

CUT TO:

INT. USCSS KURTZ - MED BAY

An alarm sounds in the Med Bay.

                              COMPUTER V.O.

MEDICAL EMERGENCY.......MEDICAL EMERGENCY

The words echo through the empty Med Bay.

CLOSE UP ON:

Autodoc monitor: MEDICAL EMERGENCY. flashes red on and off.

CUT TO:

CLOSE UP ON:

Autodoc 3D display: Martinez' pod internal camera.

Martinez eyes open, he is concious. His face contorts, he is in extreme agony, the pod's IV feeds pump sedatives into his system to counter the massive adrenaline rush flooding his body and sending his metabolic rate off the scale. Martinez is thrashing blindly inside the pod, he stops momentarily and the crunch of a broken rib is heard, Martinez resumes his agonised thrashing until the sickening crunch of fracturing bones comes through on the audio feed, and the camera view is obscured by a spray of blood.

CLOSE UP ON:

Vital signs monitor. Martinez is now flatline.

CUT TO:

INT. USCSS KURTZ - BRIDGE

Hunter, Elias and Broussard are still arguing the correct course of action.

                              BROUSSARD.

What about the shuttle? maneuver it a few klicks away from the ship and you could perform the surg...........

A strident alarm begins to sound.

                              COMPUTER V.O.

MEDICAL EMERGENCY, MEDICAL OFFICER REPORT TO MED BAY. MEDICAL EMERGENCY, MEDICAL OFFICER REPORT TO MED BAY.

                            HUNTER.

Shit.

They race out of the bridge.

CUT TO:

INT. USCSS KURTZ - MED BAY

CLOSE UP ON:

Martinez' pod. A blackened, smoking hole in the side of the armored pod. Three trails of blood and entrails lead from the smoking hole and disappear into a drainage grate in the Med Bay deck.

CLOSE UP ON:

The Grate.

CUT TO:

INT. LV 427 - PYRAMID - TUNNEL

Vossler is driving the nuke laden ATV back to where Voight was attacked, he guides the machine over piles of debris dislodged by Hunter's exploding grenade and into the Mutation chamber. He maneuvers the ATV over the burnt remains of the mutant Facehuggers and as the vehicle progresses into the large chamber the tyres begin to smoke, the acid from the dead creatures is eating into the steel belt reinforced heavy duty rubber. Vossler parks the ATV on a clear section of the chamber floor and dismounts.

CLOSE UP ON:

Vossler is inspecting the place where Voight was obviously attacked. He picks up the discarded flamethrower and begins to look around the chamber.

CLOSE UP ON:

The smoking tyres of the ATV. Two of them blow out explosively as they are eaten through by the potent acid, the ATV settles on the flat tyres and the other two blow also.

Vossler has searched the large chamber but there is no sign of Voight's body, he returns to the ATV and begins arming the chain linked nukes.

CUT TO:

INT. LV 427 - PYRAMID - MUTATION CHAMBER - TUNNEL ORIFICE

Behind Vossler hundreds of the mutant facehuggers are spilling out of the tunnel that leads to the Queen chamber, some are the "Scorpion" creatures others are the type that attacked Martinez, they spread out over the chamber. Vossler's motion tracker beeps insistently and he whirls around, Pulse Rifle levelled.

CUT TO:

VOSSLER'S POV.

The chamber is covered by an Arachnoid carpet. The creatures are now motionless except for their tails, they are waving back and forth in unison, slowly undulating like a field of wheat in a gentle breeze. The eyeless creatures appear to be "watching" Vossler.

CUT TO:

TUNNEL ORIFICE

A bipedal humanoid creature enters the chamber, nine feet tall; elongated, ribbed, eyeless head; skin the same greyish yellow as the mutant Facehuggers; the limbs are distended and deformed; cancerous growths leak noxious pus. The mutant Facehuggers part ranks to let the tall creature pass and close ranks behind it, an extraterrestrial Moses parting the sea of creatures before it. The tall mutant stops 10 metres in front of Vossler.

CLOSE UP ON:

The Extraterrestrial Biped. The creature is clad in the tattered remnants of a combat spacesuit still bearing the name tag: Voight.

                             VOSSLER. V.O.

Corp? Is that you? What the fuck did they do to you?

CLOSE UP ON:

The hybrid cocks its head to one side quizzically, eerily reminiscent of a dog. It begins to advance on Vossler. He raises his Pulse Rifle and aims it at the advancing mutant.

                              VOSSLER. V.O.

 Oh fuck Corp, I'm sorry, I should never have left ya in here.

He backs up a few steps away from the advancing mutated Voight. The mutant is getting closer to Vossler and he opens fire hitting the creature in its torso, the Voight mutant staggers but keeps advancing. Vossler opens fire on full auto and the hybrid is hit by multiple rounds, it staggers and reels and as the caseless rounds punch holes in the creature's head Vossler is hit by a spray of the mutant's acid blood.

CLOSE UP ON:

Vossler. The powerful acid immediately begins melting through his spacesuit and visor. The mutant Facehuggers erupt into action and advance on Vossler who reaches the ATV before the creatures can reach him. The acid burns through his visor.

                              SUIT COMPUTER. V.O.

WARNING SUIT INTEGRITY COMPROMISED. OXYGEN DEPLETION IN T - MINUS TWO MINUTES.

Vossler grabs the trigger for the chain linked nukes, he is wheezing heavily and struggling to breathe as his escaping oxygen supply mixes with the toxic atmosphere. The mutant creatures swarm over him and Vossler yells defiantly as he triggers the nukes.

                              VOSSLER.

SEMPER FI MOTHERFUCKERS.................

CUT TO:

EXT. LV 427 - AERIAL VIEW.

The pyramid and a large section of the surrounding Biomech city are vapourised in the nuclear explosion.

CLOSE UP ON:

A massive mushroom cloud expands into the atmosphere.

FADE OUT.

INT. USCSS KURTZ - MED BAY

Hunter, Broussard and Elias rush into the Med - Bay. Elias goes to the Autodoc console and inputs commands, the computer warning shuts off and he inspects the readouts and camera feeds from Martinez' pod. Hunter and Broussard are inspecting the smoking hole in the side of the armoured pod as well as the trails of blood leading into the deck grille.

                              ELIAS.

Martinez is deceased. The embryo's development was more advanced than I expected.

He joins the others.

                               ELIAS.

It appears that the parasite implanted multiple embryos.

He replays the video files from Martinez' pod after the medical emergency was declared. They watch Martinez' agonised thrashing and hear the crunch of breaking ribs as the camera is obscured by a spray of blood. Hunter brings up the Med - Bay surveillance cam files and replays from the point where Martinez' medical emergency began.

 CUT TO:

MONITOR SCREEN

Surveillance cam footage of the Med - Bay plays until the motion sensors detect wisps of smoke rising from the side of the med pod. A small hole appears and steadily grows in size, until three organisms are visible: They are limbless and have the appearance of eyeless snakes, two of the creatures hiss at each other and the crew see that they have mouths filled with metallic teeth. The creatures slip out of the smoking hole and disappear into the floor grate.

CUT TO:

The corridor outside the Med - Bay. Concerned crew members are gathering.

CLOSE UP ON:

RALSTON’S POD INTERNAL VIEW.

The parasite is no longer attached to Ralston’s face.

Elias checks the readouts.

                              ELIAS.

Captain, Ralston’s heart rate and blood pressure are increasing, the embryo is preparing for birth.

Hunter looks over at Ralston's pod and comes to a decision. He addresses the crew.

                              HUNTER.

Listen up people. Martinez is dead, he and Ralston were infected with alien spores by the parasites that attacked them. Ralston is still alive but the prognosis is terminal.

He inputs commands into the Autodoc control console and replays the video feed of Martinez' demise. The crew are stunned.

                              HUNTER.

I am now switching off the life support for Ralston's pod. I won't let her suffer needlessly. Computer this is Captain Hunter, discontinue life support for med - pod 001. Authorisation follows.

He inputs the code into the Autodoc console.

                              COMPUTER. V.O.

Quarantine Med - Pod KP001 Life Support Terminated. Powering Down. Disconnect All Feeds. 

The crew bow their heads in respect as the legend: 

LIFE SUPPORT TERMINATED

flashes on and off in red on the Autodoc monitor.

After a short silence Hunter speaks.

HUNTER.
Broussard, Kelly, break out Tasers, Shock stunners and motion trackers. All crewmembers report to the Hangar bay immediately. Mr. Elias I want all the information on the aliens that has been processed, I need to know exactly what we're dealing with.

ELIAS.
Aye Sir.

Hunter goes to a comm panel and hits the button for the shipwide intercom

HUNTER.
All crew report to hangar bay immediately, repeat all crew report to hangar bay immediately.

CUT TO:
INT. USCSS KURTZ - TAKAMURA'S QUARTERS

CLOSE UP ON:
Hunter's voice echoes through an empty cabin, Takamura is nowhere to be seen. His bunk is covered in blood and gelatinous alien slime from his metamorphosis by the Scorpion creature's venom. The uniform he was wearing is in tatters on the bunk and the deck.

CUT TO:
INT. USCSS KURTZ - KRAHE’S QUARTERS

HUNTER. V.O.

All crew report to hangar bay immediately, repeat all crew report to hangar bay immediately.

Krahe black - eyed and bruised closes the laptop he was perusing and stands up. He walks over to the hatch, presses the control and it slides open.

CLOSE UP ON:

KRAHE’S POV.

The Takamura Hybrid is standing there, its limbs are grossly distended, The eyes have been absorbed, the head is elongated and ribbed, its skin has become a sickly yellow colour and is covered in cancerous ulcerations, ribbed tubes carry foul liquids throughout Takamura’s mutated body.

CLOSE UP ON:

Krahe whimpers with fear as he takes in the monstrosity standing before him. He is shaking in terror.

CLOSE UP ON:

Krahe’s feet. A small puddle of urine forms as his bladder voids.

The hybrid reaches out its arms and pushes Krahe back into the cabin, it has to bend down to enter as the mutant is now nearly 9 feet tall.

CLOSE UP ON:

The mutant’s head. The jaws open, dripping slime, the lower jaw distends and a large cylindrical tongue tastes the air.

CUT TO:

Holding Krahe by the upper arms, his feet dangling a foot above the deck. the hybrid’s tongue seems to be scenting Krahe Suddenly it becomes semi rigid and plunges into Krahe’s mouth and down his throat. The hybrid seems to be regurgitating, it is pumping some form of alien bile down his throat. Krahe is gagging and choking, his eyes wide. The tongue is removed and Krahe retches small amounts of hideous ooze. The hybrid, almost gently, lays him down on the deck. Turning its head, as if sensing something it issues a hissing, high pitched screech and runs out the hatch.

CLOSE UP ON:

Krahe, laying on the deck, vile alien mucus streaming from his mouth. His face is turning a yellowish grey as he slips into unconsciousness.

CUT TO:
INT. USCSS KURTZ - HANGAR BAY
The Captain, Elias and Taylor are gathered for the briefing. McAndrews enters followed by Broussard and Kelly wheeling a trolley laden with shock stunners, tasers and motion trackers.

HUNTER.
We now have three hostile organisms aboard ship. We need to search the ship, find these things and eject 'em into space ASAP. Mr Elias you have the floor, what exactly are these things?

ELIAS.
As I explained earlier Captain these organisms are lethal and extremely hostile within hours of birth and their overriding biological imperatives are survival and reproduction. They possess concentrated molecular acid for blood, which in an enclosed environment such as a spaceship precludes the use of any sort of weapon that inflicts penetrating injuries.

HUNTER.
Stunners and tasers only. Hopefully we can find them before they reach maturity, Mr. Elias any background info would be helpful.

ELIAS.
The Pyramid structure on LV 427 was a Bio - Weapons research and development facility of a race of beings I have labeled Bio Engineers. They were an ancient race long before life arose on Earth, colonising many systems throughout the galaxy. The Bio Engineer race was divided into two "Factions". One I will describe as "Benevolent", the other "Cruel and Vengeful". These descriptions are vague approximations only as their true motivations and agendas are entirely unfathomable by any human frames of reference, they are far beyond human concepts of good and evil. Countless millennia ago these two factions waged a galactic civil war.

HUNTER.
And they created these organisms as weapons?

ELIAS.
Not created, discovered. The parasitic lifeform hereby referred to as the Xenomorph is a naturally evolved organism. The Bio Engineers mutate existing life forms through gene splicing, powerful mutagens and their organic biomechanoid technology. They were experimenting on the Xenomorph to produce more destructive variations. Approximately three thousand years ago a Xenomorph outbreak took place on LV 427, the Bio Engineers were decimated and the survivors of the outbreak placed themselves in stasis in a secure hibernation vault. They sent out the distress/warning signal and awaited rescue which never arrived. One by one the stasis units were shut down as the power supply failed until only one survivor remained.

TAYLOR.
There were people in that pyramid.

ELIAS.
Clones. Bred from stock abducted from Earth thousands of years ago. It appears that the "Benevolent" Bio Engineers visited Earth in prehistoric times and possibly gave the primitive primates they encountered a helping hand up the evolutionary ladder.

TAYLOR. (With a cynical laugh).
So "God" was an Alien species all along. Organised religion isn't going to like this much, they're all out of a job.

HUNTER.
What about the things that attacked the Leviathan's crew? The organism that penetrated the survivor's capsules?

ELIAS.
The insectoid predators were previous experiments that escaped their stasis chambers after the Xenomorph outbreak and I believe the "Fungal" organism is native to LV 427 but was mutated by exposure to toxic wastes. Captain, information was exchanged when I was short circuited by the Bio Engineer communication device. The sole survivor is a member of the "Cruel" faction, it is aware of the death of its fellow survivors and is now piloting its craft to the homeworld of its enemies with a cargo of Xenomorph eggs to exact its "Revenge".

HUNTER.
Vossler took care of the eggs on LV 427, they're radioactive dust by now.

ELIAS.
Unfortunately Captain the Bio Engineers also had a weapons storage facility on LV 426, stocked with tens of thousands of eggs. As well as the fact that a Xenomorph infestation will produce a number of Queens capable of laying hundreds of eggs each.

HUNTER.
Is there anything that can help us find these things and get them off my ship?

ELIAS.
The creatures are vulnerable to fire and will retreat from it like any animal. Projectile weapons would be effective in an environment where conservation of atmosphere was not a consideration. I am unsure as to the effectiveness of stunners and tasers. I can offer no other constructive advice except that we only have hours to find the newborn embryos before they reach maturity.

HUNTER.
OK people let's move like we've got a purpose. 3 teams. Broussard and I will take the flight deck. Elias and Taylor take the quarter deck, I need you to round up Krahe and Takamura, if they're too out of it give them a shot of stimulants. McAndrews and Kelly you've got the engineering deck. I'm loath to use flamethrowers aboard ship but we've got no choice. Find these things, catch them, get to the nearest airlock and eject their slimy arses into space. Go.

The crew all take a taser, shock stunner, comms headset and motion tracker from the trolley. Hunter goes to the hangar bay weapons locker and hands a flamethrower to McAndrews, Elias and takes one for himself. Broussard, Kelly and Taylor pick up an ore sample container each and handling tongs.

HUNTER.
Use the flamethrowers carefully, short bursts, the last thing we need is a fire aboard ship. Everybody stay frosty and we'll nail these fuckers, move out.

The search teams head out for their assigned decks.

FADE OUT.

INT. USCSS KURTZ - ENGINEERING DECK
McAndrews and Kelly are searching engineering, McAndrews is armed with a flamethrower and Kelly is scanning with a motion tracker, shock stunner in his other hand.

KELLY.
Jesus, there's a million places down here where those things could be hiding.

McANDREWS.
If they're down here we'll find 'em.

Kelly scans the areas surrounding the landing engine manifold housings. No movement. They continue on. As they are searching the Reactor coolant feed junction housing Kelly's motion tracker beeps loudly, Kelly scans the readout and points to a spot underneath the pipes and conduits. A dark shape moves rapidly.

KELLY.
There it goes, don't lose it.

He tracks the chestburster, the two men follow as it disappears behind banks of machinery.

McANDREWS.
The little fucker's gone into the Fusion Grid access alcove, we've got him now.

McAndrews slings his flamethrower and levels his taser.

KELLY.
Kelly to Hunter we've got one. It's near the Fusion Grid housing, we've got it cornered.

The two men advance, the chestburster is trapped.

CLOSE UP ON:
The eyeless creature, it resembles a segmented snake with the stumps of vestigial arms. It hisses at the two men revealing a mouth full of steel teeth. Kelly hits it with a jolt from his shock stunner as McAndrews repeatedly tasers the small creature. It reels then recovers, it spits a stream of yellow liquid at the two men but misses them. They repeatedly stun and taser the creature until it lies spent on the floor, still very much alive it tries weakly to rise but is exhausted. Kelly puts down the ore sample container he is carrying and using a pair of ore handling tongs lifts the creature into the lead alloy container.

CLOSE UP ON:
The bank of machinery that was hit by the creature's acid spit. It is smoking and bubbling as the acid eats into the sensitive machinery. A strident alarm sounds.

COMPUTER V.O.
WARNING. CRITICAL SYSTEM FAILURE. FUSION GRID COOLANT REGULATOR CONTROL DAMAGED. BYPASS DAMAGED CONTROL IMMEDIATELY. WARNING CRITICAL SYSTEM FAILURE................

McANDREWS.
Shit.

He grabs a fire extinguisher and sprays the smoking machinery.

HUNTER. V.O.
What the hell is going on down there?

KELLY.
We got the little bastard, but he didn't go down easy, spat some sort of acid at us.

HUNTER. V.O.
OK we're on our way down.

McAndrews is working frantically on the damaged machinery.

INT. USCSS KURTZ - QUARTER DECK.
Elias and Taylor are methodically searching the Quarter deck.

COMPUTER V.O.
WARNING. CRITICAL SYSTEM FAILURE. FUSION GRID COOLANT REGULATOR CONTROL DAMAGED. BYPASS DAMAGED CONTROL IMMEDIATELY. WARNING CRITICAL SYSTEM FAILURE..................

ELIAS.
Elias to Hunter, do you require our assistance?

HUNTER. V.O.
No, you two keep searching, they've caught one and we need to find the other two ASAP.

ELIAS.
Copy that.

The alarm and computer warning are shut off.

Elias and Taylor continue searching.

INT. USCSS KURTZ - ENGINEERING.
McAndrews is working feverishly to bypass the damaged coolant regulator, Kelly assisting. Hunter and Broussard enter.

HUNTER.
What's our status?

McANDREWS.
Fucked if we can't bypass the damaged regulator pretty damn quick.

KELLY.
Captain you might want to get rid of the beast before it wakes up enough to start spitting acid again.

He indicates the chestburster locked in the ore sample container.

HUNTER.
Broussard you help McAndrews and Kelly and I'll get rid of this.

Hunter exits carrying the ore sample container.

CUT TO:
INT. USCSS KURTZ - MAINTENANCE ACCESS AIRLOCK.
Hunter opens the inner door and places the ore container inside the airlock. He exits the lock and closes the inner door. He presses the button labeled PURGE and the ore container and chestburster are sucked from the open airlock into the void.

CUT TO:
INT. USCSS KURTZ - QUARTER DECK.
Elias and Taylor are searching. Taylor spots something under the deck grating beneath an air duct.

TAYLOR.
Hold up, there's something under here.

He bends down and reaches underneath the grating, he snags the object, stands up and they inspect what he has found.

CLOSE UP ON:
A slimy, thin, yellowish membrane, oily and sticky with strands of a clear mucous like substance.

Taylor reacts with disgust at the discarded membrane.

TAYLOR.
What the hell is it?

ELIAS.
It appears that one of the organisms has shed it's skin. We don't have much time.

TAYLOR.
If it's gone into the air ducts it could be anywhere.

ELIAS.
We need to search the crew's quarters one by one.

They begin searching the empty rooms.

CUT TO:
INT. USCSS KURTZ. - ENGINEERING.
McAndrews is running cables. Broussard and Kelly are hooking the cables into the bypass console. Hunter is standing watch, occasionally sweeping the engineering section with his motion tracker.

HUNTER.
How's it coming McAndrews?

McANDREWS.
She'll be OK, we're getting it under control.

He runs another cable from the damaged console.

McANDREWS.
Regulator feed control. Grid One.

Kelly begins hooking the cable into a housing in the bypass console.

CUT TO:
INT. USCSS KURTZ - QUARTER DECK.
Elias and Taylor have finished searching the crew's quarters.

TAYLOR.
I don't think we're going to find anything, let's round up Krahe and Takamura and find the others. I'll get Hiroshi you go get Krahe.

ELIAS.
Affirmative.

They split up.

INT. USCSS KURTZ – KRAHE’S QUARTERS.

Elias enters the hatch of Krahe’s cabin. He finds the infected Krahe laying on his bunk, his body monstrously bloated by the mutagenic bile inside him. Elias walks over to the unconscious man. The veins in his body are traced in black, in sharp contrast to the sickly yellowish grey colour of his skin which is secreting a clear thick mucous, cocooning the man in preparation for some hideous metamorphosis.

ELIAS.

Mr. Krahe? Mr. Krahe can you hear me?

Suddenly the unconscious man’s eyes open wide, they are milky and glazed, the small blood vessels turned black.

KRAHE.

Please……….. Kill me……. Oh god………KILL MEEEEEEEE…

ELIAS.

I can’t do that Mr. Krahe, with my behavioural inhibitors I am unable to cause any harm to a human being.

KRAHE

I can……..feel something.....happening inside me.............OH JESUS IT HURTS……. You…..you can’t leave me like this……….please….. KILL ME.......

CLOSE UP ON:

Krahe’s distended abdomen as it bulges out.

CUT TO:

Elias, realising that there is nothing he can do for the doomed man, makes a decision.

ELIAS.

Mr. Krahe I am returning the pistol that was confiscated from you earlier. I am required by law to inform you that it is illegal to possess an unauthorised firearm aboard ship. I will be required to file a report with authorities upon Earth arrival.

He places the pistol in Krahe’s hands.

KRAHE.

Thank you.

ELIAS.

My behavioural inhibitors also prevent me from allowing a human being to come to harm through inaction. I will leave you now, what you do with the pistol once I have left is beyond my control. I am truly sorry Mr. Krahe.

Elias leaves the cabin, he staggers slightly as he enters the corridor, his inhibitors are compelling him to retrieve the gun. His logic program overcomes the compulsion as he knows that Krahe will come to greater harm if left to mutate. He closes the hatch and heads toward Takamura's cabin.

CLOSE UP ON:

The closed hatch. The sound of a gunshot reverberates through the corridor.

CUT TO:
INT. USCSS KURTZ - TAKAMURA'S QUARTERS.
Taylor looks down at the empty bed covered in alien mucous and blood.

TAYLOR.
What the fuck?

He is startled by the sound of the gunshot. His motion tracker beeps, something moved in the air duct. He levels his taser and approaches the duct grating.

TAYLOR.
I've got you now you little bastard.

He reaches down and removes the grate.

CLOSE UP ON:
The Duct. An adult xenomorph unfolds itself from inside the air shaft. Glistening black exoskeleton, jaws dripping slime. It approaches Taylor, he tasers the alien again and again with no effect. The creature reaches out and grabs the man.

CUT TO:
INT. USCSS KURTZ - QUARTER DECK.
Taylor's screams echo through the corridor.

Elias enters Takamura's quarters. Taylor is nowhere to be seen.

CLOSE UP ON:
The air duct.

INT. USCSS KURTZ - ENGINEERING.
McAndrews has bridged the damaged console, cables and sheaths of fibre optics are strewn about the deck. McAndrews is spot welding connections inside a console with a mini arc welder. The smoke has cleared somewhat.

McANDREWS.
We're OK, I've jury rigged a bypass that will hold until we return to Earth and drydock, we're going to need some major repair and re - fit time.

Broussard is checking the ship's status at a console.

BROUSSARD.
No breaches, hull integrity is good. We're lucky that stuff didn't eat right through.

McANDREWS.
10 inch thick lead alloy shielding for the Fusion Grids, anywhere else and it would have burned right through the hull. I'll have to run a full diagnostic to find if that crap has damaged any other systems before we go back into the freezers.

HUNTER.
Alright people, we've still got two of those things loose. We start here and we close off every bulkhead and hatch until we've found them, Let's move.

They collect their weapons and resume the search.

CUT TO:
INT. USCSS KURTZ - AIR SHAFT.
Elias is crawling through the duct. He reaches a junction and scans the area with his motion tracker, there is nothing moving. He continues on.

INT. USCSS KURTZ - ENGINEERING DECK.
Hunter, Broussard, McAndrews and Kelly are searching the engineering deck. They finish their sweep.

HUNTER.
OK the engineering section is clear.

Kelly's motion tracker beeps.

KELLY.
I've got movement in the air shaft, can't lock in.

They cover the air shaft opening with their flamethrowers, tasers and stunners.

CLOSE UP ON:
The air shaft. The grate rattles. The crew tense, ready to fire. Suddenly McAndrews yells.

McANDREWS.
Hold up.

He approaches the grate and pulls it off and Elias emerges from the air duct.

HUNTER.
Jesus Christ Elias we nearly fried you.

ELIAS.
Apologies Captain, I lost my comms unit in the air shaft.

HUNTER.
What the hell were you doing in the air shaft?

ELIAS.

One of the creatures took Taylor into the air shaft. I followed but could find no trace of them.

KELLY.

We caught one of them, how the fuck does something that small drag a grown man into an air duct?

ELIAS.

The creatures have matured, we found a skin one of them had shed. I surmise that the organisms communicate using pheromones. One of them was "chosen" as a decoy. Somehow they can speed up or slow down somewhat their development, depending on prevailing conditions of their birth. Whilst we were searching for newborn embryos, the other two "accelerated" their development. These creatures are bred for survival Captain.

BROUSSARD.

What happened to Krahe and Takamura?

ELIAS.

Krahe is dead. Takamura has undergone a metamorphosis, he must have been exposed to some kind of mutagen in the pyramid. The hybrid creature infected Krahe with a mutagenic substance.

KELLY.

Well that's just fucking great, apart from two aliens we got Takamura to worry about as well?

HUNTER.

If they're using the air shafts I'm going in after them. Flush them out and eject them into space.

CUT TO:

INT. USCSS KURTZ - AIR SHAFT.

CLOSE UP ON:

A small junction. The Takamura hybrid is inside. It is secreting massive amounts of alien mucous, forming a cocoon. It appears to have doubled in size, but as the camera pulls in for an extreme close up we see that the hybrid has Taylor in a hideous embrace. He is being cocooned with the hybrid and is almost covered with the alien mucous. Taylor moans........ he is still alive.

Part Four.

CUT TO:

INT. USCSS KURTZ - ENGINEERING DECK.

Hunter, Broussard and Elias are at the main outlet for the air ducts. Hunter is preparing to enter the shafts.

CUT TO:

INT. USCSS KURTZ - AIR SHAFT SECONDARY OUTLET.

Kelly and McAndrews are covering the secondary outlet, they have removed the grate. The overhead fluoro light is cutting out intermittently, leaving the corridor in shadows evey time it cuts out.

KELLY.

Jesus McAndrews, can't you fix that thing? If one of those things comes this way I wanta be able to see it.

McAndrews goes over to a lighting panel, he slings his flamethrower and opens the panel.

CUT TO:

The air shaft. Behind Kelly an alien unfolds itself silently from the air shaft. Kelly turns back to see the adult xenomorph, it's jaws open dripping slime.

KELLY.

Oh fuck.

McAndrews grabs his flamethrower and aims at the xenomorph, Kelly is right in front of the creature. Kelly hits the alien with jolt after jolt from his taser, but the alien keeps coming for him.

McANDREWS.

Get out of the way.

The xenomorph grabs Kelly. It's tongue spears through the man's head. The creature hurls Kelly's corpse at McAndrews who goes down.

CUT TO:

INT. USCSS KURTZ - AIR SHAFT - MAIN OUTLET.

The others hear the mens shouts, they run off toward the secondary outlet.

CUT TO:

INT. USCSS KURTZ - AIR SHAFT - SECONDARY OUTLET.

Hunter, Broussard and Elias reach the secondary outlet. Kelly is dead, a large hole in his skull seeping blood and brain matter onto the deck. McAndrews is nowhere to be seen.

HUNTER.

McAndrews....................McAndrews do you copy.................Randall do you read me?

He gets no response. He takes off the comms headset and hurls it angrily at the wall.

BROUSSARD.

It's only us left, everyone else is dead.

Hunter contemplates for a few minutes.

HUNTER.

OK plans have changed. We're heading for the shuttle bay.

BROUSSARD.

We're getting out of here Captain?

Hunter nods his assent. They move out toward the shuttle bay.

INT. USCSS KURTZ – SHUTTLE BAY

CLOSE UP ON:

The entry hatch. Hunter enters the shuttle bay, flamethrower at the ready, he checks out the shuttle entry lock. It is empty, no sign of the aliens is apparent. He gestures to Broussard and Elias and they enter the shuttle bay.

HUNTER.

Alright Mr. Elias prep the shuttle for launch. Skip the pre flight checks I want it ready to go in 15 minutes.

ELIAS.

Aye sir.

HUNTER.

Deep Station Melville is the closest outpost, that’s your destination. Once you are clear of the ship, set your course and burn your engines until you’ve exhausted the fuel, you should get clear in time.

BROUSSARD.

What do you mean? We’re all getting out of here, the shuttle has two hypersleep capsules.

HUNTER.

It will take twenty five years to reach Deep Station Melville in the shuttle, the hypersleep system won’t support two for that long. The shuttle was only ever intended to be a short term lifeboat.

BROUSSARD.

If you don’t go, I’m not going.

HUNTER.

If we both go we both die. At least this way you have a chance.

BROUSSARD.

In twenty five years my husband will be fifty seven and my son will be thirty. The next time I see them my son will nearly be the same age as me.

HUNTER.

At least you’ll be alive.

BROUSSARD.

I’m not going. We stay here and fight, we take back our ship.

HUNTER.

There’s only one sure way to stop these things. If you don’t get on that shuttle I’ll order Elias to carry you aboard and restrain you until the shuttle has launched, understood?

BROUSSARD.

Aye sir.

HUNTER.

There’s no time for long goodbyes. Mr. Elias it has been an honour and a privilege serving with you.

ELIAS.

As for me also Captain. This crew has always treated me with courtesy and respect, something not required by company regulations.

HUNTER.

Take good care of my First Officer.

Hunter extends his hand and they shake. Elias boards the shuttle and begins prepping for launch.

BROUSSARD.

Captain……………

Hunter grips Broussard’s upper arms gently.

HUNTER.

Go, you have a mission. Convince the military to sterilise that moon, fusion bomb it out of existence. We can’t let those creatures or anything else from that hellhole reach the colonies. I will do what I have to here.

Broussard realises what the Captain is planning to do.

CLOSE UP ON:

Broussard’s face, her eyes are moist and a single tear drips down her cheek.

BROUSSARD.

Captain you don’t have to do this, come with us.

HUNTER.

I have to make sure, I’m sorry but you have to go, now.

He gives her arms a gentle squeeze and lets go, Broussard steps forward and gives the Captain a brief hug. She enters the shuttle and the airlock closes behind her. Hunter looks after her for a few seconds then exits the shuttle bay.

CUT TO:

INT. SHUTTLECRAFT ICARUS.

Broussard and Elias are strapped in, they are flicking switches and inputting commands into the shuttle’s nav-com.

COMPUTER.V.O.

Shuttle launch in T minus 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 Ignition.

Broussard and Elias are slammed back into their pilot’s seats as the engine ignites and the shuttle accelerates rapidly away from the mother ship.

CUT TO:

EXT. DEEP SPACE - ZETA II RETICULI SYSTEM.

The Kurtz recedes rapidly into the distance until it disappears from view entirely.

CUT TO:
INT. USCSS KURTZ - ENGINEERING.
Face set in grim determination Hunter enters engineering. Flamethrower leveled he scans the room with his motion tracker, no movement. Slowly he makes his way to the Fusion Grid coolant regulator main control, sweeping his motion tracker. At the console he takes a chain from around his neck, inserting the key on the end of the chain into a slot on the console, he turns the key.

HUNTER.
Computer this is Captain Hunter. Shut down Fusion Grid coolant system. Voice recognition authorisation: Alpha one. Gamma five. Delta fifteen. Inputting authorisation code.

Hunter inputs a code into the console.

COMPUTER V.O.
Verify failsafe override code.

HUNTER.
Failsafe override authorisation Hunter Alpha Kilo ZZ Alpha nine.

COMPUTER V.O.
Fusion Grid Coolant System offline. Ship will self destruct in T minus fifteen minutes.

The warning alarm begins and the emergency lights begin flashing.

HUNTER.
Computer discontinue audio countdown until further notification.

Hunter exits engineering. Making his way toward the bridge he scans each junction carefully before continuing on. He reaches the last junction, it is clear. He enters the lift to the flight deck.

CUT TO:
INT. USCSS KURTZ - FLIGHT DECK.
The lift door opens. There is a xenomorph right outside, it wheels around as the lift opens. Hunter unleashes a burst of flame at the alien which retreats, hissing at Hunter. He exits the lift, releasing controlled bursts of flame at the alien driving it away from him. Suddenly the flamethrower starts to sputter and cut out. It is malfunctioning.

HUNTER.
Oh shit.

The flamethrower releases one more sustained burst and dies, Hunter drops the now useless weapon and sprints for the open bridge hatch twenty metres away, the alien stops retreating and pursues him. Hunter makes it to the bridge and slaps the pressure hatch control, the four inch thick steel door slams closed. He takes a handgun from a storage locker

CUT TO:
INT. USCSS KURTZ - FLIGHT DECK.
The alien is still fifteen metres from the bridge when the pressure hatch closes.

CUT TO:
INT. USCSS KURTZ - BRIDGE.
Hunter sits at the pilot's console on the bridge the pistol in one hand. He presses controls on the Comm panel.

HUNTER. (Out of breath)
This is the final log entry of Captain Richard Hunter, USCSS Kurtz.....We intercepted an alien transmission in the Zeta II Reticuli system and landed on moon designated LV 427 to investigate...... My crew are all dead. Some infected by an organism that lays an embryo inside a living host, the rest were killed by the adult creatures the infected were incubating....... The adult form of this organism are extremely hostile and very hard to kill, they have an armoured exoskeleton and extremely corrosive blood........Tasers and shock stunners are ineffective against the creatures, projectile weapons will kill them , though the blood will eat through four inch thick hardened steel bulkheads with ease.........My ship is infested with these beasts and accordingly there is only one course of action left open to me. I can't take the chance of these abominations reaching an inhabited system.

Hunter presses another control on the panel.

HUNTER.
Computer upload last log entry and eject the black box. Resume audio countdown, sixty second intervals.

A sudden impact on the bulkhead hatch sends a deafening clang reverberating throughout the bridge, and a large bulge appears in the four inch thick pressure door.

COMPUTER V.O.
Black box pod ejected....Ship will self destruct in T minus five minutes.

The bulkhead hatch is bulging out of shape as the Alien batters at it.

Hunter looks at the gun in his hand.

The bulkhead hatch is breached. The Alien tears at the steel to make a hole large enough to squeeze it's body through.

COMPUTER V.O.
Ship will self destruct in T minus three minutes.

The Alien is through the hatch. It lunges for Hunter.

CLOSE UP ON:
Hunter as he puts the gun to his head

HUNTER.
God forgive me.

He pulls the trigger.

CUT TO:
EXT. DEEP SPACE - ZETA II RETICULI SYSTEM.
The USCSS Kurtz is destroyed in an immense explosion.

FADE OUT.

OPEN ON:
INT. WEYLAND/YUTANI CORPORATE HEADQUARTERS - THE SEA OF TRANQUILITY - JULY 2121.
BOARD MEMBER'S EXECUTIVE OFFICES.

MELKONIS.
Do you remember the survey ship that was listed as missing with all hands last year, The Kurtz?

ROBY.
Vaguely, she was two years overdue wasn't she?

MELKONIS.
That's the one. A Deep Salvage Team found the black box. It was pretty banged up but the tech boys managed to recover a few files, I think you'll find this interesting.
He inserts a disc into his holographic display unit and presses play.
A warning flashes up: RESTRICTED ACCESS: Security level ASC 12 ONLY.
The holographic display flickers and jumps, the file is badly corrupted. An Image of Hunter appears and begins to speak

HUNTER.
This...................log entry of Captain......... Hunter,....SS Kurtz..... intercepted ..alien trans...........the Zeta II Reticuli........... landed.............LV 427 to investigate.............crew.........dead. Some infect...........organism.......lays an embryo ..side a living host, the rest......killed.......adult creature.....infected were incubating....... The adult............. ................ is extremely hostile .... very hard to kill, they.......... armour....exoskeleton..........extremely corrosive blood........Tasers...... shock stunners are ineffective......... the creatures, projectile weapons....... kill them , though the blood...... eat through four..... thick hardened steel bulkheads with ease.........My ship is infested with these............, and accordingly there......... one course of action left open to me. I ca....... chance of ......... abominations reaching......habited system.

MELKONIS.
There was also a partial file from the Flight Deck surveillance camera.

The display flickers and jumps, then a sudden glimpse of an Alien: nine feet tall, black exoskeleton, elongated head with no eyes. The jaws dripping slime, open and what appear to be another set of jaws is revealed. The display fades to black.

MELKONIS.
The tech boys think the Captain blew up the ship, that's why the black box was damaged. The radiation from the pod matches the radiation signature from the detonation of a Class Two Fusion Drive.

ROBY.
Jesus Christ.

MELKONIS.
These creatures would be worth billions to the Bioweapons division. Just think of the tactical uses such an aggresive life form could be put to. Not to mention the advances in body armour, new Industrial corrosives, all sorts of applications the study of these things could yield.

ROBY.
By the time we can outfit an expedition and get them out there, somebody else could beat us to it. We don't want to lose something this valuable to a competitor, Biotech Systems could stumble onto this. We need someone out there ASAP so we've got exclusive rights.

MELKONIS.
Just what I was thinking. I may have a solution.

He taps away at his keyboard and brings up a file.

MELKONIS.
I've been going through the transport division files and I've come up with a plan.

The holographic unit displays a ship's schematics. The text reads:
USCSS NOSTROMO - Class Three Towing Vehicle.

MELKONIS.
She's scheduled to leave Thedus in four months, hauling a mineral ore refinery back to Earth. I can get their Science officer replaced with one of our stealth synthetics. The "special" models without the Asimovian behavioural inhibitors. He will be programmed to re - route the Nostromo to the Zeta II Reticuli system and "discover" the transmission. The crew of course will be expendable. and all other mission priorities will be rescinded.

ROBY.
What about the cargo? That's a hell of a lot of ore to risk losing.

MELKONIS.
His main priority will be the life form. His agenda will be to get one of the crew infected and have them frozen for return to Earth. If he handles this properly we get the life form and the refinery, it's a win/win situation.

ROBY.
I like it. I think this calls for a drink to celebrate, Bourbon?

Melkonis nods yes in response. Roby dials up two glasses of Wild Turkey 20th Century vintage from the Autobar. Melkonis raises his glass in a toast.

MELKONIS.
Here's to the Nostromo.

ROBY.
The Nostromo.

FADE OUT.

THE END.

JAMIETHEB@$T@RD - Oh, wow! That was exceedingly in-depth and involved! I very much like the dynamics of the character interactions you presented - as well as the eerie tone you have instilled throughout your work! Excellently done! Thank you ever so much for taking the time to create this and present it to us! :)

You are most welcome, Something Real. Thank you for taking the time to read it and review it.

All the feedback I have received has been positive and encouraging and I have tried to incorporate and address the constructive criticisms people have raised about the story.

A few more issues that people have raised are:

1. The "Classic" Xenomorphs seem to be underserved and the climax feels a bit rushed. 

I found that I was more interseted in coming up with new horrors that fit the Alien universe, the classic xenos were the least interesting part of the story, and as they spent more time on LV 427 than I originally intended, maybe the xenos were a bit underserved in the climax.

2. There were some who felt a bit cheated that we didn't see a reveal of the final form that the Takamura/Taylor cocoon would take, there was a suggestion that it might be a Queen but that wasn't what I had in mind, I hadn't really figured out exactly what the final metamorphosis would be.

I did intend to reveal what the mutation would ultimately result in, but again I had spent so much time on LV 427 I had to wrap up the climax, I left the scene in as to add to the overall sense of horror. I just couldn't justify keeping the characters hanging about a few more hours to discover the mutation's final form. Giving it a bit more thought though I could re - write the ending and include a scene where Hunter hears McAndrews is still alive and goes into the air shafts and discovers the Takamura/Taylor mutant alien hybrid. I didn't think enough time had passed to send Hunter into the shaft and discover it at the time Kelly is brain speared and McAndrews is taken into the duct. But it could work if I add the scene after Broussard and Elias escape, but before Hunter turns off the cooling units.

3. There wasn't much backstory for the Xenomorph origins or the Space Jockeys and that after setting up the fact of a surviving Space Jockey there was no confrontation between it and the Kurtz' crew.

I originally had a theory worked out that had the Space Jockeys creating the Xenomorph using mutated parasitic insectoid spider organisms that inject their eggs into living prey, using their powerful mutagens (Black Goo?), cloned human hosts and infusions of Space Jockey DNA to produce the first Egg (a human host would have given "birth" to it). But feedback on this was that this was all a bit far fetched and that we didn't really need to see exactly where the Xenomorph came from. So I chucked out this theory and postulated that the Xenomorph were a natural organism that the Space Jockeys discovered and were experimenting with. I figured the Space Jockeys were an ancient ALIEN race (Lovecraft's "Elder Gods"?), they weren't Gods as such, they couldn't create life only mutate existing life forms using their mutagens and arcane biomechanoid technology.

I tried to portray a confrontation with the surviving Space Jockey and the crew but could not find a way to convincingly portray this, the few attempts I made at writing this scene were all pathetic and didn't work. The most realistic attempt at communication between the Space Jockeys and the crew was the theory of the synthetic being short circuited by the communication device and having the info downloaded. I figured the motivations of an Alien race would be unfathomable by any human frames of reference and only the most basic info on them could be communicated and understood by the crew. The Human race are totally insignificant to the space Jockey race, less than insects, fit only for use as lab rats in their hideous bio - weapons experiments. They are Eldritch (to understand them would drive you insane) and this to me felt more naturally suited to the Alien universe than the Prometheus engineers did.

4. There was no eplanation of LV 426 and the derelict.

 I originally had the Prometheus engineers in the story as a race of slaves, cloned by the Space Jockeys from human stock and "Beefed Up" with infusions of Space Jockey DNA. There would have been a sub plot wherein the slave/clones and the synthetic meet up and communicate, the slave/clone is "inspired" by the synthetic who he recognises is also a "slave" of humans, but they are benevolent masters unlike the Space Jockeys (Elias is well respected by the Kurtz crew as Bishop was a respected part of the Sulaco crew) the slave is inspired to rise against his masters and he places an egg inside the juggernaught, which infects the Space Jockey, who gives birth and crashes on LV 426 etc. But this was all too corny so I got rid of it.

I postulated that LV 426 was a weapons storage facility, containing tens of thousands of eggs. This was to explain why the egg chamber in Alien appeared to be much larger than the Derelict, it was docked on the storage facility and the pilot was infected in the original Xenomorph outbreak three thousand years earlier. I included a few scenes that referenced this (and also why the Nostromo crew pick up the signal from LV 426 and the Kurtz crew receive the one from LV 427, they entered the system on different trajectories).

5. It was a bit unbelievable that Takamura was able to mutate without anyone noticing.

Well I figured the crew were overwhelmed, so much was happening, they were unprepared (they thought they had one more planet to survey and then head home to collect their big fat paychecks), they thought Takamura had a concussion, with Ralston and Martinez infected by facehuggers and the ship breaking down etc. they just didn't get the time to examine him properly or check on him. Works for me.

6. The crew are all a bit grumpy and do too much bitching and complaining.

True, but I figured these people had been living and working together for a long time in an enclosed environment. I added some new lines to explain this eg McAndrews is always grumpy when he first comes out of Hypersleep, some of the insults are light hearted and not serious: Vossler and Ralston, I originally had the idea that these two would have formed a relationship and were actually very close, this was part of Vossler's motivation for his suicide mission when he sees that the parasite has a tube down Ralston's throat, he instinctively knows she is doomed and sacrifices himself so that the Company won't return to LV 427.

Takamura's bitching feels right to me, he is a bit of a coward at heart and he really doesn't want to be there at all, nor does Ralston. Martinez being a biologist is aware of the gravity of the situation as is Taylor. These people are scientists, but they are only out there seeking a fat paycheck, they're not seeking the answers to Life, the Universe and Everything as Shaw was. To quote Fifield "I'm a geologist, I like rocks" (at least that idiot knew what he was signing up for!)

Yes the grunts don't show respect when they discover the scene of the last stand of the Space Jockeys, but they are grunts and this would not be out of character, the scientists and synthetic are suitably awed by the scene and I added a line about the grunts not showing respect.

So I have tried to ameliorate some of the bitching, and taken out some of the insults. I think it works. All feedback welcome, positive or negative, suggestions or ideas, let me know what ya think. 

I would just like to thank those who gave me feedback and suggestions on my original posts. Cheers to: Something Real, BigDave, MonsterZero, Major Noob and anyone else who replied. 

JAMIETHEB@$T@RD - You are most welcome! Personally, I believe the anonymity you instilled within your work served to make it that much more intriguing! Let us not forget that it was the same anonymity that Sir Scott utilized in the first Alien film that has generated the amazing fandom it enjoys today! :)

wow, It's fabulous excellent