Alien: Out the Shadows

“Holy shit,” Kasyanov said. “Holy shit, holy shit…”

“He does that,” Ripley said, shrugging.

“We’ll be taking him with us?” Kasyanov asked.

Ripley hadn’t even thought about that. On a shuttle built for one, four was bad enough. They still had to prepare for the extraordinary length of their journey— coolant for the shuttle’s atmosphere processor, filters for the water purifier, food, other supplies. But with a cat as well? With them taking turns in the stasis pod, Jonesy might not even live long enough to survive the journey.

But she couldn’t even contemplate the thought of leaving him behind.

“Let’s cross that one when we come to it,” Hoop said. “Come on. I’ve got work to do.”

It felt strange to Ripley, entering the Narcissus one more time. The urgency was still there, but this time with a different group of people. The danger was still imminent, but now it was compounded—a crashing ship, an alien somewhere on board, as well as one of them just waiting to give birth to another beast.

Jonesy jumped from her arms and leapt delicately into the stasis pod, snuggling down in the covered lower section, out of sight. Ripley so wanted to do the same.

“Kasyanov,” she said. She felt suddenly woozy again, as if the ship was shaking and changing direction. Maybe this is it, she thought, maybe we’re crashing and…

Hoop caught her as she stumbled. Kasyanov stripped the suit top from her shoulder and blood flowed freely, darkening the suit and dripping on the floor.

“Staples have popped,” Kasyanov said. “I’ll re-do them. This first.” Before Ripley could object, the doctor slid a small needle into her shoulder and squeezed the pouch on its end. Numbness spread. The pain receded. Her right hand tingled, then all feeling faded away.

She’d never be able to hold the plasma torch now.

Hoop moved back through the shuttle to the small hatch leading into the engine compartment. He half-crawled inside, looked around for a while, and emerged again.

“I’m going to be in here for a while,” he said. He paused, frowning, thinking. “Okay. We can stay in touch using the suit helmets. Ripley, stay here with me. Kasyanov, you and the others need to get into the Marion and start gathering what we’ll need.”

“I’ll go with them,” Ripley said.

“No, you’re hurt.”

“I can still walk, and carry supplies,” she said. “We’ll shut the Narcissus’s outer door behind us, so you won’t have to worry about anything coming inside and disturbing you. Stay here, work. Fix it well.” She smiled.

“It’ll work,” Hoop said. “But don’t take risks. Any of you. Not with that thing running around, and not with… you know.”

“Not with Sneddon,” Kasyanov said.

“We should do it now,” Ripley said. “She can’t have long left.”

“Well…” Hoop stood and emptied out the tool pouch he’d brought with him. “While I’m here buying our ticket home, that’s your call.”

It was harsh, but Ripley knew it was also true.

“Don’t be long,” Hoop said. “And stay safe.”

“Safe is my middle name,” Ripley said. She laughed, coughed painfully, and then turned to leave. Kasyanov went behind her, closing and sealing the door. Ripley couldn’t help thinking she’d never see the inside of the Narcissus again.

“Med bay, then the stores,” Kasyanov said. “Maybe an hour. Then we’ll be away.”

“Yeah,” Ripley said. “And even after thirty-seven years asleep, I’m tired.”

22

CHESS