Alien - Series Fan Fiction ❯ Fates Changed ❯ Relaxation ( Chapter 5 )

Fates Changed

I don't own the Alien franchise… if I did Newt and Hicks would still be alive throughout the chronicle!

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A/N:

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Chapter 5: Relaxation

 

It was finally over; they had defeated the aliens and the alien Queen was dead… now they could all go home. Ripley, caring Bishop's torn body, Newt, Alex, and Hudson and Vasquez carrying, a badly injured, Hicks walked into the Cryo room of the ship. Hudson and Vasquez wanted to forget quickly of what happened so they took to their Cryo-Pods as soon as they could after gently placing Hicks onto his pod. Newt watched Ripley put Hudson and Vasquez to sleep; she turned to Hicks who had awakened prematurely from his drugs and from the noise and talking. She walked toward him,

 

“Hey kid.” He said with a hoarse voice but rather affectionately, she smiled at him and wrapped her small arms around his chest, hugging him close but careful not to hurt him. Hicks smiled and stroked her hair with his good arm. It was an awkward moment for him; he was not use to children but he found he liked it. She pulled away and kissed his cheek,

 

“Thank you Hicks…” she said quietly, he smiled again and moved stray hair away from her cheek with his un-scathed, strong hand,

 

“You are very welcome.” He said, ignoring the pain from the burns that was slowly creeping back as the pain killer drugs wore off. Ripley walked toward them with a prideful smile at seeing them that way; she walked to the side of the pod next to Newt and smiled down at the, what she was now free to see, devilishly handsome soldier.

 

“How are you…Dwayne?” she asked softly, nervously and bashfully using his given name. Hicks smiled at her and gazed into her coffee-colored eyes, unable to understand why he hadn't noticed before how a remarkably beautiful woman she was; she was not beautiful in the model sense but beautiful in the unique, carefully sculpted sense. Perhaps he had not seen because of the same reason she had not noticed how attractive he was; they were both thrust into a life-threatening situation and could not think of anything else except the survival of themselves and their friends. He coughed a little and winced at the pain from the bit of burn on his chest that stretched when his chest retracted to the action of coughing,

 

“I'm alright, and you Ellen?” he asked, liking the way her name sounded rolling off his tongue. Ripley smiled and shook her head, he was not alright but of course he was to tough and bad-ass to protest over a little pain… little being an understatement. Instead of answering him she leaned over and brushed his hair soothingly. He responded by leaning into the welcoming touch.

 

“Would you like something for the pain?” she asked warmly, he smirked,

 

“No, I won't feel anything while we sleep anyway…” he responded thoughtfully, Ripley nodded,

 

“Okay then… I'm sure Alex is dying to have your attention so I'll go tuck Newt in and then help you two.” Alex, who was standing behind her grunted,

 

“I'm not DYING to see him…” she said and huffed, Ripley stared at her and knew she was putting up a front, Alex then proved her right by getting impatient, “Ok I am… now please move so I can see my brother!” she said hurriedly but not in a mean way, Ripley laughed and pulled Newt away who waved to Hicks. Hicks smiled at Newt and turned his attention to his sister who knelt beside him, she rested her chin on his arm and sighed,

 

“I'm sorry I couldn't stop that damn alien from hurting you… I should have-” she began but was cut off when Hicks covered her mouth with his hand,

 

“It's ok little sister, you didn't see it come at me, you were protecting Ellen. Don't worry about it, just go on and sleep.” Her brother explained, Alex noticed how easily he used Ripley's given name and smiled; she ran her hand through his messy hair and kissed his cheek,

 

“Alright big brother, you win.” She stood up and then suddenly grinned, “I'll go see if Ellen objects to sharing your Cryo-Pod…” she said slyly, her brother's eye widened and he grunted,

 

“You're lucky I'm injured or I'd beat your sorry, skinny ass `Lex.” Hicks threatened but Alex knew he was joking, he never used his nick name for her in a threat if he meant it, she couldn't help but notice the tiny blush he tried to hide as well, “Go on, go to sleep, that's an order.” He said pulling rank, she grinned and teasingly stood at attention,

 

“Yessir.” She saluted and marched to her Cryo-Pod; he smirked and closed his eye. Ripley came back and stood beside him once more. Hicks opened his eye and watched her,

 

“Are you ok?” He asked carefully, she sighed and smiled tiredly,

 

“I'm just glad it's finally over…” she said, Hicks nodded,

 

“Shit I know what you mean… I need a shower and a comfortable bed to sleep for a few days…” he said and rubbed the growing stubble on his chin, Ripley smiled,

 

“I agree with you, that sounds wonderful… speaking of sleep, I'm going to start your cycle now. Sleep well Dwayne, I'll see you later.” She said but was stopped by Alex's urgent voice,

 

“Ripley! We have a situation here.” Alex said walking to her, Ripley turned to her and waited worriedly, Alex continued, “I was scouting around, being my usual paranoid-cautious self and I noticed two things… One: The pods have been messed with, all of ours except yours. Two: I found a badly hidden egg in the ceiling…” Alex said, Ripley stared in shock,

 

“Show me the egg; we'll take care of the pods later.” She said and hurriedly got her weapon, Hicks was attempting to sit up,

 

“I'll help.” He said and winced from pain, Ripley turned to him and gently pushed him back on the bed,

 

“No Hic-Dwayne,” she began, almost using his last name from her anxiety, “you're too badly injured, and I don't want you to get any more hurt; I want you safe…” she tried explaining, he had a stubborn look in his eye and was about to object but she hurriedly went on, “Look, I'm truly sorry if I wound your pride in any way or upset you; I know protecting us means a lot to you but I really don't want you to get hurt again!” she explained insistently with a hint of sadness she tried to cover up, he noticed it and sighed in defeat, frustrated that he could not help her again and how easily her emotions got to him,

 

“Alright… but… be safe, ok Ellen?” he said worriedly, she smiled affectionately and brushed his hair again,

 

“I will; it's just a single egg.” She said reassuringly, Alex huffed behind her,

 

“If you take any longer the face hugger will get impatient, impregnate itself and grow into one of those fuckers… can we go scramble the egg now?” she asked eagerly, Ripley grinned at her and nodded and with another smile to the man she had un-sure but strong feelings for left with Alex to crack humpty-dumpty.

 

Alex went with Ripley to check out the egg, they pointed their guns at it and crept closer. As soon as it began to open they fired. The egg literally blew to pieces along with the creature inside and the two relaxed and felt infinitely better. Ripley placed her rifle down and went back into he Cryo-room with Alex who showed the messed with machinery, it was rigged so the pod doors would not shut all the way and the machines power was only charged half way. If some thing were to happen they would die instantly.

 

Alex and Ripley set out to repair the pods and fully charge them, careful not to wake up Hudson or Vasquez. As soon as that was done Alex faced Ripley, “I have a bad feeling about this… Is it possible to set the ship's computer to wake us up as soon as there is trouble if something wrong does happens?” she asked, Ripley looked thoughtful, that was a good idea, she would not have thought to do that otherwise,

 

“Yes there is.” She said simply and went to the controls, a little tinkering she stood up, “Ok, I set the ship to wake us up if a problem of any kind arises, change of course, pick up speed, fire, malfunction, anything.” Ripley said with a satisfied smile, Alex smiled back and nodded. Ripley went back to the task of putting the others to sleep. Alex helped Newt into her pod and got into hers as Ripley said her last good night, not good bye… She made sure everything was working perfectly and set her own pod up… then she lay down to sleep. Soon they were all drifting asleep with the security that they would reach home or be awakened to take care of any situation if the need arose. For now, they slept, and they dreamed of happier things for the first time in a long time.

 

A shadow hid a silhouette and a creature scurried to the pods. Something was in the ship they had missed… The pods were in tact but there was still the present danger looming ahead. What awaited these survivors? To be continued…

 

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A/N: Hmm… I smell and Aliens3 Remake!! Please read and REVIEW! ^_^